This Paving the Way segment is on school transportation for African-American students in Worcester County. From the 1870s to the 1930s, bus transportation was not provided. Many students sometimes walked 3, 4, and 5 miles daily to school. Also, some students came to school by horse and buggy, and later on by truck. It should be noted that teachers walked the same distance as students in some cases.
Around the early 1930s, African-American bus contractors began to emerge. The first African-American bus contractor was given to Charles Henry of Berlin in 1936. Elwood Waters was the first African-American bus operator in Snow Hill. Starting in 1944 - 1945, there were 10 African American bus contractors who transported students to and from Worcester County. Bus drivers were spread throughout the County. The bus drivers had routes in Snow Hill, Girdletree, Stockton, Pocomoke, Berlin - Flower Street, Synepuxent, Newark, Whiton, etc. From 1987 to 1988, there were 70 bus contractors and from 1999 – 2000, there were 69 bus contractors. Today, we continue to see dedicated bus drivers transporting students to and from school, athletic events, and field trips.
We salute our bus drivers of yesterday and today for paving the way!
1930s Bus Contractors/Drivers
Charles Henry
Elwood Waters
James Waters
Leroy Smith
Joseph Purnell
1944 - 1945 Bus Contractors/Drivers
Elton Wise
James Matthews
Dan Archer and George Archer
Elwood Waters
James Waters
Walter Collick
Louise Henry and Son
Charles Hudson
Upshur Coard
1950s - 1960s Bus Contractors/Drivers
Harold Chapman
Powell Marshall
Harrison Matthews
Howard Showell
Other Bus Contractors/Drivers
Theophilus Bowen
Hinson Finney
John D. Smack
Howard Bowen
*Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter for more listings of bus contractors/drivers.
Sources:
Ash, L. (1992). From Hickory Stick to Computer Chip.
Lois Bishop Collection: New Worcester High School Junior & Senior, 1953 – 1970. The Ninth Annual Joint Worcester High School Reunion, March 18, 2000. Insert picture: Pocomoke Chapter
Worcester County Library
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