Remembering messmen, others at the Naval Academy
Ending Black History Month on the heels of Women History Month was amazing, with a focus on the African Americans of Annapolis who raised you at the U.S. Naval Academy.
The Midshipmen invited me for Black History Month, and I had the opportunity to share and help understand the love of the Annapolis community involved in your change, from a teenager to a mature individual prepared to serve your country.
I was able to share the “other side” of Annapolis, the other side of the wall that separates us from you.
We talked about your arrival to Lockwoodsville and how your occupation eventually wiped out “Negro” tenements on King George’s and Hanover streets slowly moving Negroes from downtown Annapolis.
Most importantly was the relationship between Black people and the USNA, which began as soon as you arrived in 1845. As the military is “sanctuary” for those fleeing from harm, those enslaved and being abused had found a place of safety and found employment instead.
One of the notable employees from Annapolis was Fredrick Carr, formerly enslaved who used his money to buy land on the bay that eventually became Carr’s and Sparrow’s beaches.
Upon your arrival the first salty seamen to the academy found an eat house on Church Street (Main Street). The location of the Matthew/Shorter House (Formerly Read’s Drug Store currently Lucky Knot) is where the Navy sailors began their first fraternity, creating a patch with a terrapin with oysters at every corner of the patch.
They said the owner, Henry Matthew (Asbury preacher/exhorter), was a gentleman of the old school serving the best delicacies of the bay in his house.
We discussed the exodus of the Naval Academy during the Civil War to Newport, Rhode Island, and the number of USCT soldiers from Annapolis who joined the Navy and became messmen to take care of the needs of officers. These messmen returned to Annapolis after the war, with slavery abolished in Maryland and established the town’s first Black Masonic Lodge at Clay Street. The first leader was a steward in the Navy.
We went on to talk about why it took so long to graduate the first black midshipmen. The first black midshipmen was admitted in 1872 from South Carolina. His name was James Henry Conyers, who left after one year because of hazing by white midshipmen.
The first African American to graduate from the Naval Academy was Wesley Brown in 1949. Honored by the USNA with an athletic complex named in his honor.
Most importantly were the people of Annapolis who cared for you and kept your eyes on the prize, always standing in the background rooting for your success during these years, and they really saw us.
Do you see the mess hall attendants from Annapolis? Do you see those that press and clean your uniforms? Do you see the maintenance workers? Do you see the attendants who care for your golf course?
During this lecture I was able to share my own family stories as multiple members of my families worked there. My grandfather, the late George Phelps, Jr., worked the mess hall for nearly 40 years and was known for his crab cakes made with matzo meal and pickles. I talked about my grandmother, the late Elizabeth Hopkins Cook, “The Queen of Fleet Street” who worked at the academy laundry for 40 years. My grandmother, from working the press, had biceps that could knock a man out. According to my dad, she did knocked out a few. For years she continued to press shirts for neighbors on Fleet Street to include former Sen. John Astle.
And last but certainly not least, we discussed the pride felt by Black community of Annapolis when one of our own, Matice Wright-Springer, graduated from the academy as the first female African American pilot kicking off Women’s History Month. An Annapolis High School graduate. “A High”!
Do you have a story about your family or yourself about serving as messman, barber, teacher or any other job at the academy? The USNA wants to hear from you and invites you to tell your story, share any pictures and to be a part of special event, honoring you service.
Please email the USNA at messmen-group@usna.edu to share your story and to get more information on the event.