A Talk With Wardell Stansbury

History is made every year in Havre de Grace. We invest our sacred votes in the Mayor and City Council with the firm belief they will lead our community towards a vibrant and prosperous future.

Over the years, the tradition of voting and running for office has evolved into the processes we know today. There was once a time when people were prohibited from voting in our nation base on status, gender, race and other factors. Even in Havre de Grace, til the 1970s people were excluded from running for office if they did not own property in the City limits.   The property requirement for running for office was changed by one man—Wardell Stansbury—in the early 1970s. 

Wardell Stansbury comes from a family of community participants. His father, Clayton, played a key role in promoting equal rights in the school system. His brother, George, is a doctor. His sister-in-law was the first African American to serve on City Council. Following his family’s community participation, Mr. Stansbury decided to run for City Council. However the fact that he was not a property owner in Havre de Grace made him ineligible to run. Instead of sitting on the sidelines of the election process, he decided to challenge the status quo at the time and filled a case against the local election board. After winning his case he and a myriad of citizens who were once considers ineligible to run for office in Havre de Grace became eligible. 

With what seems to be the most spirited election in recent time closely approaching, I decided sit down with Mr. Stansbury and get his take on Havre de Grace.

Entering Mr. Stansbury’s home for the first time, I was impressed with all the photographs, awards, artifacts, and memorable displayed. I only made it into one room, however that one room could easily serve as a museum of Havre de Grace. As I sat down, I was staring at a picture of Mr. Stansbury with President Carter, I was highly intrigued. 

We started our conversation looking at some old newspaper clippings from Havre de Grace.  I wanted to know what inspired him to get involved in politics. He explained to me he was tired of people telling him what he could and could not do. He also cited a riot that he manage to end by simply talking to its leader. Since that incident, he explained to me people viewed him as “a leader of the black neighborhood.” We spoke for some time about race relations in Havre de Grace. As a member of the last class to graduate from the segregated school in town, and an African American public servant, he witnessed segregation and desegregation first hand. He told me he did not receive much racial tension from his colleagues. Those who worked with him seemed to realize he was serious about his work. On the one hand, those in the political arena respected Mr. Stansbury for his public service, while on the other hand there existed a hateful element in town. He shared with me a bone-chilling story of the time when the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on his front yard. He also gave other examples he could recall of the Klan hiding behind their hoods and robes that would drive around town. None of this despicable behavior seemed to budge Mr. Stansbury from his position as a community leader.

The conversation changed to a topic I had unsuccessfully been researching for some time.  I’ve been trying to validate if the famous writer Langston Hughes did indeed visit Havre de Grace as rumored. He confirmed for me it was true. Hughes would come and read to the children at the segregated school. I also wanted to know what growing up in Havre de Grace was like for him. He shared with me stories of when he worked for the racetrack. He would clear of the track of any trash. He remembered when the President's train would come through Havre de Grace, it would be parked near the racetrack. He also told many other examples of famous people he saw or meet in town, such as President Kennedy and President Carter. 

We also talked about some of the famous mysteries in town’s history such as the Hattie Stone case and the Atwell murder. I was curious to learn about the time he was shot. He explained to he in happened near his home and never pressed charges against his shooter who took him to the hospital. He even has the bullet saved in a jar he showed me.

We ended our talk so we could both make the . On my drive over to , I was so awed with all the stories Mr. Stansbury shared with me I hope one day to sit down with him again to learn more about Havre de Grace.

Wardell Stansbury served on the Havre de Grace City Council for eight years becoming the first African American City Council president. He still remains active in the community.