Hillburn, NY – Negotiations between the Ramapough Lenape Nation, Spring Valley branch of the NAACP, and a Hillburn family to purchase land where the segregated Brook School for Colored Children once stood have seen recent setbacks.
Chief Dwaine Perry, leader of the Ramapough Lenape Nation and a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights in Rockland County, believed that his recent offer, supported by Spring Valley NAACP President Willie Trotman and their legal team, was sufficient.
However, the business manager representing the McCormick family, who have owned the vacant plot where the ruins of the school for 67 years, has a different perspective.
According to the McCormick’s business manager, complications arose when Chief Perry’s lawyer requested that any deposit be refundable if the full payment couldn’t be made within six months.
“We were willing to give Chief Perry’s group six months to find ways to come up with more money so he would be able to pay the rest,” said the McCormick family’s business manager. The manager, who requested that his name not be attributed to his comments, noted that while the family recognizes the historical value, the property has been in their hands for decades and they want fair value for it.
As a result, the site continues to lie dormant despite efforts to raise its historical profile from the rubble of history.
The Brook School, which opened in 1909, is a site of immense historical importance. It served African American and Native American students who attended the segregated facility that was significantly inferior in resources and infrastructure compared to the Hillburn School, which served white students. Brook school parents, supported by the NAACP, challenged this separate and unequal system, arguing it violated the New York State Constitution.
This led to a landmark legal battle in the 1940s, with Thurgood Marshall successfully leading the fight to desegregate the Hillburn school system. This marked a critical victory against racial discrimination, especially for the African American and Native American communities, including the Ramapough Lenape Nation, the aboriginal occupants of the area.
Today, the land where the Brook School once stood has remained mostly undeveloped since the school was demolished years ago. It is now an open, grassy area, with some trees and shrubs growing around it. There isn’t much in terms of infrastructure remaining, and the site serves as a quiet reminder of its historical significance.
Located at 10 Brook Street, the Brook School stood on less than one acre of land, traversed by a meandering brook that runs near the former segregated school’s grounds. The school was a one-room building lit by four large lamps suspended from the ceiling, which could be raised or lowered. It was constructed by the DeFreese family, adding an important layer of local history to the site.
The Brook School property has been privately owned by the McCormick family for 67 years, and recent efforts to purchase and preserve it as a landmark have encountered significant challenges. The property’s historical significance was brought to wider attention by the 2016 documentary “Two Schools in Hillburn” by Stony Point resident Joe Allen.
Chief Dwaine Perry has been a vocal advocate for preserving the land, not just as a historical site but as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for recognition and rights for the Ramapough Lenape Nation. Students at the Brook School were both Native and African American. Despite the setbacks, Chief Perry remains determined to find a solution that will ensure the land is used in a way that benefits the community and honors its history.
Both sides acknowledge the historical significance of the Brook School and recognize that broader involvement could help expedite a successful purchase. The McCormick’s representative expressed a willingness to renegotiate if others became involved. They emphasized that they want to sell the land to someone who will use it for good purposes and honor its history, but they need to ensure that any deal is financially sound.
Willie Trotman noted that he would be involved in the negotiations from now on, adding, “Along with Rockland Legislature member Toney Earl and others, we are still in the middle of negotiations and want to ensure that this piece of property holds value and significance in the history of the county and our country.”
June Van Dunk, another community leader having family ties with the Brook School history, emphasized, “We are here to preserve the history that is part of who we are.”
The preservation of the Brook School has attracted attention not just locally but also on a national level. This issue highlights broader concerns about how historically significant lands are valued and protected in the United States. The Historical Society of Rockland County and the Rockland County Preservation Board suggested that more information and exposure on the history should be known and that community collaboration is crucial in preserving such historic sites.
From a previous interview, Dr. Chuck Stead, a local historian and environmentalist, also emphasized the importance of preserving the site. “The Brook School is a piece of living history that tells the story of a community’s struggle for equality and justice. It’s not just about the land; it’s about what that land represents to the people of Hillburn and beyond. Preserving it would honor the sacrifices made by those who fought against segregation.”
Amanda Jameson, a student from Rockland County Community College, shared her concerns, stating, “More history, especially local history like the Brook School, should be taught in schools more often now because it has significance for many here knowing about past generations of families that were able to call their community ‘home’ by overcoming the struggles they faced.”
The McCormick business manager added, “The recent documentary has made the small piece of land a hot spot, and while the owner is committed to finding a deserving buyer, the sale has yet to be finalized.”
Joe Tursi, the Mayor of Hillburn, expressed that he was unaware of the current efforts to preserve the Brook School ruins or have the site designated as a landmark, acknowledging that he has not been personally involved in any of these efforts. Tursi suggested that contacting the County might be the best course of action, given that the property is privately owned.
The McCormick family remains open to negotiating a sale, but the current impasse underscores the need for broader community involvement and support. Willie Trotman, Chief Perry, and other local leaders continue to explore ways to secure the property. The possibility of bringing in a mediator or lawyer to facilitate the process has been suggested as a way forward.
The uncertain future of the Brook School property highlights the complexities of preserving historical sites, particularly when they are privately owned. However, with the right mix of community advocacy, legal negotiation, and government involvement, there is hope that this significant piece of history can be preserved for future generations.
For more on the history of Brook School, watch the documentary, “Two Schools in Hillburn” below:
Keep an eye on this space for updates on this unfolding story.
