Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Bates: The Community Commitment
1966 - 2006
Wiley H. Bates High School has a strength beyond bricks and mortar — its real foundation has always been its people. The last African American class to put on robes of purple and gold and receive their diplomas was the class of 1966, but the school's interweaving with the community remains to this day.
A deep family spirit, characterized by teamwork and hope, unites the faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Bates, and was the driving force behind the Bates Redevelopment Project. After the closing of the Bates facility in 1981, the school's supporters rallied for its preservation.
Undaunted by boarded windows, overgrown fields, crumbling walls, or flooded corridors, the Bates community, championed the redevelopment efforts, documenting the school's history, raising funds, consulting with elected officials, and collaborating with many organizations.
Through many iterations, pauses, setbacks, and spurts it was the community's unwavering pride in Bates that pushed the project onward.
Today, Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park stands as a symbol of the perseverance of the Bates faithful who always believed that
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 38° 58.515′ N, 76° 30.679′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is on Smithville Street 0.1 miles east of South Villa Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1101 Smithville St, Annapolis MD 21401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wiley H. Bates: His Educational Legacy (a few steps
Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
