Community groups have objected to plans to demolish one of the first schools for freed slaves on the Island.

Anti-racism group CURB and the Bermuda National Trust are against a proposed move to knock down Lane School, on East Broadway, and rezone the land for commercial use.

The property, now known as the Moonray Manor, sits just west of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. It was one of the first of seven schools erected immediately following emancipation in 1834 and was built by the Anglican Church for the education of emancipated children.

According to the National Trust's historic buildings research committee the foundation stone of the Lane School was laid on January 1, 1836.

By 1848 more than 600 children had been educated at the school. An application has now been made to demolish the building and allow it to be rezoned as commercial land, meaning a five-storey building could be put in its place.

In their objection to the Planning Department, Trust officers wrote: "The original school remains largely intact and we feel worthy of being preserved."

They added that it was not a historically listed building and said they believed this was because its historical importance was not known when the list was compiled in the 1970s.

CURB also objected and stated the school forms an "important and integral" part of the African Diaspora Trail.

In its letter of objection, president Lynn Winfield wrote: "The erasure of this building and development of the site is detrimental to future generations of Bermudians who will continue to be unaware of the significant contributions of black Bermudians to our society."

She noted that the Young Men's Friendly Institute was instrumental in the school's success and often held meetings in the one-room building.

The Friendly Societies and Lodges of Bermuda were of extreme importance to the welfare of ex-slaves and were instrumental in freeing slaves brought to the Island in 1835 after the American ship Enterprise was driven off course and landed in Bermuda. Because the Island had already emancipated slaves the Friendly Societies successfully argued it should not set sail with the slaves until the Governor ruled on the disposition of the slaves aboard.

The slaves were allowed to appear before the Governor and choose between staying in Bermuda as free individuals or continue on their voyage to the United States as slaves. All but six out of 78 slaves chose to remain in Bermuda.

The Draft Bermuda tribunal, which decides on rezoning, will meet on October 30.

* What do you think? Should the Lane School be saved? E-mail roklynch@royalgazette.bm