St. Joseph's Industrial School for Colored Boys

It is my experience, if you want to know about the history of something, it will be revealed.When Matthew was just a small tot, Jim and I would take him for walks on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church. It is located just outside of the residential town border of Clayton, Delaware. One enters the grounds through a stone arch that reads St. Joseph's Industrial School, and a scripture "What good doth it do a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul. Matthew 16:26" The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

I had always wondered if any of the boys that went to school here lived in the area. I also thought, it was such a beautiful peaceful place. Somehow the idea of writing an article in our local newspaper entered my mind. It was an impression to gather and educate our community about the idle property and find any remaining students to recant their experience.

An old decommissioned small chapel and old bell-less tower still stands surrounded by other buildings. Also marked are the stations of the cross around the 10-acre lot. One day we were walking, and a couple approached us and told us they got married in the chapel, but needed witnesses to sign the license. As we entered the chapel, you could see three sides of building covered in 53 stained-glass windows with the names of students, staff, and faculty. Originally, the building was lit with gas-lighting by the Josephites that lived there.

Beginning in 1896, the chapel was the center of activity at the St. Joseph’s Industrial School, an institution which served African American boys, providing them vocational skills, academics, and spiritual guidance. In 1920, St. Joseph’s Church became the parish church for the Catholic population in the Smyrna-Clayton area. Both the members of the school and the residents of the parish shared the chapel until 1968 when St. Polycarp was built in Smyrna. While the church was used by several small congregations after the industrial school closed down in 1972, it and the rest of the 10 acre property sat mostly idle. It wasn’t until 1997 that a group was formed to acquire ownership of the property, preserve its historical and cultural heritage, and restore it for use by all members of the local community.

10 years later: Another prompting, and I took a look at our local newspaper, the Smyrna/Clayton Sun Times, only to find an article written about the school and on-line comments to find a remark: "I am a graduate of St. Joseph's School for Colored Boys and am certainly grateful to the school for changing my life." I was thrilled and instantly emailed the man with my thoughts and curiosities of the school. He was so happy to be connected to someone from the area. I sent him recent pictures of the grounds. He has been through a rough patch of life, but felt strongly prompted to remember the life in Clayton. We are Facebook buddies and keep in touch a few times a year. Amazing, how God creates miracles by working through those who are willing to listen to his promptings!

In Loving Memory of Casey Santana Butler

Ten days ago, I found out that my former supervisor Mick Butler, no longer a DNREC employee, lost his young daughter in a tragic death. Casey Santana Butler was born on March 11, 1992. She was an 18-year-old bassoonist at the Peabody Conservatory and collapsed during a private lesson. She was in the midst of her weekly lesson about 12:30 p.m. when she lost consciousness and was prounounced dead at the hospital on November 15.

Last night I went to Casey Butler’s memorial in Bel Air, MD. I arrived at 5:30pm at the church and found police helping with parking and traffic. There were hundreds of people in attendance. I stood outside for nearly 20 minutes in line of funeral-goers wrapped around the building. I only wished I would have been able to give her parents, Mick and Sue, a huge warm hug. I waited to tell them that their DNREC friends were sorry to hear of their loss, and that they were on our hearts and minds. However, I was about 100 feet away from Mick & Sue when attendees were asked to be seated because the services were about to begin. The family was then taken away momentarily for a few private moments.

The memorial was a celebration of her life’s music, from the sound of her birth cry to the notes of the piano and her bassoon. Each musical group, student, musician, teacher, and friend performed favorite classical pieces of theirs, hers, and ones they shared . Each select group was listed as a “Symphony.” There were five symphonies which lasted 1 ½ hrs. There were bassoon, bass, and flute duets. Violin, piano, oboe, and bassoon solos. One gentleman sang “Seasons of Love” also known as 525,600 minutes acapella with such passion. He precluded his song by stating how Casey filled her life with the love of music each moment. Poetry, good memory moments, and a piano piece composed just for her was shared by her close family and friends. The Youth Chamber Orchestra, Peabody Conservatory of Music, and Bel Air High School Counterpoints Choir members spoke through their music. We all wept, laughed, smiled, and prayed together as each “Symphony” was shared. Each person that performed hugged each family member.

The most tender moment of the tribute was when her father stood at the pulpit and and shared his open letter to Casey. Her mother also shared her letter, but had Rev. Sarah deliver it. Each letter was an intimate expression of their love, respect, and adoration. What a gift to hear the history of her beautiful life with humor, tenderness, and honesty. Casey was not only loved, but an model to those around her. She lived each day to the fullest filled with passion for music, compassion for others, having faith that all things are possible with hard work . One teacher quoted Casey expressing that “Life is Music!”

The presiding clergy, a married couple, testified that she truly understood what life was all about in just her short 18 years of life on earth. They also mentioned how blessed they were to live across the street from the Butlers. Another miracle of friendship, that at this particular time they would serve their daughter. Both serve as chaplains in the armed services. They watched the Butler children grow into amazing young people. A beautiful spiritual song sung by the high school choir, that Casey usually accompanied on piano, ended the performances. Mick stood up and applauded. We all joined him, as the room was filled with gratitude and thanks for those that shared their music. In closing, a quote from Dale Carnegie “For better or worse you must play your own little instrument in the orchestra of life” helped us to reflect on how we can make our lives rich and extraordinary like Casey. It was a wish that her contribution and example with lift a future musician, to pass her message of peace and love onward to others – that they too will find how to fill their lives with passion.

As I left the pew and started out, I was gratified to see the Butlers surrounded by compassion, concern, love, and respect. They were deeply moved and touched by the response of the community and long-term friendships. As I passed the last pew, there stood an former DNREC co-worker and friend Enemute Oduaran from Nigeria. We hugged and shared smiles promising to keep in touch by email.

We are ever connected by the time spent together in past, present, and future. That can not be changed! I’m very grateful for my job and for the friendships I hold dear.

At Peabody Conservatory, Life is Music - Casey Butler leaves an inspiring legacy

More Information about Casey:
Casey Santana Butler, age 18, of Abingdon, MD, died on November 15, 2010. Born in Wilmington, DE, she was the daughter of Michael Paul and Susan Moreland Butler of Abingdon, MD. A resident of Harford County for 11 years, she graduated from Bel Air High School in 2010 where she was a member of the Honor Society for four years, as well as, the Spanish Honor Society. She was a member of the Bel Air High School Band, Orchestra, and Chorus; the All County Band and Orchestra for four years; and she had earned a place on the All State Band where she played 1st chair bassoon. She was also field commander for the Bel Air Marching Band. For five years she was a member of the Harford Youth Orchestra, which was conducted by Brian Folus; three years with the Maryland Youth Chamber Orchestra, which was conducted by Vladimir Lande; and for two years, she has been a member of the Peabody Youth Orchestra, which is conducted by Dr. Harlan Parker. She was currently studying at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. A 2009 Benjamin Carson Scholar Award Winner and 2010 Recognition Scholar, she also participated for eight years with the Destination Imagination which is a Creative Problem Solving Group.