Six weeks and approximately $125,000 is all that is needed to complete the late Mr. Reginald Ming's dream of turning the original Elliot School into a museum.

Since it was built in 1848, the little stone edifice on Jubilee Lane in Devonshire has undergone several changes of use, but by far the majority of its proud history has been steeped in education.

In recent times, the one-room structure has been closed up and in a progressive state of decay, but Mr. Ming, a former Government youth director and co-ordinator of the annual heritage celebration, who also lived on Jubilee Lane, never lost faith in his vision of restoring "The Old Elliot School" to its former glory. Although he died before his seeing his dream fulfilled, his friend Mrs. Gloria McPhee, chairman of the Old Elliot School Trust, solemnly promised that she would see the project through to completion.

In fact, she recalls that one day not long after Mr. Ming's death she was visiting fellow trust member Mr. Henry Laing when a door of his home suddenly slammed.

"I said to him, 'Do you know what? I just talked to Reggie and he told me we have got to get this museum going. Nobody else could have slammed that door'," Mrs. McPhee said. "I said, 'Reggie you will have your museum and you will look down on it."

As with any renovation of an old structure, to carry out the work correctly requires careful research, a sensitive architect, skilled craftsmen, and money - lots of money.

The story of the Old Elliot School project begins in March 1990 when the Supreme Court re-established a body of trustees, whose declared aim was "to uphold and preserve the Tenet of the Charitable Trust created by the Indenture dated March 7, 1848, and to administer and manage the land together with the school building erected thereon, for the preservation of the educational heritage of black Bermudians, and a historical tribute to the Island culture."

In a related speech, Mrs. McPhee said that too many black children grew up without any knowledge of, or connection with, the past accomplishments of their race, as a result of which they had no appreciation of their roots, and lacked self-esteem, pride and self-confidence as a result.

The trust views the creation of a museum as a permanent monument which would not only correct those negative feelings, but also as a place where black people could positively identify with those of their race who in 1898, despite their humble and deprived beginnings, could envisage and build a schoolhouse, where none previously existed, for the education of black children. The trust also anticipates that the museum will promote community awareness of an important part of Bermuda's rich history.

Research done by the trust's honorary secretary, Mrs. Joyce Hall, MBE, confirmed that, unlike some schools established by a British group for emancipated slaves and poor whites, the first Elliot School was established as a free school under a Deed of Trust. Indeed, the story of its founding is impressive, and the history of its use interesting. Less clear, however, as the original architectural history of the structure, which underwent several amendments over time.

Before embarking on any renovation programme, however, the trust needed to be sure that no historical elements were compromised or destroyed, so an archaeological survey was conducted by Anna Agbe-Davis of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the findings of which she published in a booklet entitled 'Archaeology of the Old Elliot School'.

Through painstaking and meticulous work, Ms Agbe-Davis was able to pinpoint original architectural elements and subsequent amendments, although nothing of historical interest was found. Recovered artifacts did, however, reflect the educational activities that took place, and included fragments of pens, pencils and writing slates.

The trust then moved on to actively launching the project. It approached Bermudian award-winning architect F. Stephen West, who is known for his love of traditional Bermuda architecture, and his meticulous approach to the sympathetic renovation of old buildings of this genre.

Only too delighted to help, Mr. West made the assignment his annual gift to charity, and is not charging for his services.

"It is a lot of work," he says, "but it is a nice way of saying, 'You just can't constantly reap the fruit, you have to put something back into the ground'."

The architect's survey revealed that the windows, roof and floor boards were rotten and would have to be replaced. The interior walls had to be stripped and replastered, and health laws for public places required that one of the two outdoor privies be converted into modern toilets. Since there was no storage area within the building, a basement would also have to be created.

Describing plans for the completed building, Mr. West said that its outer appearance will remain basically the same, although solid shutters will be added for security. "We are trying to keep the original exterior plaster because it has character and looks lovely," Mr. West says.

Preliminary work on the interior walls has now been completed in preparation for the final, smooth plaster finish.

For economic reasons, the replacement windows and door frames have been hand made of Virginia cedar which, on the interior, will be finished with a satin varnish, while the exterior will be painted.

"We know that is not totally correct but we are doing it as a point of interest," he explains.

The door frames at either end of the building have to conform to modern building codes, despite the fact that the original outlines were clearly visible with the plaster stripped, and it appeared that one of them was in the Gothic Revival style.

Although the rotted roof was not the original - that having been lost in the 1926 hurricane - the replacement roof has been installed precisely to its predecessor's line and measurements.

The unmatched gable ends are being left as they are because Mr. West believes "the mason who did the western end was showing his skill, so we have decided to leave it like that, although it is not architecturally correct". A sleeper wall, which will be unseen, has been added to the middle of the building to strengthen it. Old plank flooring will be affixed to the joists with horeshoe nails, whose tops will then be treated with acid to replicate the appearance of old nail holes.

One thing, however, will remain unchanged; the original little blackboard which is embedded in the western wall, and still bears the traces of chalk left so long ago. Special care is also being taken in the choice of lighting and schoolroom fitments. As for the surrounding grounds, while the immediate area is tiny, it is bounded by a splendidly rural landscape that includes Devonshire Marsh, grazing cows, wandering chickens, and air filled with birdsong. Some landscaping is planned to enhance the building's attractiveness and create a little parking space, but will not be too dramatic.

"The museum is going to be fabulous," Mr. West promises.

If the financing is forthcoming, that is.

Financing phase one of the work came from various sources, including fund-raisers, grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, plus various Devonshire area businesses, and individual contributions. The principal and PTA of Elliott School have also been very supportive.

"Those funds allowed us to start the project, but the replacement of the roof was not anticipated, and the cost really set us back," trust treasurer and Howard Academy alumni Mr. Leon Simmons says. "As a result, we ended up with a shortfall."

Therefore, work has halted until more money can be raised. Mr. West estimates that a further $120,000 to $125,000 is all that is required to complete the project, including landscaping and purchasing schoolroom furnishings.

"If we had the money we could be finished in six weeks or less," he says.

Anyone wishing to donate to the museum project is asked to make their cheque payable to: The Old Elliot Trust, and mail it to P.O. Box DV 806, Devonshire DVBX. The names of all donors will be recorded in a Friends of Old Elliot School Register which will be permanently displayed in the museum.

The Old Elliot School Trust committee is headed by Mrs. Gloria McPhee. In addition to Mr. Simmons and Mr. Laing, other members include Mrs. Gillian Silk (secretary), Mrs. Rosalind Robinson, Miss Ruth Thomas MBE, and Mrs. Helen Francis. Ex-officio members are Mrs. Heather Whalen (Department of Cultural Affairs), Miss Karla Hayward (Government Archivist) and Mrs. Cathy Bassett, principal of Elliott School.