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Saved: Segregated Schoolhouse Becomes Museum
30 Aug
Summary
- A historic two-room schoolhouse for Black children, built in 1909, has been preserved.
- The Lutherville Colored School No. 24 was restored and transformed into a museum.
- The museum preserves original features, including a classroom and blackboard.
Lutherville Colored School No. 24, a two-room schoolhouse constructed around 1908 in Lutherville, Baltimore County, Maryland, has been preserved as a museum. Opened in 1909, it served Black children in grades one through seven during an era of segregation.
Arthur and Helen Chapman bought the disused building in 1994 and invested significantly in its restoration. They reopened it in 1996 as a museum dedicated to African American history and in honor of former student Marie E. Jackson. The museum maintains the building's historical integrity, including an original classroom with its blackboard.
The school closed in 1955, following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. The Chapmans' preservation efforts ensure the school's legacy and the history of segregated education in Baltimore County remain visible. The museum continues to be a community hub, with the founders' son now overseeing its operations.
