Black History Celebrated In Yardley Borough

YARDLEY BOROUGH, PA — On the same day that the African American Museum of Bucks County held its grand opening, the Gather Place Museum was making some more Black History of its own.

The borough celebrated the federal Juneteenth holiday with a flag raising ceremony on Friday for the fourth straight year.

The flag raising — along with a Pride flag raising — were two initiatives launched by then Councilman and now Council President David Appelbaum.

"It means a lot to me," Gather Place Museum Executive Director Shirley Coursey told Patch on Monday. "I've been doing this since 2022."

The event was sponsored by the Gather Place Museum, which promotes Black history in Bucks County.

Corsey said the turnout at Borough Hall was impressive.

"The Juneteenth celebration in Yardley Borough was a wonderful success," she said. "Gather Place was happy to sponsor for the 4th year, an educational, entertaining, and inspiring program."

Corsey dressed in historical garb for a presentation celebrating freedom, honoring history, and reflecting on the enduring legacy of African Americans in the borough, Lower Bucks County and the nation.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

It's the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of The Civil War.

(Gather Place Museum)