Maryland Day to Highlight African-American History
The contributions of African-Americans will be in the spotlight during a new Maryland Day program on Sunday, March 25.
The one-hour commemorative program will be hosted by the Museum Division of the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks and will begin at 2 pm. The event is open and free to the public.
The Maryland Day event will celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to the state and will highlight the Drayden Schoolhouse. Included in the ceremonies are Arthur Shepherd, St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks director; Karen Stone, St. Mary’s County Museum Division manager; Michael Brown, president of the Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions, Reverend Statesman; Janice Walthour, president of the St. Mary’s County NAACP; and several elected officials. Speakers will give remarks to commemorate the occasion at the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad at 45245 Drayden Road in Valley Lee. Members of the public can visit the Drayden Schoolhouse by taking a shuttle between 1 and 4 pm from the firehouse due to limited parking at the schoolhouse site.
Maryland Day is the unofficial beginning of the the summer season for the St. Clement’s Island Museum, Museum & Historic Park in Piney Point, the Piney Point Lighthouse, and the Drayden Africa-American Schoolhouse. Both museums will now be open seven days a week, from 10 am to 5 pm until September. The Drayden Schoolhouse will be open the first Saturday of every month 1 to 4 pm.
The Museum Division of the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Park manages the Drayden African-American Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse is located at 18287 Cherryfield Road in Drayden, Md. The schoolhouse and grounds are not handicap accessible.
For more information about the new Maryland Day event, call 301-769-2222. For more information about the Drayden African American Schoolhouse or to schedule a tour, call 301-994-1471 or visit the event’s Facebook page or the museum division’s website.
For more about Lexington Park, visit the St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation’s Leader member page.
