Drayden in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Drayden Schoolhouse

Two Students Remember

Photographed By Sean C Bath, November 28, 2021

1. Drayden Schoolhouse - Two Students Remember Marker

Inscription.

Drayden Schoolhouse. Two Students Remember.

"We had a wood stove. The students had to bring in the wood. I remember one of the teachers, she kept a can of water on the stove, I guess to help the air, and she'd bring a couple of eggs. A certain time of morning, she'd drop those couple of eggs in that can of water and that would be part of her lunch-biscuits and fatback meat. Whatever was there, you brought and you ate. You didn't have a choice. There was no water fountain or pump on the school ground. We had to walk across a field and down a hill to a spring, about a quarter mile., When the kids got home from school in the evening, they had wood to chop, water to get, animals to feed and all of this. I mean, you went home and worked until dark and then you done your homework by lamplight because there was no electric, so you done it, basically, by lamplight.", Clarence Smith , Drayden school student, "See, we had seven classes there, from first to seventh grade. We had two kids to lead the morning devotional. We sang songs like “Yes, Jesus Loves Me," and "Onward Christian Soldiers.” Mostly spiritual songs. Then we would say the Lord's Prayer and we would Pledge Allegiance. I remember some of the kids that I was in class with, but the exact number I don't know. I know it was quite a few kids 'cause when that school door would open and the bell would ring for us to come out, man, they were just rolling out-probably around thirty-some or forty. The teacher would have to try to get around to all these classes in the same day.", Sarah Dyson Clay , Drayden school student

, Student quotes from an oral history compiled by the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions., [Captions:] , Class photo courtesy of Lessie Dyson Smith. Diploma courtesy of Isabelle Dyson Waters. . This historical marker was erected by Commissioners of St. Mary's County; St. Mary's County Museum Division; Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums; Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions; Destination Southern Maryland; Maryland Heritage Area Authority.. It is in Drayden in St. Mary's County Maryland

"We had a wood stove. The students had to bring in the wood. I remember one of the teachers, she kept a can of water on the stove, I guess to help the air, and she'd bring a couple of eggs. A certain time of morning, she'd drop those couple of eggs in that can of water and that would be part of her lunch-biscuits and fatback meat. Whatever was there, you brought and you ate. You didn't have a choice. There was no water fountain or pump on the school ground. We had to walk across a field and down a hill to a spring, about a quarter mile.

When the kids got home from school in the evening, they had wood to chop, water to get, animals to feed and all of this. I mean, you went home and worked until dark and then you done your homework by lamplight because there was no electric, so you done it, basically, by lamplight."

Clarence Smith
Drayden school student

"See, we had seven classes there, from first to seventh grade. We had two kids to lead the morning devotional. We sang songs like “Yes, Jesus Loves Me," and "Onward Christian Soldiers.” Mostly spiritual songs. Then we would say the Lord's
Photographed By Sean C Bath, November 28, 2021

2. Drayden Schoolhouse

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Prayer and we would Pledge Allegiance. I remember some of the kids that I was in class with, but the exact number I don't know. I know it was quite a few kids 'cause when that school door would open and the bell would ring for us to come out, man, they were just rolling out-probably around thirty-some or forty. The teacher would have to try to get around to all these classes in the same day."

Sarah Dyson Clay
Drayden school student

Student quotes from an oral history compiled by the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions.

[Captions:]
Class photo courtesy of Lessie Dyson Smith. Diploma courtesy of Isabelle Dyson Waters.

Erected by Commissioners of St. Mary's County; St. Mary's County Museum Division; Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums; Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions; Destination Southern Maryland; Maryland Heritage Area Authority.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education.

Location. 38° 10.215′ N, 76° 28.951′ W. Marker is in Drayden, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is in . Marker is on Cherryfield Road, half a mile south of Slye Way, on the right

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when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18287 Cherryfield Rd, Drayden MD 20630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Drayden Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Drayden Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); British Landing Prevented (approx. 2.6 miles away); John Llewellyn (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Landing of the Ark and the Dove (approx. 2.8 miles away); Laura Maryland Carpenter Blinn (approx. 2.8 miles away); Thomas Allen Senior (approx. 2.8 miles away); Entrance to First State House of Maryland (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Drayden.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2021, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 48 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2021, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.