CRAMERTON – Though Fred Glenn was not a pupil at the Baltimore Village School, the memories he made at the near century-old building are one of his most cherished and the fuel behind his efforts to restore it and continue its legacy.

The school holds a special place in the hearts of many. The school was constructed by mill owner Stuart Cramer and used as a learning center for the Black community.

The property sits within a 17-house village, standing in its original wood and windows, materials used when it was built. Wanting to preserve what the building represented, Glenn bought the property where his mother and aunt went to school.

“About 20 plus years ago, I purchased the school because they were in the process of doing a controlled burn,” he said. “Once I caught wind of it, I got in touch with the company that owned this school, and I was able to purchase it and give a little history about the school.”  

Last May, alongside board members, the school filed its articles of incorporation and received its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.  

Now, the goal is to restore it and use it once again as a community center and museum, to display the history of the Baltimore Village neighborhood and the Black community’s contribution to Cramerton.

Before Glenn obtained ownership, the school was used by the town’s fire department for training and was slated for a controlled burn. Through the years, he continued to brainstorm ideas on how to preserve the school and teach others about its importance.  

“When I first purchased it and then came inside, I noticed that the roof had been pierced by a limb from a tree and I had a covenant come out and replace the damaged roof and push the zoning and restore some of the erotic wood that was on top,” he said. “I had no idea when I purchased the school how we were going to refurbish it. I just had to stop them from burning it down and thank God that we are able to stand here now and talk about restoring it.”  

Though classes ceased in the 1950s, the school continued as a community center where young neighborhood residents would use it to watch movies and host events.  

“It served as a theater for us back then, because of segregation. We just couldn’t go to the cinema as you do now,” Glen said. “It was just such a blessing to be able to go to the movie, come down to the community center … in this little village, because that's why we called it the village.”

Recognizing the many memories made, the school was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places Study List in 2013 and in 2020 was designated as a historic structure by the Gaston County Historic Preservation Commission. Furthermore, the school is the last one-room Black schoolhouse in Gaston County.

“This is a jewel and thank God I was able to purchase it to preserve it,” Glenn said. “And that's where we are now, to preserve it and keep it as a museum and a gathering place.”  

To continue its restoration process, members of the board and the Glenn family are seeking the public's support.

Those interested in donating to preserve the legacy of the Baltimore Village School can do so by visiting secure.qgive.com.

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