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Published: February 18, 2022
Stepping into the Past
Honoring Black History Month
The Havre de Grace Colored School
In 1910, Harford County Government acquired the parcel of land on Stokes and Alliance Streets for the purpose of establishing a grammar school for African American students in Havre de Grace (HdG), Maryland. The community raised $2,000 towards the construction of the school, which formally opened in 1912. Called the HdG Colored School, it would become one of more than 14 grammar schools for African American children in Harford County during the era of segregation.
Although public high schools existed in Harford County since 1896, Harford County policy provided education for African American children only through grade eight. As a result, African American students seeking a secondary education had to travel to Baltimore, Cecil County, Philadelphia, or other locations outside of the County to obtain a high school education.
In 1930, concerned citizens organized a county-wide Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.) and convinced the County to establish its first public high school for African American students. In 1930, the county selected HdG as the location for the school. To accommodate the high school students, the County expanded the former grammar and added a brick building to adjoin the existing 1912 white-framed primary school building. The high school addition was completed 1936. The last class to graduate from the Havre de Grace Colored School was the class of 1953, once the County completed the construction of Havre de Grace Consolidated School, which accommodated grades 1 through 12. The former Havre de Grace Colored School now serves a museum and cultural center. For more information on the Colored School, please visit www.hdgcoloredschool.net.
Images and History provided by Patricia D. Cole,
President of Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.
Steppingstone Farm Museum is operated by the Steppingstone Museum Association, Inc., a
private non-profit with a long term lease of the previous Paul farm property in Susquehanna State Park. This land is part of the Land of Promise tract from the first land survey in 1684. The museum was established in 1970 with the collections of Mr. J.E. Bull. After his passing in 1976, the museum moved to the Land of Promise in Susquehanna State Park. The museum demonstrates historic trades to the public from 11am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays from
April-October. The office is open year-round from
9am-2pm Tuesday- Friday and the grounds are open to foot, paw, hoof, and bike traffic from 9am to sunset every day.
The museum offers many special events throughout the season, private and school tours, special programs, and site rentals. These programs, gift shop sales, grants, memberships, and private donations support the museum.
Calendar of Events
Board of Directors
Robert Thresher
President
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Ron Querns
First Vice President
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Teresa Stout
Second Vice President
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Robert Thresher
(Acting) Treasurer
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Wendy O'Steen
Secretary
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Josephine Bodt
John Stanley
Amanda Hickman
Mark Herman
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Honorary Directors
Don Osman
Carolyn Smith
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Museum Staff
Haley I. M. Strong
Executive Director
director@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Stephanie Kennedy
Museum Manager
stephanie@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Katelyn Long​
Curator
katelyn@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Heather Uzdilla
Site Coordinator
heather@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Michael Carney
Maintenance Personnel
From the Desk of the Director
Haley I. M. Strong
There is no such thing as a boring day on the Farm. This month has been filled with so many accomplishments that I could not be prouder of the Museum Team. We have kicked off planning events, a membership drive, a sponsorships drive, building a room in our studio and so much more. Though we have accomplished so much we still find time to laugh at ourselves. For example, some of you may have have noticed that our American Flag has been missing for some time. Our flag rope broke and it took a little bit of time to get the replacement in. I can personally attest to A) replacing a flag rope isn’t as easy as it seems, B) flag ropes can get really dirty and C) never ask me to tie a permanent knot! Though through the laughter of how hard this was, I am proud to say we eventually got the American Flag back up.
Steppingstone Wish List
The below items are needed at the museum. We will provide a donation letter for your tax deduction use.
Thank you for thinking of us!​
Our Amazon Wishlist can
be found by clicking
HERE
​
Season's Views
Keep in Step with the Steppingstone
The
Cornerstone
Steppingstone's Volunteer Corner
Thank you to all the Volunteers that have helped out at or with past events!
Grace Sampson
Sean Lee
Gabrielle Anderson
Madelyn Danner
Jim Pisciotta
Shirley Querns
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Ron Querns
Brennan McDonough
Gail Connolly
Bridget Graff
John Hughes
Gerri Scarfe
Karen Whitlock
Harry Dutcher
Robert Thresher
Dawn Thresher
Joe Cambria
Reminders:
-Volunteer Meeting: March 8th at 6:30, Location TBD
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-Second Saturday Serve: (Clean up) March 12, 9 am - 12 pm
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-Clean up day: March 26,
9am -12pm
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- 2022 Memberships are still available
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NEW
@ The Museum
Our curator made some fun finds along the fallen trees just over the rock wall. A pair of bottles that date back to the 1950's! The smaller one is believed to be a beer bottle while the taller one is stamped with "Canada Dry" along the top which we believe is a used bottle of Canada Dry "Water" (club soda). Who knows what other treasures lie behind the rock wall!
The Steppingstone Grind
With 23+ Buildings and 23 acres, the museum is more than what a team of 5 can handle. While we do our best to maintain the cleanliness of the property, we can always use help. The Grind is the place to find our chore list for the month. If you, or a group you belong to, would like to work on one of these projects please email Stephanie, the Museum Manager at stephanie@steppingstonemuseum.org
CHICKEN COOP
Trim trees around and over coop
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MACHINE BARN
Replace or fix siding door (bottom rows)
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LARGE PAVILION
Paint picnic tables
GAZEBO
Wire brush, prime and paint front sign
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FARM HOUSE
Patch and paint window sills
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CARRIAGE BARN
Re-nail corner board and battens
2022
New and Renewing Members
Samantha Morter & Danney France
Rachel Sacrey & Travis Dunaway
Kapri & Geoff Stafford
Sarah Hewitt & James Mast
Wade Harvard & Chelsey Schreiber
Brendon Heroux & Courtney Reil
Sharon Comer & Ron Wickline
Alexandra Protos & Brandon Saraceno
John Boyer & Amand Harvey
Bailey Alampi & Mitchell Herzing
Congratulations to our new wedding members:
Welcome to the Family
Bernie Bodt
Bryon Bodt
Linda Bullis
Carole DeRan
Heather Hamilton
Lilma Huntley
Moira Kearney
Brenda Kinzinger
Christina Kramer
William Lee
Leocea McLanahan
Fred Ritzel
Gerry Scarfe
John Stanley
Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, P.A.
Walter G Coale INC.
Kelly Mechanical Services, Inc.
Aimee O'Neill & Co., Inc.
Cathy Price
Madelyn Danner
Craig Lake
Bridget Graff
John Stanley
F.O. Mitchell
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Jay DuBree
Bob Worthington
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Delightful Discoveries
While out and about observing the grounds, Staff came across a couple of wooden "vaults" or "cellars" just outside of the rock wall by the cannery recently. Upon further observation, we still couldn't be sure what they are but attached are pictures if you would like to help us solve this Land of Promise mystery!
A glimpse back into time...
Images from this past month
When shopping on Amazon remember to use Amazon Smile and select Steppingstone Museum Association. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the museum.
Thank You for your support!
Please share with your friends
and tell them about
"Your Country Retreat".
Steppingstone Farm Museum educational programs and historic preservation supported by grants from:
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