Table of Contents
How long did Storer College survive until?
88 years
Recognizing the need for education, the Freedmen’s Bureau, the Freewill Baptists of New England and John Storer came together and Storer College was born. The school survived for 88 years, enriching the lives of hundreds of students.
What was the first College in West Virginia formally to train black teachers?
Storer College
The first formal effort to train Black teachers in West Virginia came at Storer College in Harpers Ferry. The college was begun in 1865 by the Freewill Baptist Church. In 1881 the state agreed to contract with Storer to train African-American teachers.
What is Harpers Ferry famous for?
Historically, Harpers Ferry is best known for John Brown’s raid in 1859, in which he attempted to use the town and the weapons in its Federal Armory (munitions plant) as the base for a slave revolt, to expand south into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Why was Storer College closed in 1956?
By that point, however, Storer’s enrollment was dwindling. Following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision by the US Supreme Court, West Virginia discontinued its funding and the college closed its doors on June 30, 1956.
Why did Storer College close?
It is commonly said that Storer closed because state funding ended after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling found segregated public schools to be unconstitutional.
Was General Lee at Harpers Ferry?
Robert E. Lee and assisted by Captain J.E.B. Stuart, to put down the rebellion. Upon arriving in Harpers Ferry, Lee ordered the marines to storm the fort, rescue the few hostages Brown had taken earlier in the night (one of which was a relative of President George Washington,) and capture Brown and his men.
Where is the former campus of Storer College?
The students and staff embodied the Storer College motto: Many of the former campus’ buildings are still within the national park today. Click on the pins on the map to learn more about the buildings of Storer College. Explore the former campus of Storer College at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
When did Storer College in Harpers Ferry expand?
By 1869 the college expanded across Camp Hill in Harpers Ferry and added three more government buildings. Fundraising slowly resulted in more campus buildings as enrollment grew and African American teachers and ministers joined the faculty.
When did Storer College start in West Virginia?
A very small school started in 1865 with a straightforward mission: to provide an education to former slaves. For 25 years Storer College was the only school in West Virginia where any person of color could get an education beyond the primary level.
What was the purpose of Storer College in 1865?
Storer is a heroic story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable problems, and it is a testament to the courage, faith, vision and hard work of its founders, administrators, students, alumni and supporters. A very small school started in 1865 with a straightforward mission: to provide an education to former slaves.