Note from Marie: Here is Back in Time, part of the first paragraph is from 2 July 1885 Sentinel, pg 3, rest of article is from typed story found at the museum. The AME church was built in 1881 I believe, I remember going by the church in the 1960’s and church members sitting on steps outside of the church.There were quite a few families living in Osceola until 1960’s..I have town school classmates that remember where the families lived and of them playing together, it was a different time here then And now.And how we all thought of each other then And now.
The colored people of Southern Iowa will hold a Grand Celebration at Osceola, Iowa, on the third of August 1885, which, as the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, seems by general consent to have been selected as the colored 4th of July. Their posters state they intend to make this one of the grandest and best celebrations ever witnessed among the colored people of the West. One thousand colored people will be in Osceola to participate. A strong program with able speakers has been prepared and excursion rates have been secured over the C B & Q and the D M O & S Railroads.
A reception will be held in the public park, which is shaded by one of the neatest groves in the West. The procession will form at the AME Church (African-Methodist Episcopal) at the corner of West Washington and North Temple Streets promptly at 10:00 A.M. Headed by a Silver Coronet Band the procession will move in grand parade up Washington Street to Jackson, and down Jackson to Cass, up Cass to Park, down Park to Webster, up Webster to Main, down Main to Jefferson, up Jefferson into the square.
At 8:00 there will be speaking by Rev J W Malone, responded to by Mr. T. A. Cheek, the noted colored orator of the West.
The committee is under the supervision of Mr. John Sullivan who will spare neither labor nor money in adorning the table with all of the delicacies of the season.
In the evening a Grand Festival will be held in Pritchett’s Opera House, assisted by the Home Singers who will appear in their original Jubilee and Plantation songs.
Committee of Arrangements-Peter Lankford, John Bryant, Louis Anderson, John Sullivan. Table committee-Lizzie Lankford, Anna Lankford, Susie Jones, Lee Burger, Wood Walker, Samuel Bryant. Committee on Reception: Ezekiel Glover, Marion Griffin, Alfred Griffin.
Price of admission: To the table, adults 25 cents, children 15 cents. To the Hall, adults 15 cents, children 10 cents.
The proceeds will be applied in payment of the debt against the AME Church of Osceola. Come one, come all, both great and small and have a glorious time.