Today usually is a day filled with music, food, laughter, fun and togetherness. But this year in Martinsville and the surrounding area, things will look different for Juneteenth.
Celebrating the proclamation of the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, this day also known as Jubilee Day and Freedom Day coincidentally has fallen on the same weekend as a large gathering in Martinsville called the June German Ball.
Held along the city’s historic Fayette Street, that celebration has commemorated the area’s history while giving guests an opportunity to relive and learn about historically significant events.
The June German Ball began in 1938 as a way to celebrate the culturally rich African-American community in Martinsville but was disbanded after approximately three decades. There was a resurgence several years ago, and the June German Ball most recently took place at Albert Harris Elementary School, only steps away from Fayette Street.
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