Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-03-03
ohepherdo"n Jefferson Virginia. Thursday March 1921
The Last of Uncle George Frazier

There will be a good deal Of resre,
over the sad ending of George Frazier.
one OF Shepherdstown's best-known
colored men, who met an untimely
death in Martinsburg early YESTERDAY
morning. Uncle George has for ma1v
years made his home with the family
OF DR.. John L. Meyers, in this place,
A few weeks ago, when DR.. MYERS
and His family left for an extended
trip through the west, he placed the old
colored man, who was 81 years Of age
in the City Hospital in Martinsburs
where he was to be cared for until
their return. The old man was made
comfortable and given the freedom of
the colored ward. and was treated
kindly by the hospital folks, who were
much amused by his quaint ways and
sayings. Nevertheless, he was lone
some and homesick, and often ex
pressed desire to be back in Shep.
herdstown.
Wednesday morning he arose early
as was his custom, and dressed him
self. About 5 o'clock a crash was
heard, and an investigation revealed
Uncle George lying on a concrete
pavement outside the hospital. He
had either fallen or thrown himself
from a window on the third floor, and
mad crushed his head on the hard con-
crete: He was dead when his BODY
was found.
Uncle George was one Of Shepherds
towns most notable characters. He
had a laughing voice that carried far,
and when he was really amused his
laugh could be heard from one end os
the town to the other. He was polite
and respectful to white folks, but to
those of his own color he was areu-
mentative and boastful; and though
many deaths would have resulted out
his apparently savage threats. as a
matter of fact he was entirely harm
less. Everybody liked the old man.
1t was as grand marshal of col
ored procession that Uncle George
shone, with refulgent glory. On a
prancing horse, with blue sash around
his body and high silk hat upon his
head, he was positively inimitable. No
one could induce a gallant steed to 20
through more evolutions than he. nor
could anyone carry himself more like
a Centaur. Whether a political pa.
rade. lodge turnout or Sunda,
school procession, il was conceded tina
the only person to properly head the
marchers was Uncle George on a high.
ly groomed horse with beribbonej
bride, baton in hand and of immacu-
late sartorial splendor No parade wiz
hereafter seem the same. Uncle George
in ordinary attire of hand -me-downs
was not imposing in appearance; bu'
once or twice a year he RECALLED the
town folks by making tour of Main
street on Sunday afternoon arrayed
like Solomon in all his glory. Shiny
silk hat, Prince Albert coat, white
duck trousers. coiored waistcoat, vel.
low shoes and red necktie. twirling a
sporty cane and with opulent watch
chain across his front, he was a sigh
to edify all beholders, and he firmly
believed that all the young bucks in
town were terribly jealous Of his style
and or his ability to create a sensation
He failed 10 make his usual parade last
summer, explaining confidentially that
his feet had gone back on him. AL
though he worked with his recalcitran'
pedal extremities for many days, he
couldn't get them into shoes less than
number twelves, and pride forbade
him wearing larger size upon such
an occasion.
Uncle George will be missed in
NllCIC Ills harmless
antics created so much amusement
He was among the last of the old
time colored people who had real at
tachment for the families to whom they
belonged before the war, and very few
OF his kind are now left We t-rst
that he is even now enjoying the fel;c-
ity which good Hard-Shelled Baptists
such as he look forward to when they
a re fro tha
ulationS Of this earth: that the River Of
Life is to him real, tangible thing
that his crown is just as becoming rs
his high silk hat. and that his golden
harp makes no discord as he uses il
which he constantly hummed when he
was here upon earth.
Good For the Town Council.
At special meeting of the town
council Tuesday afternoon it was de-
cided tu keep the electric lights on al
night, instead of turning them off a;
the town sergeant's bed time, as has
been the custom for many years. A
week or two ago a committee from the
Woman's Club waited upon the coun-
Gil and requested that the lights be
KEEP. on a least until midnight. The
council agrees to do even better, and
the lights will be kept gping all
night. A time clock will be at once
installed, and it will be set so as to
automatically switch the lights of at
early 6aylight We think that our peo-
pie generally will be gratified at this
action Of the council II is away be-
hind the times to have dark streets af-
ter ten or eleven O'Clock, AMI there
has been much complaint on the part
Of travellers who arrive here on the
midnight trains and are obliged to
stumble In their destinations in Sfypi a n