A Brief History Of The Marlboro High School/Elementary School - Part One of Two

reprinted courtesy of the PGCHS (Prince George's County Historical Society)

 "News & Notes", Volume XLI, Number 1, Jan/Feb 2012.[1]

see also:

·       Connecting the Dots: Upper Marlboro seeks input on historic school’s fate - Washington Business Journal. December 23, 2011

·       Informational Meeting on the Issues Regarding the Old Marlboro Elementary School (originally built as the Marlboro High School in 1921).  January 22, 2012

 Part One of Two

A BRIEF HISTORY OF

THE MARLBORO HIGH SCHOOL/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

People and groups with an interest in the history of our County have recently been alerted to the proposed demolition of the building known as OMES – the Old Marlboro Elementary School, the original part of which was built as the Marlboro High School in 1921.  The proposal includes the construction (on the site of this school building) of a Family Justice Center that would combine all of the offices necessary to serve individuals and families in need of assistance.  There are of course serious logistical problems that would have to be resolved before proceeding with such a plan, but the Historical Society will concentrate on the historical value of the school building and site, and the consideration of potential adaptive re-use and possible preservation.  The Society’s Board plans to host as soon as possible an informational meeting and discussion on the subject.  The property has been designated an Historic Site under the County’s Preservation Ordinance, because of its importance in the history of education of the white students of the area.  It contains not only the High School/Elementary School building, but also the separate, adjoining small principal’s residence (originally 1890s girls’ school), and the burial place of Dr. William Beanes and his wife.

This is the property on which Dr. William Beanes lived in the early 19^th century.  Dr Beanes was the Upper Marlborough resident who was taken as a hostage by the British invaders in the summer of 1814, because he and several of his friends had captured several British deserters/stragglers.  (He was taken to Baltimore, and it was during the attempts of Francis Scott Key to liberate Dr. Beanes, that Key wrote the lyrics to what became our National Anthem.)  Dr. Beanes returned to Upper Marlborough, and lived on this property until his death in 1828; he and his wife are buried on the property, and their burial place has been carefully preserved, although it is currently in need of attention.

               After Dr. Beanes’ death, his house was altered to become the new Marlborough Academy, established in 1835 by an Act of the General Assembly of Maryland.  The subjects taught included Dictionary, Geography, Latin, algebra, Geometry, and Cyphering; Greek and French studies were soon added. Hours were 8:00 a.m.to 5:30 p.m., and September was vacation month.  At first only boys were admitted, but by 1840 there were female students as well; a report for 1844 indicates the attendance of 42 boys and 18 girls.  (In 1867, after the establishment of the Board of County School Commissioners, a separate public school for girls was established immediately east of the academy building, and the two buildings were separated by a “good and substantial fence.”)

               In July of 1855 the Academy building burned to the ground.  The Upper Marlborough newspaper, The Planters’ Advocate, reported that “The buildings of the Marlboro’ Academy, in this place, were destroyed by fire on the afternoon of last Friday. . . .  The fire originated in the garret room of the Academy proper, whence it communicated to the adjoining dwelling of the Principal.  The latter was not occupied at the time but was in a state of repair – a considerable sum having been already expended in refitting it, all of which is of course a loss.  The fire was not discovered until between 6 and 7 o’clock, and no signs of it were observed at the time school was dismissed about two hours previously. . . . The dwelling portion of the building was one of the oldest houses in the village and was for many years the dwelling of the late Dr. William Beanes.”  The building had fortunately been insured, and a new academy building was erected by the end of December in that year. 


continued part two

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[1] personal email.  Prince George's County Historical Society. January 21, 2012. http://www.pghistory.org/  

...to be continued