In the event of inclement weather, outdoor activities will be held in the Gathering Tent or the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church.
Amenities on Camp Hill include accessible venues, water fountains, seating at tents/stages, and restrooms. There are a few eating establishments available within walking distance of the special event. Please plan accordingly.
Public events will kick off Friday evening at 6 p.m. Parking for the evening will be located on Camp Hill at 51 Mather Place, Harpers Ferry. Saturday’s events will start at 9 a.m. and continue until 6:30 p.m., and Sunday’s events will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parking for Saturday and Sunday will be located at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry. Shuttle buses will be available to transport visitors throughout both days, with the first stop being Camp Hill.
Left image
19th century engraving of Anthony Memorial Hall, cropped from larger image of Storer College campus;
Credit: "Buildings on the Campus of Storer College, Harpers Ferry, W. Va." from the Storer College Digital College at the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Right image
2017 photograph of Mather Training Center at Harpers Ferry;
Credit: NPS Photo/A. Cook
Student art from the "Healing through History: Shackles to Scholars" exhibition
Artist: Cheryl; School: Brentsville District High School, Nokesville, VA
Harpers Ferry Park Association Sales Tent
Times: Friday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Description: Get your limited edition Storer College commemorative items and books/CDs of the weekend's presenters! Purchases at the HFPA tent support programs and events at Harpers Ferry NHP.
Healing through History: Shackles to Scholars
Times: Friday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Art Exhibition Tent
Description: Be inspired by student art! This exhibition includes over 250 pieces of art created by 1200 students from 91 classrooms in ten counties within three states.
Family & Youth Discovery Tent
Times: Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Description: Have fun and learn about Storer College! This tent features many family and youth activities suitable for all ages. For details of all of the activities in this tent, skip to the bottom of this web page.
Curtis Freewill Baptist Church, Open House
Times: Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Description: Visit the campus chuch of Storer College to learn what this spiritual center meant to the school and its students.
Storer College Room, Open House
Times: Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Description: Visit the Storer College exhibit on the first floor of the Mather Training Center to see photos and museum collection items and to learn about the alumni of the school.
Lockwood House
NPS Photo/H. Mills
Special Film Presentations
Times: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Mather Training Center, first floor classroom
Description: Films begin on hour, with the last show beginning at 3:00 PM. Presentations include: "Storer College: A Legacy of Light and Learning" by Midge Flinn Yost; Heritage Days, 1976: The Black Perspective; and Dr. Richard I. McKinney: The Birthday Basket.
Lockwood House, Open House
Times: Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: End of Fillmore Street
Description: Visit the birthplace of Storer College. Talk to living history staff about this first building used for the school.
Ribbon Cutting and Re-Dedication of Storer College Room
Time: 6:30 PM - 6:45 PM
Location: Mather Training Center, First Floor
Welcome
Time: 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Outdoor Music Stage
Description: Kick off this special anniversary weekend with opening remarks by Tyrone Brandyburg (Superintendent, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park), Alvin Catlett (President, Storer College National Alumni Association), and George Rutherford (President, Jefferson County NAACP).
The Music of Don Redman
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Outdoor Music Stage
Description: Relax with jazz music! The Howard Burns Jazz Orchestra, featuring special guest Dr. Eddie Henderson, will perform arrangements by Don Redman.
Shuttle Bus Schedule
Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Description: Shuttle buses will operate from the Visitor Center to Camp Hill to Lower Town during the event. The last pickup time on Camp Hill will be at 7:00 PM.
African American Education & Law, 1865-1955
Time: 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Presented by David M. Fryson, Esq., West Virginia University.
Recollections of Storer: Alumni Panel
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Former students Dewitt Jacobs (1948), Gwendolyn Houston (1950), Russell Roper (1950), Delores Duncan (1951), William Vollin (1954), Elbert Norton (1955), and Donald Taylor (1955) will share their memories of life at Storer College. This panel will be moderated by Ranger Guinevere Roper.
"John Brown"
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Locaton: Mather Training Center Lawn
Description: Step back to the fourteenth anniversary of Storer College! Fred Morsell will portray Frederick Douglass and present portions of Douglass' May 30, 1881 speech.
Catherine Russell
Photo by Sandrine Lee
A Journey Through the Great African American Songbook
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Outdoor Music Stage
Description: Enjoy this musical presentation featuring vocalist Catherine Russell, whose latest album has received a Grammy Award nomination. Accompanied by pianist Mark Shane.
Three Lives, Three Worlds: Shining Stars of Storer College
Time: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Panel discussion featuring "J.R. Clifford: Storer College's Man of Firsts" by Dr. Connie Rice; "Coralie Franklin Cook: Civil Rights Through Education" by Ilene Evans; and "Joseph Jeffrey Walters: Bringing the World Together through Literature" by Dr. John Singler. Moderated by David Fryson.
Storer as a World Stage: The Niagara Movement comes to Harpers Ferry
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Presented by Dr. David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
"To Emancipate the Mind and Soul"
Time: 5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Book launch with reception and music.
Shuttle Bus Schedule
Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Description: Shuttle buses will operate from the Visitor Center to Camp Hill to Lower Town during the event. The last pickup time on Camp Hill will be at 6:00 PM.
Pilgrimage to Lockwood House and Brackett family grave
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Description: Take a walk in the park to recognize the beginnings of Storer College. This walk includes a brief ranger talk, music by the Ecumenical Harpers Ferry Bell Choir and the Bradford Singers, and a wreath-laying ceremony and remarks by Brackett family descendants. Light breakfast refreshments of pastries, coffee, and juice will be served prior to this program, from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM, at the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church.
Storer College Alumni Memorial Service
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Description: Members of the Storer College community will worship at this special service held annually at the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church.
Lifting As We Climb
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Learn about Storer College from the perspective of a student and teacher at Storer, as Ilene Evans portrays Coralie Franklin Cook.
Leon Bates
Photo used with permission
The Hands of a Master
Time: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Location: Curtis Freewill Baptist Church
Description: Enjoy this piano recital by Leon Bates, the 2007 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians.
Early African American Education in America
Time: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Gathering Tent
Description: Presented by Dr. Edna Medford, Howard University.
"Every Praise" Gospel Music Finale
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Outdoor Music Stage
Description: This musical program will feature choirs from West Virginia churches where Storer students once performed: The Bradford Singers of Judea Christian Community Church, Charles Town; The Mighty Men of God of Asbury Methodist Church, Shepherdstown; The Rainbow Mass Choir of Mt. Zion Methodist Church, Martinsburg; the Wainwright Baptist Church Mass Choir, Charles Town; and Zion Baptist Chorus of Zion Baptist Church, Charles Town. Also featuring Ms. Jocelyn Hargrove and Mr. Ronald Jones of Ranson.
