Suburban Philadelphia Real Estate News

UPDATE: Great news!  On November 18th, the museum announced that tours will be continued on a reduced schedule and a summit will be held in early 2011 to explore future options.  There are still many issues to be resolved but funds were made available to make needed interim repairs.  Thanks to all who are continuing to work on this project!

This may be the last weekend that you will have the opportunity to visit the Cruiser Olympia. 

The City, State, and Nation may soon be losing an important piece of the Nation's history.

The Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia has announced that they will cease tours of the Cruiser Olympia on November 22.  The Spanish-American War Cruiser Olympia is the world's oldest floating steel warship and a National Historic Landmark.  She served as Commodore George Dewey's Flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay.  In February, the museum announced that they were unable to fund the ongoing restoration and maintenance of the Olympia.  They have been trying to secure funding over the last several years but to date have been unsuccessful.  

Today, the Cruiser no longer is a priority in the Museum's long term strategic plan, and there is a very real possibility that the Cruiser Olympia will be scrapped or sunk off the New Jersey coast to create an artificial reef.

The future of the Cruiser Olympia remains in question as the museum continues to search for funding and looks at various options for the ship's future.  If funding is not found, this may be one of the last chances to visit this historic ship.  

Despite the economic times that we are living through today, the loss of this ship would be irreplaceable and a tremendous long term loss for the country.  Hopefully some organization, museum, or individuals will be able to devise a creative solution allowing the continued restoration, display, and existence of this landmark.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit this historic Cruiser!

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Bear, DE/Newtown Square, PA
Office: 302-834-3431/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

The Dorchester Academy Museum in Midway GA needs your help today!

Recently while traveling in Georgia, we had the chance to visit the Dorchester Academy Museum of African-American History in Midway GA.  They need to raise funds to stabilize and restore their historic campus.

Following the Civil War, there was a great need for education throughout the south.  In 1868, the school that would become the Dorchester Academy was started as a primary school and Congregational Church by the AMA. An abolitionist, Eliza Ann Ward, was sent from Massachusetts to open the school in "Goldings Grove" and taught until 1872.  Floyd Snelson was then hired to foster the school.  In 1879, the school was enlarged to provide secondary education to freedman in Liberty County and was then named the Dorchester Academy.  The Academy was both a day school and a boarding school.  In 1934 the entire graduating class was admitted to college, and the school was classified as one of the best schools in the state.  The school grew and prospered until 1940 when Liberty County built a consolidated public school for black youth.

The Academy closed and many of the old buildings were torn down in 1945.  The AMA then donated $10 for every $1 toward the remodeling of the brick boys dormitory - the Elizabeth Moore Hall.  The facilities were turned over to the new Dorchester Cooperative Center (DCC).  The Center included the Credit Union (founded in 1938), the Farmers Union, the Liberty County Political Council, and Dorchester Improvement Association.  The programs developed at Dorchester were a model for later community development in the 1960's.  In 1968, the Liberty County Schools were integrated.

"In 1961 the Southern Christian Leadership Council in cooperation with the American Missionary Association (AMA) established "Leadership Training Programs and Citizenship Schools" at Dorchester to train grass roots leaders from throughout the south".  Andrew Young headed the project in the formative years and Dr Martin Luther King was deeply involved and often visited.  Leaders from throughout the country taught and trained here and King's biographer contends he planned his 1963 Birmingham campaign while staying here.

Many of the original buildings have been removed over the years, but the original brick boy's dormitory built in 1934 (and named in honor of Miss Elizabeth Moore, the first African-American woman principal) is being restored in the center of the campus and has been listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. This building has been the center of much of the key activity over the years including the time that the Southern Leadership council used the facilities.   The original rooms and furniture used by Dr King are still preserved in the building.

Today, the building is badly in need of restoration and needs your help.  On April 28, 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Dorchester Academy to its 2009 list of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America. "The Academy .... has been an institute for education, community development,and positive political and social change since its founding day" -  Pres Jimmy Carter.  Our Thank You to Don O'Neal for taking the time to show us throughout the property and explain its history.

All donations and help are greatly needed and appreciated - contact:

Don O'Neal
Dorchester Academy Museum of African-American History
912-884-2347
PO Box 51, Midway, GA  31320
www.dorchesteracademy.com

"In addition to its highly significant role as a school for generations of African-American students, Dorchester played a seminal role in the great social movements of our nation's history." - Richard Moe - National Trust for Historic Preservation

(Note: all above history is a compilation taken from the website, on site displays, National Trust site, and discussions - please let me know if you find any errors/missing information)