African Americans History

Depicted in this photograph, taken sometime in the mid-1970s most likely, are from left to right, Earle L. Bracey (1904-1983), Mary Reed, and Mary Carter. All three were former teachers at Carver High School, where Earle Bracey also served as Principal. Prior to his retirement from education, the 1965 Sabre, yearbook of Fort Hill High School, depicts Mr. Bracey, a University of Michigan graduate, on staff administering attendance and supervising Visual Education. (additional information on Earl L. Bracey appears elsewhere on this website). Few former Carver teachers remain.

Earle L. Bracey, 1904 - 1983

Earle L. Bracey served as principal of Carver High School from 1931 until its closing in 1959. It was Bracey who desired that the school name be changed from "Frederick Street School" to that of some important black person. In 1941, in an election among the students, the famed black scientist George Washington Carver won out over Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglas.

James H. Ashby, Jr., 1953-2009

History in black, white
Slavery and separation part of local heritage

By ANDREA ROWLAND

Blacks in Washington County share a local history rooted along a less than one-quarter mile stretch in downtown Hagerstown. Jonathan Street has housed, fed, entertained — and sometimes frightened — many of its black residents for more than two centuries.

Ida Ruth (Price) Gulliver – Pioneering Piedmont Teacher

The following article by Mona Ridder appeared in the October 6, 2018 edition of the Cumberland Times-News

PIEDMONT, W.Va. — It was the 1957-58 school year and a young teacher had come to Keyser to teach seventh- and eighth-graders. She had transferred from Piedmont after the closure of the all-black Howard High School, where she had previously taught.

KKK "Rally" - Cumberland, 2014

“Peace and Unity” Prevails in Washington County

Several events were held throughout Washington County in response to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) march in Sharpsburg on August 28, 2004. Rather than confront or directly protest the KKK, the purpose of these events was to depict and promote a sense of love, peace and unity.

KKK marches in county, 2004

By GREGORY T. SIMMONS

March in Sharpsburg requires about 100 police officers.

Fewer than a dozen people marched in support of the Ku Klux Klan on Saturday in Sharpsburg, although the group was flanked by dozens of police and media representatives as the parade worked its way through town.

Just after 1 p.m., two Klansmen in white hoods and robes carrying the KKK’s flag and the Confederate Flag were followed by the rest of the parade group.

Cross burning
CUMBERLAND

Frostburg Visited By KKK Members

Ten robed members of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan visited the downtown Frostburg area during the weekend to distribute literature and talk with anyone willing to listen.

Three young men wearing combat fatigues stood by as a security force, just "in case," according to one Klansman.

Scattered groups of curious on-lookers gathered on city streets as the KKK members solicited members.

"Personally, I don't want them here," a city official said.