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UPDATE TO 1930
honored William L. Gross, who had been appointed school commissioner April 22, 1922. He died April 10, 1930: William L. Gross, a zealous and energetic supporter of public education, a faithful worker, and diligent keeper of public trust ... served uninterruptedly from May 1, 1922, until his decease ... regular in attendance, keen to the demands of the public; (he) understood and without reserve responded to duties and obligations of public education." The September 3, 1930 minutes confirmed Miss Georgia Alexis Hood as successsor to E. Virginia Wenner as principal at West Brunswick. At the same time, Lillian Fulmer and Nellie Hoar were appointed to East Brunswick School.
(Elementary Schools) In October of 1916, the Board was requested to place electric lights in the East End building and to place a "sewerage system" there; no action was taken, but a committee was appointed to investigate the feasibility of such a move. The next month, the committee reported that to implement the request was not feasible, but they were to get an estimate on installing more windows in badly lighted rooms. By May 1917, the Board took favorable action regarding lighting and repainting.
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Scale for elementary offered an initial salary of $400 annually for the first grade, $350 for second year, and $300 for third. There were increments of $8 per year for each additional year taught. In May of 1921, a petition from the local colored school requested an additional room. A portable was ordered for Brunswick. In March 1922, the State Board of Health considered a septic tank for West End School. The Board would pay one third of cost up to $1000, and an agreement was approved. A month later, Mr. William L. Gross was appointed a school commissioner with a five-year term beginning April 24, 1922. He represented Brunswick, Petersville, Jefferson, and Burkittsville.
THE BLACK SCHOOL As was the case throughout Maryland and, in fact, most of the country, Brunswick's black students attended their own segregatedschool before the days of integration in 1954. George Hardy, a member of the Brunswick History Commission, attended the elementary school on "J" Street in the 1920s and has shared his recollections of those days. Indications are that the first classes were held in a corncrib on the Wenner farm and later in a house at 37 West "I" Street. There is a record that on May 7, 1901, a "frame house in tolerable condition" was rented there for this purpose, and that41 students were enrolled. A one-room brick schoolhouse at 40 West "J" Street followed. There was usually one teacher for grades 1 through 7. Mr. Robert McDaniel commuted daily by train from Harpers Ferry to do the teaching, and was at times assisted by his wife, also a teacher. Besides the usual three R's and general curriculum, wooden spools were used to help teach counting, and Friday afternoons were a time for special programs of recitation, poems, songs, and other activities such as making pulp maps and leatherwork.In addition to the McDaniels, names of other teachers recalled over the years were Emma Beard, Essie Thomas, Lucy Groom, Messrs. Chase, Johnson, Boyd, Gray, Delauter, and Robbins. A second one-room school building was built next door at 42 "J" Street. After grade school, students wishing to continue their education had to go to Lincoln High School in Frederick. Some used the B&O for daily travel. Mr. Hardy recalls the following family names among the students attending the school in the 1920s: Barber, Beard, Bell, Belt,
RUNNING OUT OF SPACE A shortage of space must have occurred, because East End requested in July 1922 a light in the basement "which (was) to be used for a class room." In 1923 Petersville and St. Marks schools were consolidated with the West End School, with the Board of Education paying for the bus transportation. West End School was scheduled in November 1923 for sewerage, after the necessary consent of the State Board of Health was secured. At April 2, 1930 meeting, L. E. McBride and D. D. Kidwell requested the privilege of connecting sewerage lines to the West Brunswick School sewerage pipes, which emptied into the Potomac River. At a May meeting, Commissioner Harrison was arranging for this to be expedited.
HONORING A DEDICATED MAN The following excerpted memorial statement
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