1923: A Grand Celebration

One of the grandest celebrations occurred on the 60th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1923.

The festivities included a parade, public speeches, and a barbeque at Lewis Park (Lewis Park was the baseball grounds at the south end of Marine Street created by Albert Lewis for the Saints, the city’s professional club.).

The St. Augustine Historical Society is very lucky to have photos of this event by the local African American photographer Richard Aloysius Twine.

G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic, Union Veterans of the Civil War) car decorated with American flags, followed by unidentified marchers.

Unidentified people ride the St. Paul AME Church Ushers Board float.

Raymond Kelton playing clarinet with unidentified marchers on the Emancipation Day Parade (January 1st).

Parade Route

The parade assembled at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic School, the parochial school for African American children.

The route followed Park Place to Washington Street then north to King Street via Granada Street. Then they proceeded east on King St. and north on Cordova Street turning east on Cathedral Place. Processing south along the bayfront, they finally reached Lewis Park:

Images from PC40,
Richard Twine Collection

St. Benedict church ushers in Lewis Park. From left: Willie Condro, Charles Kelton, Arthur Forward, and possibly "Papa Skeeter" on the far right.

Parade float, possibly representing a medical auxiliary society. Posing in front, second row: an unidentified woman; Dr. Thomas G. Freeland; Dorcas Saunders(?); Dorothy Shelley. First row: Unidentified people.

The barbeque featured music and speeches. Dr. Nathan Collier, the president of Florida Normal and Industrial Institute, the local Black college, which is now Florida Memorial University in Miami, spoke on the special meaning of emancipation.

The festival continued into the evening with a street dance on Bridge Street with music by Benjamin’s Orchestra.

The organizers of the events were:

Nathaniel Williams
(a tailor at H. W. Davis & Co.);

James G. Reddick (Principal of the Black Junior High & Graded School);

Maithlun N. Fleming
(a postal clerk), and;

D. C. Williams of the Emancipations Committee of St. Johns County

The Emancipation Day Committee members, about 1924, pictured on Lewis Field in front of Flagler Hospital ( at its original location). The committee included a broad spectrum of Lincolnville's civic leaders. Pictured here are Frank Hoover, Shellie Butler, Nathaniel Williams, James T. Reddick, Frank Butler, John McDonald, Dr. A.B. Benson, Robert Smith, Pauline Echols, Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Saunders, Mamie Anderson, Mrs. Gibson, Herman Schwecke, Elzora Martin, and Mrs. Lindsley, and Miss McIntosh.