Evening journal., 1922-11-04

Here in Wilmington, as farther
south, there were scarcely any edu-
cational advantages before the war,
but there were always few persons
who managed in some way. to gain
fair amount of book knowledge or
what is generally termed "educa-
/ ton" Among these were minister
by the name OF Cooper and a Mt.
Edward Anderson, the latter being
remembered a great many years at
ter he had passed away from mis-
field of usefulness here on TO the
Elysian Fields above, because of his
use of the rod in his school room. IL
any Of these persons so trained are
living today I do not know it.
Later than this, a Miss Sallie DAT
fl and then a little later still, a
Miss Estherlina johnson from Phila-
delphia came here and continued the
work commenced by the Rev. Cooper
and Mr.. Edward Anderson. These
teachers were in the work not be-
cause II afforded them A livelihood
but because they had obtained some
thing they considered very precious
and they w'-hed to share il with
others. This interest on the part OF
these good people was like seed
planted in good ground and created
a strong desire on the part of the
citizens of Wilmington for education
for their children and even in the
early sixties. young men ana women
were brought here from the larger
northern cities, and we're anxious TO
pass along the knowledge they had
obtained.
In the meantime, Mics johnson l
had married and become Mrs. Sam I
uel Spencer and the mother OF quite
a family of children. Three of them
became teachers and taught. for a
number of years in Howard School.
One son graduated from the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. the young
est colored boy who had ever gradu-
ated from that institution.
January g.. 1866. an association for
the Moral and Educational Improve
ment OF the Colored People was or
ganized to work among the colored
people of the State. The president
Of that organization was Thomas
and the secretary was Fran
,is T. King. DR.. James Carey !
Thomas, citizens of Baltimore, rem
Tered wonderful service, starting a
commenced by. citizens at
home. The Freedmen's Bureau gave
lumber to erect school houses. In
1875. there were 20 schools in Della
ware outside OF Wilmington and at 4
hat time the Wilmington School !
soard took entire control of'the VIII q
ninKton colored schools but from 7
s75 10 1881 the colored people bore |
he burden OF their schools. 5
Still in the eixties a school was {
onducted in an upper room In (
orange street between Tenth and a
eleventh as far as I have been able t
O and out IL was owned by the odd {
and has in later years be-
ONE odd Fellows Temple. v
About this time, young man by
he name OF Howard came to the I
ity and became interested in the
.olored school. He made a PROPOSE T
ion TO some colored men telling ?
hem IL they would raise Ave hun
Ired dollars he would give five hum L
red dollars and they would erect c
sooner said than done.
two story building was erected y
obtaining a large room and two =
lass rooms on the first floor and the ,
4ne on the second. These rooms !,
sated together three hundred chill .
rem. The principal, white, and as :
sted by two Of the girl pupils did g
no teaching. These teachers were -
ppointed by the Delaware Associa- :,
on for tho Moral Improvement of y
olored People. "a
TO show the appreciation OF our =
aopIe for the educational advant- ~
res afforded them, they continually :,
this building so that :,
nee 1875 IL has been remodelled "