Lincoln School History Traced
Over the past year or so several inquiries have come to me about the Lincoln School here in Frostburg. To most people, that name is associated with the small brick building that is now the headquarters for the campus police at the university.
Mary Louise Pope (left) and Patricia Ann Hurt (right) graduated from Allegany High School in 1956 and were among the first black students to graduate from Allegany High School following the integration of the public schools in September 1955. Both were in the General course of studies and as portrayed in this photograph, were members of the All-Maryland Chorus.
These are the graduation photographs of the three students who were the first to graduate from an Allegany County high school following integration. This was in May 1956 at Fort Hill High School which was the first among the schools to hold its commencement. The notations appeared next to their photographs in the school yearbook.
Harold Eugene Hilton was enrolled in the Vocational curriculum, a member of the Hi-Y, Town Meeting, and considered to be a "neat dresser", "friendly", and have a "wonderful personality".
In May 1956, Fort Hill High School of Cumberland held the first commencement exercise in Allegany County with participating African-American students following integration. Judy Leath, Harold Hilton and William Peck were among the first of this group of students graduating from Fort Hill. Prior to school integration, Judy, Harold and William had attended Carver High School.
As a result of the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education Supreme Court decision which forbade "separate but equal" education, the Allegany County Board of Education on July 12, 1955 stated that the county schools would begin the process of integration.
Walter Clementine Crawford II, 1914 - 1968
In the 1940s the Wilson Hardware Company of Cumberland, a local supplier and outfitter of sports equipment for local school teams, held a display show for 27 area coaches. Carver High School coach Walter C. Crawford II, depicted in the center, attended the exhibition.
The history of African American schools in Allegany County has not been fully researched and documented. Primary reasons for this gap in the historical record are ones created by past practices, policies, and customs that have limited the amount of information that is readily available. To overcome these challenges, researchers interested in the story of Allegany County’s African American experience must diligently research public and private resources.