The Cheltenham Youth Detention Facility, located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, has a troubled past as a previously segregated detention center where boys as young as five were subjected to abuse.
Within the pages of a thick book lies a heartbreaking record—the names of boys who lost their lives at the former Maryland House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children. This facility, now known as the Cheltenham Youth Detention Facility, has been a site of suffering for numerous young boys.
So far, at least 230 unmarked graves have been identified at this site, with the potential for more discoveries yet to come. In a significant move more than a century after these deaths went unrecognized, Maryland state officials are taking steps to honor those who suffered there.
During the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, boys were sent to the House of Reformation for minor offenses, where they were forced into labor on nearby farms and in factories.
“This is where they came to die,” remarked Maryland Governor Wes Moore during the unveiling of a commemorative marker on Wednesday. “Today reminds us that while darkness may surround us, light ultimately prevails.”
The introduction of the commemorative marker marks a pivotal step toward recognizing the injustices that occurred at this facility.
“Here, they were whipped and beaten, stripped of their humanity,” said Moore. “Boys succumbed to disease and exhaustion within these walls.”
State Senator Will Smith noted that a newly established state commission intends to go further in uncovering the facility’s hidden history. This commission will conduct forensic investigations, genealogical research, and thorough examinations of historical documents to shed light on past occurrences at the House of Reformation.
According to Smith, the number of known unmarked graves is expected to increase significantly now that the state is no longer ignoring this painful chapter of history.
“I would venture to say we are just scratching the surface,” Smith commented. “There is a potter’s field there, and I believe the count will grow substantially.”
A notable turning point occurred in 1960 when a 13-year-old boy successfully challenged the legality of segregation and abuse at this facility.
“No amount of hatred, animosity, or racism can conceal the truth,” Moore declared to enthusiastic applause. “The state is committed to uncovering every burial site.”
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