County African American Landmark to Begin New Life of Service Annapolis (December 3, 2004) - As backhoes and bulldozers stand ready, a host of State and local dignitaries and Bates Alumni will join Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the official start of construction to transform the historic Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis into Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park. The $22 million renovation is scheduled to begin in mid-December and end by September 2006. “This is a long awaited day of celebration,” Ms. Owens said. “This marks the continued progress and an exciting step forward. I am proud to be a part of the resurrection of Bates as an active, thriving facility for the entire community.” Wiley H. Bates High School evolved from the Stanton Elementary School in 1917, and as enrollment grew, relocated to a new 16-acre site on Smithville Street in 1932. As the only African American high school in Anne Arundel County, Wiley H. Bates became the alma mater of generations of African Americans in the County and a cultural, academic and athletic Mecca. Due to its cultural significance, the National Register of Historic Places awarded the school historic designation in 1994. Celebrating the renaissance of the school to a new life of service, Ms. Owens will be joined at the speakers podium by Delegate Michael Bush; Judge Essom V. Ricks Jr., Chairman of the Bates Advisory Committee as well as the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, Inc.; Kathleen Koch, Executive Director of ACDS; Reverend Johnny Calhoun, pastor at the Mount Olive AME Church in Annapolis; and Alderman George Kelley. The Bates School graduated its 44th and final class on June 8, 1966 when Anne Arundel County ended secondary school segregation. The following fall, it reopened as an integrated junior high school, a function it served until 1981 when age finally took its toll on the building and the school was permanently closed. Since that time, dedicated Bates alumni working with County and State officials have sought to reopen the facility. “We’re thrilled to see Bates serve once again as a center of community life,” said Alma Cropper, Past President of the Stanton-Bates Alumni Association. Sunday’s ceremony marks the final stage of redevelopment. In the first phase, the building was stabilized, the roof replaced and a lighting and security system installed. During the second phase, the tenants of the building were selected, a financing plan was developed, and plans and specifications were prepared. The final phase will be marked by construction of a County Senior Center, a regional Boys & Girls Club facility, 71 units of senior housing, a memorial courtyard to honor Wiley H. Bates, and restored community ball fields. Other highlights of the celebration include music provided by the Naptown Jazz Ensemble led by Reginald “Tiny Tim” Harris, a performance by Judy Smith of the Annapolis and Pasadena Senior Centers, and a performance by the Broadneck United Methodist Youth Choir. There will be refreshments, and information booths will be provided by the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County; the Stanton-Bates Alumni Association, and the Bates School Limited Partnership, the housing developer. Arundel Community Development Services, Inc., Anne Arundel County’s housing and community development organization, who has lead the redevelopment efforts, is organizing the event. |
