Former Beacon House building not a school for black kids

To the editor:
Re: Demolished building subject of nightmares, The Weekly News, Sept. 25. It brings back a lot of memories to me, some good and some not so good. Some of the statements are not totally correct to my understanding as I was personally involved in these scenarios.
To begin, if this building on Maroon Hill in Middle Sackville was the site of Nova Scotia's first school for black children, someone forgot to advise the black parents and children of this fact.
My older sister and other black children from the community went to a one-room school two doors past this school. They were taught by Mrs. Colwell, a white lady, who was paid by the school board for her services. This group of students went on to Bedford Junior High School.
At age five, I attended the one room school with other children my age until Mrs. Colwell died when I was in Grade 2. Obviously, since we were in a segregated school, we did not have anywhere to go to continue our education. A community meeting was held in Sackville with the school board, community leaders, and black parents to find a solution to the problem. I was told that we were offered the old white school on the Old Sackville Road, which was condemned. Our parents would not accept that request because they believed their children should not attend school in a building that had been condemned. It was decided by those in authority that the black children would be integrated into the white school.
I believe that your statement should have read that "As time progressed, school policy changed and black children were allowed to attend." We were not welcomed. The land was donated by Sara Williams, who was promised by the Education Department or the builders that this school would be for black children only. I believe that she was lied to and this is why some people claim to see her ghost.
I spent six years in the Middle Sackville school. I experienced segregation (racism) first hand and as time progressed, we learned to get along with one another. My grandmother taught me that skin colour did not matter to God. She believed that we are all the same in God's eyes. We have to be responsible for our own action; we cannot change people and their way of thinking. A good education, common sense and a true belief in Christ is the only way change can happen.
That building was a true landmark and held many memories. I made a lot of friends during my time at this school; some remain friends today. I never saw any ghost of Mrs Williams and because my conscience is clear, I do not expect to see any.
Louis White
Dartmouth