The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-17
AGED NEGROES PICle
At MYRTLE GROVE
White Folksk Take Many Old Uncles
and Aunties TO Scene In Their
Automobiles.
A HEART GRIP1NG sc


A sight to grip the heart strings
Of every son and daughter of Dixie
Land who hasn't had every tunce OF
sentiment extracted from their souls,
was the free picnic at Myrtle Grove.
the property donated by the Greater
Richmond Fins nee and Realty Corpo-
ration for the erection of the Ma
tional Coloreds Folks Home, which
lasted all day yesterday.
All day this tattered host, rem
nants of the race which SO. faithfully
served and loved our fathers, poured
from conveyances onto the grounds
the street cars and were directed by
the conductors to Their destination,
and many came in the automobiles
OF their white folks" who took the
old darkies by the hand and led them
about the beautiful grounds.
Here was old Robert Lee. General
Robert e. Lees "niggah": Frank
Henderson Jackson, 103 years old,
faithful servitor OF General Stonewall
jackson: Lucinda Mason. who '"long-
ed to Governor Stuart's family
and many other old darkies who were
the slaves OF prominent families "Fo'
de Wah.' A letter was read from
William Melee, eighty years old. OF
of General Lee, and Is pastor OF q
church at Sumter.
Some Of the former slaves were too
old to get from the automobiles UNI
assisted. and these were lifted ten
Derby and taken to the scenes Of in
terest. Refreshments, Ice cream and
cake were provided by the white
folks and greatly enjoyed by the re-
.ipients.
Due principally to the earnest eff
forts OF the Rev. Simon p. w. Drew.
known as the "Coiored Billy Sun
day was this donation OF fifteen
acres of land north Of Ginter Park
for the erection Of home for needy
ex-slaves ari their descendants.
There viii alsl be an orphan asylum
and normal and Industrial school
erected on the property. Five acres
will be devoted to park.
The President Of the United States
and the Governors OF Ohio, Maryland
and New York have endorsed the
project. One hundred thousand dol
lars for the erection OF home will
be raised by subscription. A COM
mittee will be appointed to ask Con-
gress to appropriate 100000 for its
maintenance.
DR.. Drew Speaks.
DIR. Drew. in an eloquent address,
returned the thanks Of the negro race
for the splendid testimonial Of friend
ship and good will which the dona-
ton Of the lard and the interest OF
the white people In the proposed en-
terprise constituted
The money that will be collected
for the purposes OF this home. asy-
lum, Industrial school, etc, will be de-
posted IN The First NAttonxt Bank
OF Richmond for the National Colored
Old Folks Home. The money for the
asylum will be deposited In the st.
Luke's Penny Savings Bank, OF Rich
mond, and the money for tho normal
and industrial school will Re depos-
tied In the Mechanics' Bank of Rich
mond.
The officers OF the National Colored
Old Folks HSme Association OF tho
United States of America, who will
conduct the affairs Of the movement,
consist OF the following well known
colored men:
DIR. Simon P..w. Drew. president.
1917 Corcoran Street, n. W., WASH
ington. D. c., Phillip e. Hilton, vice.
president. Richmond, Va; James w.
Poe, secretary, editor True Reformer,
Richmond. Va: Oscar C. Male, as
sistant secretary, Washington. D. c.:
]. Thomas Hewin, attorney at law,
treasurer, Richmond, Va: Bishop AL
exander Walter. assistant treasurer.
New York city
The main ONCE Of the association
will be in the Mechanics Bank
Building. Richmond, Va, and the
branch ONCE will be at No. 1917 Cor
coran Street. n. W.. Washington, d.
&c.