Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-11
STORY OF MANASSAS
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AND ITS
PURPOSES OUTLINED.
Jennie Dean and Her Work Among
Colored People-Washing As
ISOLATION Elects officers.

Before a good attendance of the members
OF the Washington Manassas Industrial
School Association, and others of the cap
itaI city. Miss Jennie Dean, founder of the
school for colored youths at Manassas,
spoke in Hubbard Memorial Han, 10th and
NJ streets northwest, last evening upon the
work that is being done al the institution
The meeting was called to order shortly
after o'clock by Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mus
sew vice president of the association, who
stated that, like all organizations, the
Washington association must elect officers
once a year. and Mrs. Gertrude b. Darwin
nominated the entire list of officers but
recommended that Mrs. Mussey, instead of
being elected vice president, should be
made the president. The recommendation
was approved and the following were elect
ed: President, Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey;
vice presidents. Mrs. David ]. Brewer, Mrs.
Roblcy ID. Evans and Mr.. o. 7. Crosby;
recording secretary, Mrs. John NJ. Glitter
man. corresponding secretary, Mrs. Daniel
Paul; treasurer, Mr.. Eugene Stevens.
The Opening Addresses.
Mrs. Mussey introduced George II. Mays,
principal of the Manassas School and a
graduate of Tuskegee. who made ad-
dress In his opening Mr.. Mays said that
when. in searching the educational world
over for those whom it is proper to assist.
the question is asked, What can that peo-
pie produce?
"In other words" he said, IAN individual
to be of value must be a producer and
not consumer. AT Manassas we aim to
produce this sort of person. This ap-
plies not only to the industrial, but to the
moral side also. and the man of today Is
enabled to really make a man of himself.
The school has at the present time six
buildings. thirteen teachers and ninety stu
dents. 1t is delightfully."- situated and in
such a spot that it reaches the colored
youth in five counties.
we have all that is found at Tuskegee
and Hampton. We teach the industrial and
the academic. and the student to get either
must have both That is the way we try
TO elaborate our ideas. During the summer
went through the different parts of
northern Virginia, and among the colored
people collected something like $1O0-a large
sum for those people so poor in pocketbook
AT Manassas a most cordial relation ex-
lists between the white and cOlored people.
The Jail is empty. When our students come
to town they do not go to the Objectionable
places. Today we have demands for teach
ers To put forward these practical truths.
Our school is doing a great work in the
section of Virginia in which II Is located
The colOred people have given OF their mite
All Manassas asks of this great and SYM
pathetic world is justice and opportunity.
and if YOU will give us chance we will
prove that we are not lazy nor dishonest.
We have about $500 income and about
Sc 900 expense yearly. For the first three
months a student is a consumer, and we
have to depend upon kind friends for aid
I'VE will be glad to have you visit Ma
masses at any time that you may nave the
time to come and see the work which we
are doing
Jennie Deans Story.
Mrs Mussey then announced Miss Jennie
Of he school In intro
ducing her Mrs. Mussey said that Miss
Dean was the one who had taken upon her
self the arduous work of the foundation
She then detailed how some years ago she
first saw Jennie Dean in the office of the
late Gen. Mussey, and after hearing of her
work Mrs Mussey said she then decided
that Jennie Dean was wonderful woman
In 1891 Mrs Mussey explained, Jennie Dean
had $40, and now the property OF the
school is valued at 10000.
When the Introductory remarks were con-
cluded Miss Dean said: Il am especially
glad to see so many folks out this evening
and 1 hope you are glad to see me. AS
rule people are never glad TO see beggars.
but before l have finished l hope you will
help in this work and not regard me as
begging. l want to say to you l believe
that when you see that there is something
TO be done you will rise up and help. l
know both the white and the colored people.
When my mother and father received their
freedom children were growing up. we
lived in the Bull Run neighborhood, where,
some people say, we don't know the war Is
over. Gen. Mussey, the late husband or
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, our president
in Washington, was one of our first friends.
in the five counties which our school at
ternpts to help we have % 600 colored peo-
pie, and over 1900 are of school age
Last summer, after looking over the field
I determined that We would work harder.
We are so near to Washington that you
can look over us. In our county the white
folks cannot aid US. because they have all
they can do to help their own, and thus
we had to decide to take our bucket and
go TO the spring for water ourselves.
In the beginning we knew that the good
Lord would help US in the work. and
knew if l struck out for the money that
some one would come forward to help. I
went to Boston and Rev. DIR. Phillips
Brooks and DIR. Hale were found. When
I arrived In Boston many of the banks
were closed down. but the needed help came
just the same. because the people felt we
needed the aid. Thus the help OF these folk
gave before long our fine farm. To
raise funds We gave what you would call
scent receptions and dinners. and folks
came from twenty miles away to attend
them.
I'VE teachers agreed to wear 1O-cent
hats and to buy 5-ceuts-a-yard goods for
our dresses. We had teachers who agreed
to work the first year for nothing. One
day when we had secured some good build
ings We looked out and one of the
largest in flames. Soon we had nothing
but ashes. and this looked though I
should stop, but second thought came
and | went to work again and rebuilt.
My father used to tell me that II you
had good sense you could learn more than
one thing. II the good Lord had intended
us TO do only one thing 1 believe He would
have given us only one eye and one ear.
The girl in service today should not only
learn TO cook, but to care for the other