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Freetown Community is rich in history. The following is a
brief history of the community and Freetown Elementary as
told by Mrs. Mable Caiger-Cook to Lillie Caldwell-Walker:
The community of Freetown is a parcel of land bordered by
Spencer's Wharf to the north, Pasadena to the south, Solley
Road and Batts Branch to the east and the Pumphrey tract of
land to the west. The properties, which surrounded the
free, unclaimed territory, belonged to two slave owners, Ike
Turner and the Pumphrey brothers, Robert, Lou, and Charlie.
Since no slavery was ever practiced in this unclaimed land,
it was the desire of black slaves to escape across the
bridge into the free territory in order to establish
themselves as free human beings. They called this unclaimed
land, "Freetown."
Until 1914, the children of the community received no formal
education. The parents of these children, many of whom,
before they had been snatched from their culture and
enslaved in America, were highly intelligent, multi-lingual,
skilled men and women. They realized the value of education
and desired that their children be educated in this new
land.
It was through the determination of Mrs. Spencer and Mrs.
Dorsey, the Anne Arundel County Superintendent, to permit
the establishment of a school in Freetown. The school was
housed in the Good Templer's Lodge and included grades one
through seven. The rent was one dollar per month. This was
the only school in the area that African American children
could attend. The students walked to school from as far as
Elevaton, Marley, and Solley, because bus service was not
provided for black students. Furniture and books, provided
for the children's education, for the most part, were second
hand materials, having first been used by white students.
There were only two teachers for all seven grades. One
teacher also acted as the administrator.
Through the late 1940's and early 1950's the Freetown
Improvement Association petitioned the Board of Education
for equity in materials, the hiring of more teachers, a
better pupil teacher ratio, and a new building. The current
site where Freetown Elementary School sits today was once a
bean field and apple orchard. The current Freetown
Elementary School was dedicated in 1958.
The Freetown Community is comprised of a multi-ethnic,
multi-cultural population, whose occupations span a wide
range: homemakers, domestic workers, nurses, doctors,
educators, engineers, custodians, and ministers.
All of us at Freetown are proud to be associated with such a
warm and caring community.
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