In the coming weeks, the Bordentown Historical Society, in cooperation with community partners, Building Bridges, will present an exhibit series on Bordentown School No. 2 and the Bordentown Manual Training and Industrial School (MTIS).
The title of this exhibition series, “Untold Stories: Achieving Furthered Expectations,” aims to explain Bordentown’s past with a series of showings and programs about two institutions: School No. 2, the local segregated elementary school, which operated from 1842-1948, and the Manual Training and Industrial School, the statewide boarding school located south of town, which operated from 1886-1955.
Touching on the topic of divisiveness in segregation throughout American history, the historical society said it felt a need to research and look into past educational institutions in the area that had an impact on this widespread practice at a local level.
“These programs will offer an understanding of the impact these schools had on those who experienced them firsthand, as well as to help preserve their accomplishments, outcomes, and influence on us all,” said the Bordentown Historical Society President, Tim Rollender.
Given these two institutions’ prominent place in the region’s history, Rollender noted that little is known or has ever been presented to people in the area about them and their significance prior to this exhibition.
In wanting to bring a new perspective on these establishments to current Bordentown residents, Rollender and the historical society compiled research, information and interviews with people who had a direct, personal experience with these institutions to present for the upcoming series.
“As we reach out and do more work on this, one of the elements [involved] is the archiving of the personal histories of students that actually went to the Manual Training and Industrial School and School No. 2,” Rollender said. “We’re at a rare point in history where we actually have access to people who experienced these schools, first-hand.”
As the historical society set out to work on this project throughout last year, Rollender said that while information on these institutions was scarce, he was surprised by the amount connections and personal feedback they were able to make in the research process.
“As we engaged with more and more people in 2018, we received several inquiries from individuals seeking to know more about these two schools. In fact, we didn’t have much information on these institutions in our archives,” he said. “As we reached out to the community to assemble more information, we were thrilled to receive introductions to a number of former students and family of faculty that were around years ago.”
The first event, which will be held on Feb. 2, will be a screening of the documentary, “A Place Out of Time” at Carslake Community Center. After the showing, attendees are invited to stay for a follow-on viewing of a companion interview with the film’s director, Dave Davidson and MTIS alumnus, Arthur Symes.
In the following weeks, additional events will include a meet-and-greet with former students from School No. 2 and MTIS, as well as a site tour to the former MTIS campus, a visit to the Burlington County underground railroad and a discussion with the granddaughter of MTIS’s founder, Dr. Mildred Rice Jordan on the legacy of MTIS.
On May 4, the historical society said it will gather to celebrate the installation of the landmark banners that hang along the light poles on Farnsworth Ave. as well, noting particular recognition of MTIS.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase what’s here to people who were here and didn’t think about [these schools] for a long time,” Rollender said. “It’s a great way to not only engage the residents of Bordentown City, but both outside the city and the area as well.”