JARVISBURG — Visitors got a history lesson on the early years of African Americans' struggle for education at last Saturday's Enduring History Celebration held on the grounds of the Historic Jarvisburg Colored School.

Over 100 visitors attended the celebration, which is hosted each year by the historic school's Board of Directors to help promote Currituck's heritage and raise money so that the structure can become a public museum.

Progress on the school's restoration has been slow lately, but the small group of residents who worked on the project for many years are determined to see that the school that served to educate lower Currituck African-Americans from 1867 to 1950 becomes a museum. The Enduring History Celebration featured food, entertainment and guest speaker Virginia Tillett, a Dare County commissioner and assistant dean with the College of the Albemarle. She is also a descendant of slaves who found refuge on Roanoke Island during the Civil War.

Tillett talked about "Voices from the Past" saying how difficult it was for many of her African-American forefathers to obtain an education and enjoy the same freedoms that exist today. "You know our ancestors opened the door for us," she said.

The speaker said that the days for the freed slaves living on Roanoke Island, during 1862 to 1867, were long and hard, adding that many of them learned how to read from the only book available to them — the Bible.

"Voices of the past weathered many of life's storms, but we know that they survived because we are here," Tillett said.

She also said that she believes the ancestors of those trying to restore the school are a part of what they are trying to accomplish. "Many voices from the past are whispering to you, telling you that you have to rebuild the school to restore your history," Tillett said.

One of the school's board members, Alice Hunt Lindsey, paid tribute to the veterans attending the Enduring History Celebration, including Robert Kohler who was a member of the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1979, and retired as a commander.

She also recognized some of Currituck's former citizens who served in the Civil War and Spanish American War.

A current Air Force member, Warrenette Mitchell, said she came from Franklin, Va., specifically to attend the celebration.

Many in attendance, including members of Currituck's Board of Commissioners, said that they are hoping that the school will soon be ready to open as a museum. Board members agreed in 2004 to give $183,000 to restore the school's exterior, and two years later gave another $326,000 to complete the interior restoration and build a visitor/restroom facility.

However, construction has not begun on the visitor's center yet. During last month's BOC meeting, Commissioner Gene Gregory asked County Manager Dan Scanlon to find out what the holdup is. "I expected the school to be open for visitors this summer," Gregory said.