Girard neighborhood gathers for Labor Day celebration
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GIRARD -- For the past six years, residents off West Prospect Street near the former Hartzell Park come together for an annual neighborhood block party.
The event took place Sunday and brought current and past neighborhood members together for a day of celebration.
Andrea Daniels, an event organizer, said the idea for the event is based on African-American families who moved to Ohio as part of the Great Migration in the 1900s and settled in the western Girard neighborhood.
She said people shared their stories of living in Girard and conducted a tribute for those from the neighborhood who have died in the past year. There was a memorial prayer and the release of balloons.
Daniels said her aunt, Elizabeth Comer, died in May and was one of those remembered.
Daniels said the event attracted more than 100 people, with five generations of some families attending.
Co-organizer Mayola Mills said she started the first event as a tribute to the older members of the neighborhood and to recognize them for what they have done, including Ann Mitchell and Roberta Comer.
"The significance is these families bought these homes in this neighborhood and raised their families here," Daniels said.
Mills said there is always a lot of camaraderie, music, games, raffle, dinner, dancing, fireworks and memories.
"We have everything but a Ferris wheel," she said
Mills said actress and model Kathleen Bradley, who appeared on "The Price is Right," grew up for a time in the neighborhood before her family moved to Parkwood in another section of Girard.
She said there were members of the Triplett family -- Mel and Bill -- who played for the Detroit Lions and another for the New York Giants.
Daniels said Carol Holmes, who is Girard Safety Service Director and former McDonald mayor Glenn Holmes' wife, grew up in the neighborhood.
"There is a lot of history in this neighborhood that a lot of the children need to know about. When they hear of the success of many from this neighborhood that will encourage them," Mills said.
"These are the homes that the people attending today live in or had previously grown up in. Those attending don't all still live on this block of West Prospect Street but at one time they did. My grandmother grew up here and so did my mother and then I did," Daniels said.
Daniels said she lets her own children know about the successes of many from the neighborhood who are doctors, athletes, business owners and others famous in many professions.
"I hope that those who leave today will have good memories. It was my intent that younger generations realize where they came from is really a wonderful neighborhood to grow up in. We as neighbors had fun and were united and helped one another," Mills said.
Daniels said everyone in the neighborhood was so close it was like all the families were related.
"There are some who are related, but others were like seeing a sister or brother. It was like a big family. We want to continue this event and want our children to remember us when we are not here," Mills said.
MEMORIES SHARED
Chad Wilson, who lives in the neighborhood, said this end of summer celebration on Labor Day weekend lets the residents get together for fun and celebration.
"It is the end of summer holiday weekend, where people can have fun. There are many former residents who are able to come back to town to visit. To me this event brings back memories of the old, the young, the new. It is like a family reunion on this street.We all come back and this reunites all the families who we may have not seen for a year. Like most families we lose loved ones and to the whole street that person means so much to all of us because we are like a big family," Wilson said.
He said preparing for the event is a lot of work, but it's all worth it.
Beverly Comer Daniels, a resident, said she looks forward to the gathering every year.
"We are part of this tradition every year," she said.
Obie Leon Comer of Girard was the one preparing the ribs, chicken and other food with several grills in the yard.
Micah Jones of Girard said he likes getting to see people he doesn't always get to see otherwise.
Alrashan Clardy of Girard was helping his mother, Mayola Mills, with the balloons and tents.
"For me this is a great way for people to come together with friends and neighbors and have a good time while celebrating the street and neighborhood," Clardy said.
Ellen Garrett of Youngstown, who grew up in the neighborhood, said she makes an effort to attend every year.
"I'm originally from here. I always like coming back to see everyone I grew up with and to keep in touch with them," Garrett said.
Garrett said attending the event is like coming back home.
"I think of Lillian, Mary and Shirley and so many others who I grew up with and knew in the neighborhood, I always tell myself I can always come back home to the neighborhood," she said.
She said her sister, Thelma, was the first black majorette at Girard High School.