This letter is in response to the notice about naming the HOB Elementary School on Mulberry Street in Milton.
I am a retired Cape educator/administrator, Cape school board member, parent of former H.O.B. students and Cape High graduates, past vice mayor of the Town of Milton and resident of Milton. There is a deep history connected to this school site and Mr. Herman O. Brittingham.
Mr. Brittingham was one of the three educational school leaders involved in the planning and inception of the Cape Henlopen School District. He was the superintendent of the Milton Special School District and a very strong leader in the Milton School System. He later was quite involved in making sure the Cape Henlopen School District knew Milton existed among the three towns that made "The Cape," Lewes, Milton and Rehoboth.
I was privileged to work with Mr. H.O. Brittingham while a college student in the Head Start Program with three Milton High School graduates who knew Mr. Brittingham while they were students in his school. We all graduated from college and remained friends, never forgetting Mr. Brittingham's leadership and concern for all of the students. This gentleman was hardworking, dedicated, and in touch with the entire community.
He made sure that the Milton schools integrated peacefully when all of the local African-American schools were required by law to attend their town schools. Mr. H.O. Brittingham is the founder of the shuttle bus system still in service in the Cape Henlopen School District today for the athletes and others needing to have rides home after various after-school rehearsals and activities. He used his personal car to transport after-school activity students until buses began to be used.
Mr. Brittingham also was a part of encouraging the district to purchase enough land to expand in the future. What foresight!
There is not enough space to tell all of the good things about Mr. Herman O. Brittingham and his contributions to Milton and "The Cape." To not allow his name to be on the new building would be disrespectful and dishonoring to a founding Cape leader and educator in Milton.
I urge all who attended any schools in Milton and especially the HOB Elementary School to let the Cape leadership know how important it is to leave this wonderful educator's name on the new building. I am also asking the Cape Henlopen School District to retain the HOB Elementary name. Keep Cape's history alive!!
Esthelda "Stell" Parker Selby
Milton
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