The Auburn Citizen, Wednesday, June 24, 1908

TUBMAN HOME OPEN

AND AGED HARRIET WAS CENTRAL FIGURE OF CELEBRATION

     With the stars and stripes wound about her shoulders, a band playing national airs and a concourse of members of her race gathered about her to pay tribute to her lifelong struggle in behalf of the colored people of America, aged Harriet Tubman Davis, the Moses of her race, yesterday experienced one of the happiest moments of her life a period to which she has looked forward for a score or more of years, the dedication of a home for aged and friendless colored people.   The delay in the consumption of her efforts has been many and tedious, but the Harriet Tubman Home is today an accomplished fact and her 95 years have at last been crowned with success.

      The proposition for such a home has been uppermost in Harriet’s mind for over 15 years and with the aid of a few faithful friends and  the members of the A.M.E. Zion conference of Western, New York, a piece of land consisting of 25 acres, containing a brick dwelling and several frame buildings has been acquired and placed in condition for occupancy.  Previous to the purchase of these 25 acres Aunt Harriet has carried on the work at her own home on the South Street road and the many acts of charity which she has done for the needy ones of her race would fill a volume.

     The history of Harriet Tubman’s work is well known to all students of the Civil War.  No less than 400 slaves were brought to freedom by her through the “Underground route,” and the great Lincoln himself not only wrote a personal letter to her paying glowing tribute to her work and granting her the privilege of passing the line, but often spoke of her in his addresses.  The late Queen Victoria also showed her appreciation of Harriet’s noble work by sending to the negress a beautiful woven shawl.

     Now the A.M.E. Zion church of America has taken upon itself the work of establishing the Home on a successful basis and yesterday marked the opening of the Home for the reception of those who was to take advantage of it.  At the present time the sum of $150 gives the applicant life privileges. Mr. and Mrs. Asa Lewis have recently been placed in charge of the Home as overseers and managers with their residence upon the property. The property will gradually be improved and the land cultivated as funds will permit.  There are an abundance of fruit trees and the entire property is tillable.  At the lately adjourned conference of Western New York held at Binghamton it was voted to take an annual collection for the maintenance fund of the Home and it is estimated that this sum will not be less than $200 per year.

     The Home has been tidily fitted up with comfortable furniture.  Plenty of clean white linen, enameled beds, etc.  The bedrooms of which there are five besides those of the overseer and matron, were equipped by the following persons:  Mrs. George Belt, Mrs. Thomas Freeman, Mrs. Charles Goodlow, Mrs. Edwards, all of Auburn, and George Brown of Schenectady.   The board of trustees of the Home, of which the Rev. E.A.U. Brooks, recently transferred from the Utica church to Auburn is secretary, is composed of the following members:  Bishop A. Walter, Bishop C.R. Harris, Rev. J.E. Mason, secretary of Livingston college,   Salisbury, N.C., Rev. J.C. Walters, of Rochester, Rev. M.H. Ross of Norwich,  Rev. T.A. Auten of Ithaca, Rev. C.A. Smith, Thomas Freeman, James Dale, Asa Lewis and Harriet Tubman Davis of Auburn. All of the trustees were in attendance yesterday with the exception of Bishop Walters.

     Other notable negro workers present were Rev. J.W. Brown of Rochester, Rev. J.C. Roberts  of Binghamton and Rev. G.C. Carter.

     Upon the arrival of the guests at the home after the street parade of the Ithaca colored band, dinner was served by Board of Lady Managers consisting of Mrs. Charles Smith president, Mrs. M.H. Ross president, Mrs. Henry Johnson secretary and Mrs. James Dale treasurer.  One of the most active persons on the grounds was Harriet herself and everywhere she went groups of people gathered about her to listen to her stories of her work.

     When called upon by the chairman for a few words of welcome the aged woman stated that she had but started the work for the rising generation to take up.  “I did not take up this work for my own benefit,” said she “But those of my race who need help. The work is now well started and I know God will raise up others to take care of the future.  All I ask is united effort, for united we stand divided we fall.”

     Harriet stated that the first payment she made on the present property was a york shilling. As she ceased speaking Perry Williams unfurled the flag behind her and the band played the Star Spangled Banner amid the applause of the throng.

     “I rejoice,” said Bishop Harris, “that the necessary steps have been taken to open this institution and that we are enabled at this time to see this accomplishment.  I rejoice that success thus far attended the efforts of those who have worked for the Home, and I hope that in all future work there shall be instituted measures that will meet with unbounded success.  The general conference has appointed a committee to provide some ways and means for aiding in this work.  This committee has not yet assembled, but we hope some means will be devised to aid pushing ahead the needy work of this home.  I rejoice with this aged Heroine and that God has put into her hands this work.  Now I hope others will make it the care and burden of their hearts.  I hope more and more attention will be devoted to this cause, and I bring God’s blessing upon this institution.

     Others who spoke during the afternoon were Rev. J.E. Mason of Salisbury, N.C., Rev. T.A. Auten, Rev. E.U.A.  Brooks, Rev. J.C. Roberts, Rev. J.W. Brown, Rev. G.C. Carter.

     In the evening there was a largely attended reception at St. George’s hall, a band concert and an address by Bishop Harris on the needs and purposes of the Home.  Later the young people danced and brought to close a notable day of celebration.