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Thanks for making Richard Allen School celebration a success

August 26, 2019

On Aug. 8, a community of supporters turned out to help the Richard Allen School celebrate a historical moment in Delaware as a National Register of Historical Places listee. The Richard Allen School, located at 316 S. Railroad Ave., Georgetown, welcomed former students, CHEER, Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence, Georgetown Police Department, Delaware State Police, community members, families, neighbors, friends, Faith United Methodist Church, Sussex Montessori School, First State Community Action Agency Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Sussex County Alumnae Chapter Inc., Booker Street Church of God, Indian River School District, West Rehoboth Children & Youth Program, churches, Sussex Academy Outreach Committee, Prospect A.M.E. Church, community leaders, clergy, U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, State Auditor Kathy McGuiness, Sen. Gerald Hocker, Sen. Ernie Lopez, media, Stacie Burton from Gov. John Carney’s office, Keith Warren from Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s office, Shavonne Bailey from U.S. Sen. Chris Coons’ office, and Karen McGrath from U.S. Sen. Tom Carper’s office and others to the historic celebration.

Madeline Dunn, National Register coordinator/historical; Timothy Slavin, State Historical Preservation Office; and Gwen Davis, Deputy State Historical Preservation Office presented a National Register Certificate to the Richard Allen School.

Program participants:  Diaz J. Bonville (emcee); Bishop Roland Mifflin (The Church of New Beginnings Inc.); Mayor Bill West (Town of Georgetown); Rep. Ruth Briggs King; Sen. Brian Pettyjohn; Peggy Trott, Solomon Henry, Ivan Neal (former student of Richard Allen School); Dr. Susan Bunting, secretary of Education; Betty Deacon, executive director, and Jane Hovington, president of Richard Allen Coalition Inc. respectively.

We could not have put this celebration together without the help and support of the Richard Allen Coalition Inc. board members and planning committee, many volunteers, friends, supporters, and others who gave of their time to make this day so successful.  So many of you helped set up, cut grass, shopped, donated, cooked, served food, parked vehicles, designed flyers and programs, emailed and mailed invitations and notices, performed several custodial and maintenance duties, served as tour guides, as well as worked behind the scenes and so much more.  You are appreciated more than you will ever know.

Finally, a huge thank you to two special people who helped get us here. 

Dan Parsons, who is Sussex County’s preservation planner, is also on the faculty of Delaware State University in the historic preservation graduate program. He taught oral history as part of the research methods class. Somehow during our journey, we managed to find Dan and he began working with the Richard Allen Coalition Inc. Board.

Once on board, Dan brought Dr. Robin Krawitz with him.  She was the director of the graduate program in Historic Preservation at Delaware State University at the time.  After her first meeting with us, Robin shared our excitement and agreed to actively join our board.

Dr. Krawitz worked with her students to begin the process of getting the Richard Allen School onto the National Register of Historic Places. Dr. Krawitz’s students helped develop the information used in the nomination during the years they worked on it, from interviewing community members, to researching the teachers, and documenting information about the building.

Last year, Betty Deacon and Ivan Neal attended the board meeting of the National Register of Historic Places in Dover.  They heard Dr. Krawitz present her argument and documented information about why the Richard Allen School should be on the National Register.  Dr. Krawitz hit a home run with the committee, and lo, here we are. To say the least, we were impressed.

Dan Parsons attended the celebration and was recognized for his incredible work. Krawitz has moved on to another journey in Atlanta, Ga.  We will send a recording of the event to Dr. Krawitz to honor all her hard work.

Thank you all again for your many acts of kindness and joining us during this lifetime historical moment.

Diaz J. Bonville
board member, Richard Allen Coalition Inc.

 

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