Signature WHILBR items about African Americans History
Depicted here in Carver High School's shop class are, from left to right, Leo Beckwith, John Cooper, Robert Redman, Mr. Charles Watermann (the teacher), and Joseph Lewis.
Carver School
It was in the year 1918 that Cumberland High School was opened. This was a high school for blacks located on Mechanic Street and was organized as a two-year curriculum, with a four-year course of study initiated the following year. Increasing enrollments resulted in the opening of a new school on Frederick Street in 1922. There was some controversy within the community that such a nice facility would be provided for black students. For this reason, publicity surrounding the new, "Frederick Street School" as it became known, was downplayed for some time.
Carver Prom
Carver High School Dance Band, 1954
When Carver High School opened, there were no music, chemistry, or foreign language classes offered. Classes were offered in English, Home Economics, shop, trigonometry, physics, social studies, algebra, and biology. The students were disciplined and worked hard to please the Carver teachers. Parents played a very active role and there was no partaking in alcohol, drugs, or violent behavior. School books and sports uniforms were "hand-me-downs" from the other local high schools.
Carver Elementary School Teachers
This photograph depicts the elementary teachers of Carver School in 1942, along with the school principal. By 1942, Carver was a twelve-year school for black children in the greater Cumberland area. With the coming of integration in the mid to late 1950's, the school would eventually close. In 1961 the Carver School became the first location of Allegany Community College, now Allegany College of Maryland.
Chester "Leroy" Carter
Chester Carter was among the early African-American graduates of Frostburg's Beall High School following integration. Chester, or "Chet" as he was known, graduated from Beall in 1960 along with fellow African-Americans Valentina Jane Ball and Frederick Hall.
Dr. Randolph Wilson Bromery, 1926 - 2013
His parents called him "filibuster", because even as a young child he had the ability to talk.
Lawrence Randolph Bromery, 1900 - 1974
As a young black in Cumberland, L. Randolph Bromery ended his formal educational pursuits at high school age. This was at a time when black students were obliged to obtain their high school education by entering the back door of a school on Greene Street, (most likely the Allegany County High School which was built in 1908 and burned down in 1932) at night and to pay for those classes as well! This experience taught Randolph a lesson no school could provide.
Edith Bracey, 1893 - 1960
Edith Bracey was an elementary school teacher at Carver School, for African-American children, where her husband, Earle L. Bracey, served as principal.