For Havre de Grace’s former segregated school, state funds are a step toward preserving history
Replacing the roughly 100-year-old slate roof of the Colored School Museum and Cultural Center hurts Patricia Cole’s feelings.
But Cole, the organization’s president, said the repairs are necessary to keep the building open to the public and sharing the legacy and history of Havre de Grace’s Black community.
Cole said a $147,000 grant the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center received from the state will pay for the needed roof repairs on the building, which once housed the community’s segregated school for Black students. The repairs are one step in a decades-long plan to return the schoolhouse to its original form.
“It was a really special facility. We thought it was important that we saved it and try to preserve the history and tell the struggle of what African Americans had to do to make it in life, to simply educate their children and try to give them quality and opportunities to succeed in life,” Cole said.
The museum is one of three historical organizations within Havre de Grace that received funding totaling $534,000 through the state’s African American Heritage Preservation Grant last month. The funds aim to assist with construction, acquisition or improvements of sites related to African American heritage throughout Maryland.
The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Maryland and Its Jurisdiction Inc. received $250,000, and The St. James A.M.E Church of Gravel Hill Road Inc. received $137,000.
The Havre de Grace Colored School was established in 1912 and expanded in 1936 to accommodate a growing student population. When it opened, the school made primary and secondary education accessible to many members of the Black community.
“If African Americans wanted to get a high school-level education, they had to travel outside of the county,” Cole said. “It was a financial burden and just a burden in general for African American children to get a higher-level education past the eighth grade.”
Cole said the basement of the school is where poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes would come to give speeches to students. It also served as a library, due to Black students not being able to access public libraries at the time, and housed school dances.
Cole’s father attended the school and graduated in the Class of 1949, with the school’s last graduating class finishing in 1953. Schools within the county were not fully integrated until 1965.
“Their books weren’t new, their equipment wasn’t new, they had all the discorded materials, but they were still able to learn and they went on to do great things in life,” Cole said. “Some became medical doctors [and] businesspeople. My father, he worked for North America Rockwell, which is now Boeing Corporation.”
When the property came up for sale roughly 10 years ago, Cole said, she worked with community members to purchase the building, which was ultimately donated to them by the previous owners in 2018.
Over the years, they’ve requested funding through grants to make improvements to the building. The ultimate goal, Cole said, is to return the schoolhouse to as close to its original form as possible.
Over the years, they’ve fixed a leak in the basement, upgraded the accessible ramp to the building, restored historic windows and lights, and upgraded a furnace. Now, they’re working to bring back the original classrooms that were lost when the building was converted to a medical facility after ceasing operations as a school.
The full restoration of the building, Cole said, is estimated to cost roughly $3 million.
“We’re doing it piece by piece,” Cole said. “There’s not grant out there that will give us $3 million, so we’re still trying to figure out ways and see if we can find philanthropic resources that could possibly help us.”
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The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. The original building is at left, opening in 1912. The addition, at right, opened in 1936 when high school students were added. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. The original building is at right, opening in 1912. The addition, at left, opened in 1936 when high school students were added. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Standing in the “Stansbury Room,” Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, and Anna Jones, museum associate, talk about the legacy of Dr. George T. Stansbury, HDC Colored High School Class of 1939. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Standing in the “Stansbury Room,” Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, and Anna Jones, museum associate, talk about the legacy of Dr. George T. Stansbury, HDC Colored High School Class of 1939. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Standing in the “Stansbury Room,” Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, points out the photos of Patricia A. Taylor Stamps and infant son Carlos. The tragic deaths of Stamps and son on Nov. 10, 1960, at Harford Memorial Hospital ultimately led to the desegregation of the hospital in 1963. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Standing in the “Stansbury Room,” Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, stands next to a life-size photo of Doctor George T. Stansbury, M.D., who delivered her at birth. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Some personal and professional affects of Dr. George T. Stansbury are on display in the “Stansbury Room,” including such things as his stethoscope, a Morgan State sweatshirt, and pictures of his wife and daughter, Sheila, who still lives in Havre de Grace. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A desk and diplomas and citations from Dr. George T. Stansbury are on display in the “Stansbury Room.” The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
The “Stansbury Room” honors the legacy of Dr. George T. Stansbury and his life in Havre de Grace. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A map of colored schools in Harford County hangs in the hallway, “Jim Crow in Harford County Public Schools. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, museum associate, left, and Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, right, talk about sports contributions in the “Sports Room.” The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A photo of the Western Shore champions from 1936, the track relay team is pictured running practice down Alliance Street. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A trophy case in the “Sports Room.” The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A display celebrating the accomplishments of Earl Christy, who played in Super Bowl III for the New York Jets as a kick returner. The football commemorates the 50th anniversary of when the Jets defeated the Colts in 1969. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Denise Sconion, museum operations manager, holds a football presented to Earl Christy, who played in Super Bowl III for the New York Jets as a kick returner. The football commemorates the 50th anniversary of when the Jets defeated the Colts in 1969. Christy played football at Havre de Grace High School. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, museum associate, shows off the Langston Hughes Room, a multipurpose room in the basement of the original building. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
The Mabel E. Hart Library. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, museum associate, points out a photo of the first teachers and principals in the main room. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, Museum Associate, points out a photos of the first teachers and principals in the main room celebration education. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A sample of text books on display of second-hand text books, handed down from schools attended by white children. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, Museum Associate, points out a photos of the first the first teachers and principals in the main room celebration education. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
The bell that Principal Abel Cromwell used to ring at the start of the school day is on display. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A briefcase belonging to the former Havre de Grace Colored School Principal, Leon S. Roye. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
A pair of students’ desks are on display in the main room. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money towards enhancing their organization and preserve African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Anna Jones, museum associate, points out a photo of the first graduating class, in 1932. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
The main room of the museum is dedicated to “A Legacy of Education” in Havre de Grace. The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
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The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center was one of three African American organizations in Harford County to receive money toward enhancing their organization and preserving African American heritage. The original building is at left, opening in 1912. The addition, at right, opened in 1936 when high school students were added. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
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