“ Our county has so many interesting aspects to it from an historical perspective,” Madison said.“ It’ s something I feel like we need to take advantage of and share with our kids.”
When the four pilot classes launched, Megenity said it was fascinating to see how thrilled the fourth graders were to be in the restored Division Street School. But one very important person was missing.
Hickerson was very ill and relied on an oxygen tank. She missed the first three classes, but Megenity kept her informed with updates. Due to her illness, he was worried that his partner in saving Division Street wouldn’ t be able to see her dream come true in person.
Just after the fourth class began, Megenity heard a car pull up in the school parking lot. Hickerson’ s husband had driven her to her childhood school so she could see the refurbished building for herself.
“ I could tell she was not doing well at all, but she wanted to see what was going on,” Megenity said.“ Kathryn gave this wonderful and impassioned speech on what it meant to her to see the building saved, restored and turned into a classroom again.”
Soon after Megenity departed for Peru to visit his daughter who was serving in the Peace Corps. While there, he ran into a girl who was selling homemade dolls. He knew Hickerson loved them, so he bought her one and looked forward to giving it to her when he got back to New Albany.
The phone was ringing almost as soon as Megenity arrived back at his home. The news wasn’ t good. Hickerson had died the night before.
Her husband asked Megenity to give the eulogy at Hickerson’ s funeral. He brought the doll with him. There was hardly a dry eye in the audience.
It’ s a story Megenity knows well, just like his understanding of history. That knowledge is why he’ s concerned about restrictions on education and the backlash against DEI.
“ I would probably be in trouble because I taught DEI when I was in school,” he said.
Megenity was educated in a segregated school. He remembers the Jim Crow laws and the racism that accompanied them. He recalls how maps were drawn even after segregation ended to keep certain kids out of certain schools.
TEACHING THE PAST, CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE
Not far from Division Street, the Town Clock Church steeple hovers above downtown New Albany. Home of Second Baptist Church, the site served as a link in the Underground Railroad.
For over a decade, Friends of the Town Clock Church have raised funds to restore and maintain the building. An active congregation worships
Kathryn Hickerson’ s son, James Hickerson, looks at a display case of segregation history at the Division Street School in 2018.
Victor Megenity sits at a desk in the classroom at the Division Street School
July | August 2025 DIVERSITY 13