Saving A Historic Structure From A Road Widening Project

Established in 1874 by the Union of Brothers and Sisters Fords Asbury Lodge #1, the schoolhouse called the Colored School #2 in School District 11 was where Loreley's African-American children were taught for thirty years. A local developer donated the adjacent half-acre parcel and $125,000 in state funding will be used to move the historic building and pave a parking area for the lodge."It was a dilemma -- the road needed widening, but the building needed to stay," said Lewis Gwynn, lodge president and a member for nearly 30 years. "With fair-minded people working together, we were able to reach a win-win situation for us all."

County Executive James T. Smith Jr. said: "This preservation and restoration is showing our respect for that history. Look how far we've come. That's really what we're celebrating here today."