The colored American., 1902-03-22

CoIORFD AMERICAN whether the NC
KinIev Industrial School, existed IN
Alexandria, and said writer presume9ci
that some person filled all the statlohs
and further your correspondent stated
that the people of Alexandra are get
ting tired of being imposed upon. Al
first | intended not to answer your
alexandria correspondent, Dut 2Iter
tall, with several friends | concluded to
answer this individual, whoever ne may
he. However, not for his benefit, but
TO place a short history of the school
through the COLoRED AMERICAN, to those
who do not know of the work un-
dertaken by me and associates. l doubt
the good faith" of your Alexandra
correspondent in writing said letter, he
or she did, when the information sought
could as readily been obtained IN Alex
andria The rise and progress OF the
Mckinley School is as follows: L beg
space for digestion; Forty-nne years
ago | was born in this city; have lived
here ever since, but for the time spent
as A pioneer teacher in the public Tree
schools of Virginia, back in the seventies
Twenty-Five years as an editor OF col
ored newSpaperS-an experience that
teaches me not to notice every article
sent TO newspapers under anonymous
names. but to put this newly established
individual work Alright, your "AleXan-
dria correspondent" may read this reply
and then he and all his kind will not
attract any further notice from me- In
1904. with the cooperation OF my broth
er. we organized an industrial school IN
this city, with few INDECENT boys and
girls | became inspired IN this work
from reading of the efforts of Booker 1.
10 I ata On |
wanted to hear and see Mr.. Washington
| wanted him to come to Alexandria as
my guest asd speak under my auspices
to the people of this city. Mr. Wash
ington came and made grand speech.
had invited the Hon. K. Kemper, the
CITY superintendent of public tree
schools, a white Virginia gentleman, to
introduce Mr.. Washington. The place
that Mr.. Washington delivered his in
duStTial message was IN Roberts Chapel
NJ E Church, and was introduced by
Mr.. Kemper | listened intently to Mr..
Washington, and, when he had COnClud-
ed his golden words for industrial train
ing, | resolved in my own mind, with the
aid of my associates, to work with all
my strength and mind TO build up an
industrial school in this city. My pur-
pose then as it is now to dig deep, aim
L
1893 we had the satisfaction to see the
corner stone of our first building which
is located at corner of Montgomery and
Patrick streets. That corner stone was
laid in the presence of over one thous-
and Alexandria people. This school has
an existence and still exists. On that
occasion the speakers, white and cOlOred,
spoke in glowing terms of our work and
bespoke for it the good wishes of all for
its future. The mechanics went to work
and soon our new building was finished
and the main hall dedicated. In 1893 the
Legislature of Virginia passed an Act
MuSh5ack being its patron) incorporat-
ing the John Hay Normal and Indus
trial School of Alexandria, Va, and ito
hold fifty acres of land and property to
value of twenty-five thousand dollars"
Our board adopted the name for our
school for historical reasons. that Our
pupils might study the life of Lincoln
and his biography After the dedication
of our school building the emblem of
liberty was TO be raised over the school
Our honorable Mayor, Mr.. Geo. L. Simp-
son, visited our school, and was given a
hearty cheer by our seventy-five pupils
then in attendance, as the Mayor with
his own hands, hoisted "Old Glory" into |
place Afterwards His Honor addressed |
the school, teachers and management, |
giving us all good and timely advice |
This is an evidence that the school has |
an existence and exists now. The plant |
began to grow. Broom, laundry. and |