The Ward School Community Preservation Association will host an inaugural Juneteenth Celebration at Trey Park, in the area in front of the stage behind the city pool, (265 Marlene St.) on Saturday, June 14. The event is free and open to the community.
Juneteenth, a federal holiday as of 2021, is a significant celebration in the history of the United States, the end of the Civil War and most importantly, the emancipation of Black Americans. The Juneteenth name is derived from the combination of the words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth’, referring to June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people there.
Hartsville resident Freddie Banks, an organizer of the celebration, has traveled to Texas to tour the Juneteenth Museum and was greatly moved by the exhibitions and discussions. Banks hopes the event will become an annual celebration in the Hartsville — Trousdale County community.
“I just want to encourage the community, children and adults, to come and be a part of the celebration,†said Banks. “It just touches my heart that we have this opportunity.â€
“Juneteenth means reflection and paying homage to my ancestor’s past, their struggles and sacrifices for my liberty and freedom, the trailblazers in this country which believed ALL men were created equal and promised FREEDOM,†said Banks. “I am very excited that Hartsville will participate in its first Juneteenth Celebration.â€
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Displays will be set up and music will be provided by Anthony Whitaker and Mark Gregory. The program for the event begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include multiple guest speakers, music by SJMB Church and a veteran’s recognition by the Ward School Community Preservation Association. Guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs.
Following the Civil War, a one-room schoolhouse known as “the School in the Woods†educated the African American children of Trousdale County. Ward School was constructed in 1923 at 111 Hall Street, Hartsville, as part of the Rosenwald School Project, a joint effort by Julius Rosenwald and the Southern Education Board.
The school served as the only high school for African Americans and a community gathering spot until its closure in 1966. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building is owned by the Ward School Community Preservation Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the building and its history. The facility is currently undergoing renovations to create community spaces for gatherings, educational opportunities, and eventually will have walking trails around the property that will connect to trails throughout the town of Hartsville.
“We are proud of the progress being made on the Ward School,†said Rev. Albert Strawther. “The Juneteenth Celebration celebrates heritage and community. We want this event and the Ward School to be community outreaches, to develop legacies that will have a positive impact on the community and the younger generations that grow up here — legacy that continues and remains long after we are gone.â€
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