POTW: Memorial Day Parade

[Emmanuel House Club 2nd and 3rd marching line in parade], circa 1910, V1981.284.6, Emmanuel House lantern slide collection, V1981.284; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Brooklyn has been honoring those who have died while serving in the United States military with an annual Memorial Day parade since 1867. The parade, which begins at 78^th Street and Third Avenue, marks its 149^th anniversary this year and is known as the longest-running Memorial Day parade in the country. This tradition began shortly after the Civil War, a conflict that killed approximately 650,000 people in the northern and southern United States. It is still considered one of the most traumatic events in the country’s history, and was central to the history and genesis of Memorial Day. Along with the barbecues, beaches, sales, and a much-needed day off, we hope you take a moment on Monday to remember those who have died in military service.

With that in mind, the photo of the week depicts a parade (possibly a Memorial Day parade) around 1910 in Brooklyn. The Emmanuel House Club—a religious and community center located at 131 Steuben Street in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn—is pictured marching in the second and third lines. They offered Sunday school and recreational classes to children of the church and neighborhood. This photograph comes from the Emmanuel House lantern slide collection which contains 87 slides from 1900 to 1914 that depict the Emmanuel House, activities, and exterior and interior views of the building. To see more photographs from this collection, check out this gallery.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here. To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. library@brooklynhistory.org