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Huntsville Augt. 11th 1869.

Rev Mr Jos. Welch

Dear Sir,

Time & your kind efforts have removed the impediments in the way of an earnest effort toward building up a school at Harmony or Grants Colony. The fall is now at hand when school should commence and as yet we have no suitable house there in which to teach and a man that is any account, will not teach in an open cold house, nor ought the children to be lent to such an one. Gene Howard appropriated 500$ toward a suitable building at this place. I have some hopes of getting some two or three suitable quarter teachers from Ohio. This is an important school and it is the only experiment in the state, where the freedmen are trying to form a settlement & society of their own, and it should be [[hastened?]] by the Govt. and Supt of Ed for the state. I feel confident we can furnish 60 scholars in the Colony & if we can get a good school there, we can get a number from the adjoining farms. And here I would suggest that if we can get a good school established, it should be a normal school. I have deeded to trustees 2 acres of land in a suitable place for this school house & will contribute liberal towards a building but I want a suitable and comfortable building myself & the freedmen are not able to build such a house and we appeal to you by the authority of Genl. O.O. Howard for the amt. he has given and if you will or can do anything, let us go to work at once and have the house [[ready?]] for this Fall's use. I feel confident, that if you were here & could visit the Colony, you would enter heart & hand in the work and