The Bray School – Mixed Feelings

If you follow Colonial Williamsburg you already know that they recently moved an 18th century building believed to be the Bray school from the campus of William and Mary to the historic area. It currently sits at the intersection of Francis and Nassau streets.

If you haven’t been keeping up…

The Bray school was opened in Williamsburg in 1760 to teach black children (both free and enslaved) and operated until 1774 when it was shut down. It was eventually lost to history. It was rediscovered by an English professor.

I’m extremely excited and happy to see the building restored, opened to the public, and interpreted. As it should be. However I have several misgivings.

First, the move itself. It could have been restored and opened to the public and interpreted on its original foundations. This would have enriched the history of William and Mary and would have been authentic. Too much of the black history of William and Mary has been hidden, lost, and covered up. This is another piece of black history that the college is removing. Vows to the contrary, 20 years from now it will hardly be remembered that it was moved from the campus.

Second: The location. It was put beside where the 1st Baptist church will be restored and across the street from the Baptist meeting house reconstruction. It’s as if Colonial Williamsburg is attempting to put all of black history into one location. Forgetting that all of Williamsburg was touched by both free and enslaved blacks. Isolating black history into one half a block is hardly telling a complete history of the city.

Another problem with the location is that it’s in the historic area. Rockefeller was adamant that the historic area be reconstructed as authentic as possible. He didn’t want future historians to find fault with the reconstruction. So much so that some 18th century buildings were not restored and some actually removed because they could not be put on their original foundations. While some 18th century buildings were brought into the area they were not put in the historic area. They were kept outside. It seems like a violation of the spirit of the historic area and its history to move buildings into it.

Third: The interpretation of the building. We are being told that the building will be interpreted but how? Colonial Williamsburg does not have the manpower or resources. Carter’s Grove has been sold. Great Hopes Plantation is unmanned. The Gaol is unmanned. The Presbyterian meeting house unmanned. The Baptist meeting house unmanned. The Geddy house closed. The Wythe house partially closed. The Raleigh tavern partially closed. The coffeehouse partially closed. The windmill moved from an original location and unmanned and unused. Is the Bray school the next moved and unmanned building in the historic area?

Forth: Is this the best use of Colonial Williamsburg funds? The carpenters have identified over 200 foundations in the historic area they could reconstruct buildings on. This would make the historic area more authentic.

While I’m overjoyed with the prospect that the Bray school will be interpreted I’m skeptical. Is this just a way to scrub William and Mary’s history? Will Colonial Williamsburg break their promise to tell the whole story like they did with Carter’s Grove, Great Hopes Plantation, the Baptist meeting house and the numerous closed or semiclosed buildings. Is this just a ploy so Colonial Williamsburg can point to a building and say “we’re telling the whole story”, and after their anniversary celebration they can forget about it?

I hope it’s real and meaningful but Colonial Williamsburg’s situation and history tell a different story.