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2006 Mail

Midland Cemetery, Memorial Day 1900

From Calobe Jackson, Jr., April 15, 2006

Happy Easter to all.  I was born on Easter Sunday, so I celebrate Easter as birthday, although it fluctuates.

Research this week has been amazing to say the least.  Often I read of ceremonies at Midland over the years, but this description of the 1900 Memorial Day exercises tops them all (see photo and transcription, below).  W. Justin Carter and James Howard spoke. Auter was the son-in-law of Jane Chester.  Other notables were there.  Steelton Cornet Band was in existence for many years.

The custom of dressing marching children in colors of the flag is mentioned as far back as the 1865 Harrisburg USCT parade.

Peter S. Blackwell and W. Justin Carter spoke in 1899, but a full description of the exercises were not reported by newspapers.

By the way, Steelton High School did not graduate a class in 1901. The new high school opened in the fall of 1900. Requirements for graduation were extended to four years of high school instead of three, as was the case until the class of 1900.

Best Regards
Calobe

Article transcription:  "At 10:30 a procession of colored people was formed on Adams street, right resting on Second, and moved out, in the following order:  Chief marshal, Henry Berkley, aids, George Moten, Frank Jefferson and Jacob Gibson; Steelton Cornet Band, Daniel Holmes, conductor; firing squad from Post 520, of Harrisburg, in command of James Auter; hearse containing flowers; four boys dressed in national colors, carrying open Bible; eight boys and eight girls, also dressed in the nation's colors, carrying a large flag; several hundred small school children in wagons; citizen on foot, carriages containing the ministers and speakers.  The route was down Adams to Front, to Mohn, to Midland cemetery.  The singing was done by the school children and they also placed the flowers on the graves.  Addresses were made by W. Justin Carter, Esq., of Harrisburg, and James Howard.  At one o'clock the parade returned and dismissed on Adams street."

Editor's note:  See the related article about Memorial Days Past.

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