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The sign was funded with the help of a grant from the
Illinois Route 66 Byways program that awarded $1,000 to Atlanta
Tourism last fall.
Atlanta Tourism Director Whitney Ortiz explained the purpose of the
sign and its significance in noting black history in the small
community during the 1870’s to 1890’s. The sign is located with the
high school foundation stone just inside the corner entrance to the
park. It is placed there because it commemorates the firsts
involving African Americans in the Atlanta community, including the
first African American graduate from Atlanta High School.
Ortiz said the story line begins with Walter White, who was not only
an African American graduate but valedictorian of his class. After
graduation, White moved to Bloomington where he was employed as a
secretary for Reverend C.S. Smith.
The second notation, Ortiz explained, pertains to Civil War history
and notes that prior to the Civil War there were two African
American families in the Atlanta area. After the civil war the
number increased to 12 households. Ortiz said the statistic verifies
that the people of color where welcome in the Atlanta community with
very little or no prejudice. She noted one particular Atlanta
resident, Richmond Reed, served in the 53rd Massachusetts Infantry,
which was the sister regiment to the famous 54th Infantry that was
made up exclusively of African American soldiers.
Next on the sign is a recognition of the 1875 Emancipation
Proclamation Barbecue held in Atlanta on September 22, 1875.
Ortiz said the Looking for Lincoln Abraham Lincoln National Heritage
Area has produced a video about the barbecue, which was screened in
Atlanta in July. The new sign includes a QR code visitors can scan
with their phones to watch the 12-minute video.
The fourth key point in African American history in Atlanta is the
formation of the African American Methodist Episcopal Church in
1875. The church met for its first quarterly meeting on June 11th of
that year, and in 1893 hosted a dedication of their newly
constructed church.
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Finally, the sign contains a quote by Atlanta native and member
of the Hawes Family, James Ewing. The quote comes from a letter that Ewing wrote
to family while a soldier in the Civil War.
Ortiz pointed out her favorite quote from the letter, which is printed in red on
the sign. “I believe the hand of God is at work to deliver an enslaved race from
its bondage...”
Ortiz said that the letter was a testament to the attitude of the
citizenry of Atlanta, that slavery was not acceptable. She said the community
was very accepting of people of color. She believes one reason for this was
because many people in the Atlanta area were from the New England area in the
northeast, where slavery was not practiced.
She concluded that she felt that Atlanta was a remarkable area during that time
period because the school was not segregated. She said history shows that at
that point, most all schools were for whites only.
Ortiz went on to say that signage in the park is going to be updated with more
imagery such as is seen on the ‘Being the First African Americans in Atlanta’
sign. Many will recall the large Atlanta sign in the garden that points out that
the town is the halfway point in the Illinois leg of Route 66. That sign is also
scheduled for a refresh in the future. Some of the large wall murals in town
have already had a refresh. She said the goal was to make everything bright and
shiny for Route 66 tourists.
The next big event in Atlanta will be a car-cruise in on Sunday September 11th.
The Never Forget Cruise-in will be downtown in Atlanta starting at 10 a.m. and
closing at 2 p.m. During that time, money taken in by Atlanta Tourism will be
donated in full to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
See the press release issued by Atlanta Tourism to learn more about the event
and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The Atlanta Fall Festival is also coming up on Thursday, September 15th through
Saturday, September 17th.
If you spend time in Atlanta at either or both of these weekends, please
remember to visit the Route 66 Park and see the new historical sign.
[Nila Smith]
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