8-06-2022 3:33am

AlamogordoTownNews.com Dudley School Community Organizational Meeting

Chris Edwards Editor

proved the acquisition and renovation of the Dudley School located on Maryland Avenue. Teaming with the Tularosa Basin Historical Society, the City will move forward with the protection of this very important building and the stories of the families that went to this school. The building is one of the oldest structures in Alamogordo which is important to preserve. But more importantly protect the stories and history of the people that were a part of this era.

The “Dudley School” is the only standing school building in our City that was purposely used to segregate students in the early 1900’s. That all changed in 1948 when Alamogordo School Board voted to desegregate the school system. The Dudley School was originally the Maryland School for Mexican Children. Its primary training was to teach Mexican children to speak English so they could be integrated into the Alamogordo Schools for all children. Most children left the Maryland School in either the 2nd or 3rd grade transferred to the East School in the Alamogordo School District.

After the desegregation of 1948, the school was still being utilized to educate elementary school students. At that time, the Delaware School for Negro Children (now the Corinth Church) was closed; the African American students for the most part attended the Maryland School. Per our investigation, the Alamogordo School District was the first in the State to take the action to desegregate.

The property will be converted into a Community Center and Park. Historical displays and stories will be presented in the building. The primary themes will be the Families of Dudley (Maryland) School, Education in the Basin and Hispanic and Black History in the Basin. The building will not just be a museum; it is a multi-use building allowing use as a Community Center with meeting rooms, kitchen and resources for people to have seminars, family events, meetings and after school programs. On the north side of the property will be a new community park with the south side being off street parking for the facility.

Tularosa Basin Historical Society will be the Project Manager to renovate and setup of this new facility. Just like TBHS did successfully for the Plaza (current museum) and the La Luz Pottery Factory, we will make this a success. Those were a success with the support of the community with volunteers coming out to help on the renovation and the dollar donations. TBHS has established a budget for the project. If you would like to be a volunteer or make a donation contact the Tularosa Basin Museum of History or call Joe Lewandowski (Project Manager) at (575)430-8989 or opconsultants@yahoo.com.

The Tularosa Basin Museum is looking for Volunteers to assist in the renovation and set up of the new Community Center and Park.

Donations of dollars and artifacts related to Dudley will be appreciated. If you or a family member attended Dudley or Maryland School, please contact Tularosa Basin Historical Society. We are gathering the family stories to be told and preserved.

The First meeting to organize and provide information to the public is this morning Saturday August 6, 2022 at 9:00 am at the Dudley School located at 523 Maryland Avenue. Hope to see you there.