Governor Moore Unveils Roadside Historical Marker Recognizing Maryland’s House of Reformation for Colored Boys
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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today unveiled a roadside historical marker at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Prince George’s County to commemorate the legacy of the House of Reformation for Colored Boys. The ceremony acknowledged the institution’s painful history, remembered the hundreds of children who died while in state custody, and highlighted the administration’s ongoing commitment to reform.
“Loving our state does not mean lying about its history. It means telling the truth — even when the truth is hard,” said Gov. Moore. “What happened on these grounds was state-sanctioned harm, and acknowledging that is only the first step. My administration, in partnership with the Legislative Black Caucus, is dedicated to the work ahead—to find these children, learn their stories, and ensure they have eternal peace.”
Founded in 1870 in Cheltenham, Maryland, the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children was the South’s first juvenile “reformatory” for Black boys. It operated for decades as a segregated institution characterized by severe neglect, physical abuse, and a convict leasing system that forced children into unpaid labor. Research by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) uncovered a burial site within a mile of the current facility, believed to be the final resting place for more than 230 children who died while in state custody.
The marker’s unveiling coincides with the passage of Senate Bill 776, a 2026 priority for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. The legislation, which the governor plans to sign in the coming weeks, establishes the Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, which is tasked with researching the facility’s history, providing a complete public accounting of the children who died on the grounds, and making recommendations to address present-day racial disparities.
“As we unveil this marker, we are engaged in an act of historical rescue that goes beyond mere location. We are breathing life into the memories of those precious souls buried here in Cheltenham who were denied dignity in life and even in death,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “May their stories resonate in our hearts, urging us to create a world where every child is seen, cherished and given the chance to flourish.”
“This marker will ensure that we are armed with the difficult facts of the past so that we can strive to create a more perfect future for the next generation,” said Senator William C. Smith Jr.
“By placing this marker here today, we are making a commitment to tell the truth, to honor those who lived through this history, and to ensure their stories are not forgotten,” said Senator Kevin M. Harris.
“Today’s unveiling of the historical marker at the House of Reformation for Colored Children is deeply personal,” said Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr. “It is a solemn reminder of the children who passed through this institution—many of whom were denied the care, dignity, and opportunity they deserved. We honor their lives by ensuring their stories are told truthfully and with compassion. This moment calls on all of us to reflect on our shared history and to move forward with a renewed commitment to protecting and uplifting every child in our care.”
The Moore-Miller administration has approved a $200,000 grant for DJS and has allocated $1.05 million in the FY 2027 Budget to help identify and honor the youth at the burial site. The work will be supported by an archaeological survey led by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) using ground-penetrating radar and specialized detection teams.
“The state’s newest historical marker recognizes a difficult and often overlooked moment in Maryland’s past,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “The Maryland Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Maryland Historical Trust, encourages the traveling public to reflect and honor the boys from the House of Reformation.”
“Now begins the important work of not just uplifting the voices of the young boys who received unequal treatment at this site, but ensuring our agency today is treating the children we serve with the humanity they deserve, so that they may have the space to be held accountable and to learn the skills that help them navigate the difficult situations that lead to crisis and crime,” said Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino.
In his remarks, the governor highlighted the landmark 1961 legal victory in State Board of Public Welfare v. Myers, a case litigated by pioneering attorney Juanita Jackson Mitchell and supported by Thurgood Marshall. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 13-year-old Robert Myers, successfully applied the principles of Brown v. Board of Education to juvenile facilities, ending de jure segregation in Maryland’s reform schools. The legacies of Robert Myers and Juanita Jackson Mitchell are central to the the Department of Juvenile Services’ “Roots to Rise” initiative, which anchors the state’s youth justice work in historical truth-telling and community partnership to build a justice system focused on empowerment and restoration.
Following the unveiling ceremony, Governor Moore led a sacred acknowledgment at the site of the future archaeological project. The solemn gathering included prayer to honor the children buried on the grounds and offer blessings for the restorative work ahead.
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