The Drayden
African-American Schoolhouse is located on its original site on
Cherryfield Road in Drayden, Maryland. The schoolhouse is a frame
building with its foundation resting on tree trunks. This style of
construction has been popular throughout Southern Maryland
since the time of the arrival of the first Europeans.
Acquired by St. Mary’s County
Government
in 2000, this site has been designated as an important and significant
symbol of education in St. Mary’s County and in the African
American
community to be preserved and interpreted within the Museum Division of
the St.
Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks.
Initial plans for this site have focused on immediate restoration and
preservation of the building and clearing the environs of trees and brush
that had become overgrown.
The
second phase of this project lies in the approach to interpretation of the
site, the acquisition of pertinent collections, and accessibility to the
public through pre-arranged tours by the Museum Division. This site is
not open to the public at this time unless arrangement is made with the
Education Curator of the Museum Division (Christina Barbour, 301-769-2222).
