The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-04-10
DEATH OF HARRIS BARRETT.
Early Hampton Graduate Was Pionssr
In Home Ownership Movement.

In Home Ownership Movement.
Hampton, va.-Harris Barrett, who
died early on the morning Of March 26.
was one Of the most useful and re-
spected colored men on the lower Vir-
ginia peninsula. He was graduated
from Hampton institute In 1897. and
until he was stricken with paralysis In
July. 1913. he served the normal school
most efficiently and faithfully as clerk.
boOkkeeper. teacher and cashier.
Mr.. Barrett was born in Henderson.
KY. In 1865. He entered Hampton
institute at the age Of seventeen. and
by dint Of hard work won the respect
Of his teachers and associates.
Commenting ON Some Results OF
Hampton's Work." an official normal
school publication says: I'VE lind that
the oldest organized effort by Hampton
graduates to encourage land and home
buying among Negroes is the Peoples
Building and Loan association Of
Hampton. Harris Barrett. class of
1885, was largely instrumental as Sec
retary in earning for this association
its reputation as one Of the safest
financial institutions In Hampton.
"Since its charter was granted In
1880, when It began business with
twelve stockholders and eighteen
shares Of stock. there has been no vio-
lation Of trust, and every obligation
has been promptly met. Now Q915,
1t has 675 stockholders. owning 5000
shares. Its paid up capital stock Is
$155, ,833.s7, Of which Negroes alone
own $119,50O. Its business Is confined
to loaning money to stockholders, all
loans being secured by first mort
cages on real estate or by lien on
the stock.
AFTER paying Z per cent dividends on
It's stock for twenty-five years. 1t has
built up reserve fund Of nearly $685.
600. 1t has loaned over $5O7. 1867 to
Negroes near Hampton and has assist
ed them in acquiring more than 400
houses and lots
Harris Barrett's influence was always
exerted on the side Of good order and
Christian living. The funeral service
was held In Hampton Institute Memo
rial church ut 3 o'clock on Sunday aft
ernoon. March %. The spacious church
was literally crowded to the doors with
colored people who came to pay their
tender Offices Of faith and love- to an
able and honorable member Of their
race, Of whom white and colored men
alike never spoke word rejecting on
bis character. DR.. Herbert B. Turner.
chaplain Of Hampton institute, who
had known Harris Barrett for many
years, outlined the story Of services
rendered the community by Hampton's
well liked graduate and efficient CASH
Ter. He said:
I'VE honor the man not alone for his
ability, but also for his noble charac-
ter. He was one Of the ablest and
noblest men that Hampton institute
ever graduated. The Peoples Building
and Loan association Of Hampton was
started by Harris Barrett not only as q
medium for making safe investments.
but also for the upbuilding Of his peo-
pie In the Hampton community. Today
900 colored people own their own
homes In Hampton as result of this
mans foresight and wisdom In the
management Of business affairs. He
was man Of truth. man Of rare self
control, man Of gentleness and man
Of a deeply religious nature. He had
acquired the spirit Of General Arm
strong, who was strong. able and
kindly"
DR.. 81. B. Turner and Rev. Laurence
Fenninger, both Of Hampton institute,
and Rev. ]. A. Nottingham. pastor Of
the Bethel A. M. e. church. Hampton.
conducted the impressive funeral serv-
ice. A baritone solo was sung by Paige
/. Lancaster. The Hampton institute
choir, under the direction Of r. Nathan
lei Dett, sang Abide With Me" and
"Peace, Perfect Peace" The Hampton
institute band. under the leadership Of
Professor William NJ. o. Tessmann. and
the school battalion Of 200 cadets es-
corted the funeral cortege from the in
stitute grounds to Hampton.