Worton in Kent County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
African American Schoolhouse
Museum
— A One-room schoolhouse that became the cornerstone of a Community… —
Worton Point 'Colored' Public School #2, District Number 3; a one-room schoolhouse built August 1890. This structure was documented by the University of Delaware Center for Historic and Architectural Design in June 2003. Prior to the 1930's county busing program, children from neighboring communities traveled up to six miles on foot or horse and carriage in rain or snow. Class sizes notably increased during the winter months, when male students were not able to work in the fields; daily attendance could rise to thirty pupils The last class held in this school was in 1958.The students were taught the States' required curriculum from first through sixth grades; the extent of that need was dictated by ages and numbers of pupils in attendance. Now a museum, this school is the showplace of an exhibit of photographs, artifacts and oral histories of the lives and contributions of black families of early Kent County Maryland.
[Captions:]
Emma L. Grason Miller (1869-1951). Born in Grasonville, Maryland, she moved to Chestertown, Maryland, with her family during adolescence. Emma was 17 years old when she posed for this picture, with the Hampton Institute graduating Class of 1887 in Hampton, Virginia. She returned to Chestertown and subsequently became the first supervisor of 'Colored' schools 1911-1922. Emma spearheaded the drive, and was successful, in convincing people of a need for a 'colored' high school in Kent County. Born in 1915, the first school, Henry Highland Garnett, was located across from Historic Bethel AME Church in Chestertown.
Alice Phillips Saunders (1908-2003), granddaughter to former slave, Mikey Phillips, was a student at this school and proudly received her Certificate of Graduation, after completing grade 6 in 1925. She, like most other black children of her time had no guarantee of continued education beyond that level. Yet she married, owned her home, and worked as a nurse's aid in Wilmington, Delaware, until her retirement.
Barbara A. Smith Jones (1936-1998). The last teacher at Worton Point School, Barbara taught here from 1954 to 1958. Her career in education continued at Chestertown at Henry Highland Garnett School
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1890.
Location. 39° 18.008′ N, 76° 8.75′ W. Marker is in Worton, Maryland, in Kent County. Marker is on Saint James Newtown Road (Maryland Route 297) 0.1 miles south of Newtown Road, on the right when traveling south. Located on the Saint James-Newtown Road just south of St. George United Methodist Church at 11730 Saint James Newtown Rd. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11729 St James Newtown Rd, Worton MD 21678, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. American Mettle (approx. 2.1 miles away); Taking Command (approx. 2.9 miles away); Christ Episcopal IU Church and Cemetery (approx. 3 miles away); Bass Propagation Lake (approx. 4.9 miles away); Maryland’s First Women Voters (approx. 5.7 miles away); Senator George Vickers (approx. 6½ miles away); Mary Roe Walkup Pavilion (approx. 6.6 miles away); Crew’s Landing (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Worton.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 796 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.