Financial difficulties resulting from the Great Depression reportedly caused the closing of Cardinal Gibbons in 1933. Cardinal Gibbons was reopened by Father Horace B. McKenna in 1936.
Cardinal Gibbons Institute, Ridge, Maryland was a Colored Catholic School in St. Mary’s County. The Cardinal Gibbons Institute was St. Mary’s County’s first high school built to educate Blacks. Located in Ridge, Maryland, it provided academic, vocational and religious instructions to black students from across the United States.-
In May 1917, land was acquired for the school. Archbishop James Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, Maryland donated $8,000 towards the purchase of the land. Consequently, the new school was named after the Archbishop – Cardinal Gibbons Institute.
The Knights of Columbus National Board of Directors donated $38,000 towards the erection of the school building. In February 1922, Archbishop Michael J.Curley of Baltimore, Maryland approved the general plans of the Institute.
Cardinal Gibbons Institute was opened in September 1924 and dedicated in October 1924. Victor and Constance Daniels were hired as the Institute’s first principal and assistant principal. The Institue’s first graduating class held its commencement in June 1929.
Financial difficulties resulting from the Great Depression reportedly caused the closing of Cardinal Gibbons in 1933. Cardinal Gibbons was reopened by Father Horace B. McKenna in 1936. Nathan A. Pitts was hired as the Institute’s principal in 1936. In September 1952, the Oblate Sisters of Providence began their instruction at Cardinal Gibbons Institute under the direction of Mother Mary Anselm Bentley.
In June 1967, the last graduating class held it’s commencement, The school was closed due to new Maryland state laws regarding segregated education. In April 1972, Cardinal Gibbons Institute, also known as the Cardinal Gibbons High School, long abandoned and vandalized, was torn down. In June 1997, the first Cardinal Gibbons Institute/High School class reunion was held. From St. Peter Claver Church, St. Inigoes, Md. Enter to win Kindle Paperwhite. http://bit.ly/1H52GVs
This is a presentation of Chapter 8 entitled “Our Shore” by Fred McCoy. This is but one of many great tales in The Chesapeake Tales & Scales. Join us as we listen to The Chesapeake for action, fun and adventure in The Chesapeake region. Murder, mayhem and mystery along with blues, rockfish, and serendipity serenades to convince fish to jump onto the hook.
Who was St. Peter Claver?
