Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11

could be done for them. planned in my
mind a long time.
, The farmer and his seven sons made 1t
clear what kind of school we needed.
/ told what I had in mind; what kind of
teachers we needed. and how to get food
and other necessary things to begin with :"
First Public Meeting.
That was the beginning. The first pub
lie meeting was called in Manassas In No
vember, 1890. A farm was selected and
with the $50 Jennie Dean had earned In
Boston and $40 lent by Mr.. H. E. Baker,
whose attention to the matter was called
by Miss Jane E. Thompson. the first white
friend of the movement, the 500 necessary
to bind the bargain was paid. Then came
the struggle to earn the rest. In time 1t
all came in.
The first board of managers was made
up of General Mussey, president; Prof. H.
p. Montgomery, vice president; Miss J. e.
Thompson. secretary, and Mr.. III. e. Baker
OF Washington, treasurer. After General
Mussey's death RI. R. R. Shipper, the pas
tor of All Souls Church, filled his place.
In October, 1894. the school was opened
In, the dwelling house, as Rowland Hall
to open WITH but the number soon increased
to seventy five.
Prof. H. p. Montgomery was the first
principal. Unfortunately, Rowland Hall
used only four months. Undiscouraged, the
school was held in a small church near by,
which was neither lathed nor plastered.
Blankets and quilts were tackled up to keep
out the severe cold. of February and March.
La ter again fire destroyed building. Hack
ley Hall, but the friends of the cause in
Boston and New York rallied and the build
ings We're rebuilt and water plant in
stalled as precaution against future con-
tingencies.
Last May, on Memorial day. at meeting
of the assocat ton which has the interests
of Manassas School in charge, Oswald Gar
rison Willard Of the New York Evening Post
was elected president. The constitution was
materially changed and the financial man
agement revolutionized.
The business organization was made a
close and compact system and put into the
hands of a financial agent, or business man
ager, relieving the education adninistra-
ton of all association with such details and
responsibilities.
With Mr.. Willard as president are asso-
'ciated DR.. w. s. Montgomery, assistant
perintendent of schools as vice president;
Rev. James II. Bradford recording secre-.
tary. who has acted since the formation of
the association and Rev. H. H Waring of
Alexandra. Va, treasurer.
Reception at White House.
The reception which is to be given to the
teachers and pupils of Manassas at the
White House, and the demand for tickets,
which are reported to be practically ex-
hausted, for the exercises at the First Con-
gregational Church, Wednesday, February
IA, show the interest which the work has
awakened. The singing of the students is
said to be remarkable, and the anticipation
of hearing Booker Washington has created
a strong competition for tickets.
Probably the most interesting feature
about the support of Manassas is not the
benefactions of such people as Miss Emily
Rowland, Miss C. B. Hackley. Andrew Car
negie or any of the many other friends who
have presented buildings or outfit munif-
Gently, but the patient, heroic effort of the
colored people themselves. Not only have
they given freely of their produce to sup
port the school. bat no less than four will
liam Lloyd Garrison associa tons have been
organized the sole object of which is the
maintenance of Manassas. These groups
of colored people are banded together here
Va, and Bull Run, and have done no small
part in teaching the lesson of Self-help and
in actually furthering the aims of the insti-
tute.
Some twelve years ago in the county Of
Prince William in which Manassas is the
largest town. and the adjoining counties of
Stafford, Fauquier, Loudoun and Fairfax
there was total colored population of 3d.
912, with school population of IL 200. That
was the basis on which Jennie Dean worked
There was no industrial school in the sec
ton open to colored students. In the past
ten years the school has sent out over 100
graduates who are successful In trades and
as farmers, domestics and housekeepers
The school has helped to educate and miti-
gate the mental and moral poverty, and
taught the dignity of labor to more than a
people.