Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11
FOR COLOREO YOUTH
Manassas Industrial School and
Its Possibilities.
THE WORK OF JENNIE DEAN
Her Effort to Enlist Friends and OBJ
tain Money.
ORIGIN OF THE INSTITUTION
Meeting Under Auspices Of the As
ISOLATION to Be Held
in This City.
ORIGIN OF THE INSTITUTION

The battle-ground School, as the Manassas
Industrial Institute has sometimes been
called, is located on the old historic ground
of the battle of Bull Run. The enterprise
of a colored woman in whose childish ears
had echoed the sounds of that desperate
conflict has resulted In giving an oppor-
tunity to colored boys and girls which
makes them self-supporting men and
women; a fourishing farm of 125 acres
workshops, diaries and poultry yards, all
that is needed to replace the old industrial
side Of slavery.
The story of the building Of Manassas
Industrial School is almost the life story OF
Jennie Dean Her father and mother were
slaves, but were of the most Intelligent
class of negroes, the father having been
taught to read and write in early life
After the war he settled down on a farm
near Sudley Springs, Va. on the actual
battle-ground of Bull Run. 1t was his am
bition to own this farm, but he died before
the purchase was completed. Jennie Dean,
then well-grown girl, went into service
In Washington, her wages going to pay the.
balance remaining on the farm, that her
mother might be assured of home. Later
her wages were used to send a younger
sister to Wayland Academy, from which
she graduated and became public school
teacher.
Needs and Possibilities.
Her life in Washington at length opened
Jennie Deans eyes to the needs as we'll as
the possibilities of her people. Her thoughts
were continually with my people at home"
and ner mind was tortured with dreams
and plans of helping them. Her first work
was the founding Of a Sunday school.
The people were all extremely poor, es-
pecially in money. In their community
little money changes hands, as a matter
of fact. Everything is exchanged in trade
Nevertheless, their leader began at once to
look for site for a church. A three-cor-
nered piece of land was found which the
owner agreed to sell easy terms. Even
the small amount named appalled, the peO-
pie but Jennie Dean made them speech
which for the first time in their lives
aroused ambition.
Il will go back to Washington" she
said, and work. After my days work is
over I will try to collect money for the
fund.-
Founding Of Training School
For twelve years the Sunday school was
kept up, and finally the idea of inaugural
ing training school came to Jennie Dean
She said to her people:
II will go out and raise the money to
build school where your children may be
educated in the trades.
In three months she returned to Virginia
Will 3Ou, WHICH Sn6 put INTO the nandS OF a
white friend, woman who has taken the
warmest interest in the work ever since.
With sublime confidence Miss Dean selected
the site of her school. a farm of 125 acres,
admirably located on the Southern railroad,
three miles from the town of Manassas.
The price was 81, $50 but it did not daunt
her. She went to Washington and sue
ceeded in interesting several influential men
and women in her scheme. A board OF
directors was formed and systematic eff
fort put forth to raise the amount A six
months option ON the land was secured
and in February, 1882 Miss Dean went to
Boston as the agent for the Manassas In |
dustriaI School. She had letters to DR.. Ed
ward Everett Hale, who helped her gener-
ously by issuing circular letter from his |
Office calling for $1,000, the balance ON the
farm The following June Miss Dean re- |
turned triumphantly with the money.
Other Donations.
Another generous friend was found in |
Miss Emily Rowland of Sherwood, N. Y,
who gave $1,000, completing the purchase |
price. The same friend contributed 81, 500 |
toward erection of the first buildings. Since |
that time she has made the school many |
gifts The principal building is called How |
land Hall, in recognition of her benefcence |
Other friends were found In the north, |
among them Mrs. Burton Harrison, DIR. |
Robert Coliyer, the Rev. Minot Savage, the |
4
the donor OF Hackley Hail. $1,000 build |
ing used as boys dormitory and assembly |
hall.
During all the years in which Miss Dean |
has been Iaboring to build up the school |
she has had the fullest sympathy and sup
port of the colored people of the five coun-
ties surrounding 1t. Many poor farmer |
who can do no more contributes yearly his |
barrel of potatoes or apples, shoulder at |
hog killing time, or perhaps days la |
Dor Throughout northern Virginia picnics
and dinners for the benefit of the school are
established customs
Open to Both Sexes.
The school Is open to boys and girls on
equal terms. The girls are taught every I
department of domestic work, sewing,
dressmaking and chiid's nursing. The boys
are trained in farming. carpentering, black
smithing or shoemaking, as they may
choose. Girls are received in the carpenter
Ing classes. and many boys take the cook
have been trained in the school and are
now holding excellent positions. A good
literary education Is given to all students
In speaking of the origin of the school
Jennie Deaa says:
.One October morning farmer called to
see me about his children. He had seven
sons and he wanted them to have trades. |
Tine passed on. and at length one cold
January morning in 1888 my mother. Rev.
log fire talking over the condition and
welfare OF the young colored people. had
found through the Sunday school work that
many OF the boys and girls would be smart L
In more ways than one IL they had an OPP Z
p0rtunity. had begun to think what I