Strolling down Main Street in Parkville, Mo., one would never guess at the fraught racial history that played out in the 1800s there. When Colonel George Park, an abolitionist, purchased the land that was founded as English Landing in 1840, he brought progressive ideas with him, changing the name of the settlement to Parkville, setting aside property for Park College, and establishing the 'free soil' newspaper, the Industrial Luminary in 1853. His ideals of 'free soil, free speech, free labor, free men,' ran counter to the prevailing pro-slavery factions, such as the Kansas League. He was run out of town by the threat of death, but following the Civil War, he returned to build the town that he had dreamed of.
Along with the town, Park continued to work toward rights for the recently freed slaves. In 1885, the Benjamin Banneker School was built by students at Park College, using bricks kilned there. Named after the 18th-century mathematician, astronomer, and clockmaker Benjamin Banneker, it was the first official school for black students in Platte County, and one of the first in the state. From 1885 to 1902, the school used any resources that they could find to educate the growing number of students until a larger school was built. Prohibited by law to share classrooms with white students, the Banneker students often used cast-off materials from white schools.
The one-room schoolhouse still stands at 31 8th Street. After the student body was moved to a larger two-room schoolhouse, also built on land donated by Park College. After desegregation, the building fell into private hands, and subsequently, disrepair.
Now, the Banneker School belongs to the Banneker School Foundation and is in the process of being restored. In the late 80s, a former Banneker teacher, Lucille Douglass, led the charge to purchase the building and start preserving its history. In 1995, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which allowed it greater access to grants and funds.
Dr. Adrian Singletary has been involved with the Banneker School Foundation since early in his career as a teacher and then administrator in the Park Hill school district.
"I was a history teacher and it was a passion of mine to study local history, especially of Parkville. I dove in and was connected to some people that were working on the Banneker school. Later I was honored to be able to join the board," says Singletary.
The end goal, says Singletary, is to create a living history museum. Before they get there, though, several structural advances are needed.
"We are making good progress. Every year, we do several fundraisers and apply to grants to make improvements possible," says Singletary. "There are a lot of pieces that have to be done to do it in the right way."
Some of those improvements are stabilizing the foundations, updating ventilation, and recently replacing the roof. Singletary says that ensuring the safety of visitors is the first priority. As such, the Banneker School is currently closed to the public. Since the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, all updates much be made in historically accurate style, which can add another layer of difficulty.
A capital campaign is underway though. Every year, Banneker Breakfasts are significant fundraisers, with one completed in February of this year.
"Schools have always been institutions of growth and progress. The Banneker School is a testament to the fact that there was once a division in our nation, and here's an example of that. But through that, I think we have the opportunity to move forward and grow as a nation. When you look at some of these schools, it's important to look back at how we used to learn and preserve that. We have to look at the progress that we've made but also look at the struggle and really honor that," says Singletary.
The Banneker School Foundation is always looking for more members to join their cause, with meetings every other month on the last Saturday at the Parkville City Hall. More information can be found on their Facebook page or at ParkvilleMo.gov.