Comemoration 250 Event at Center Hill Farmers' Market with Kulis Society

On July 11, 2026, Center Hill Farmers Market joined  with the Kulis Society and discussed African Americans in the War for Independence and soldiers who helped to keep America free afterwards, by choice or by the first draft that started in 1917. There was a photo display of four World War 1 African Americans who were drafted into World War 1 from Winston County: Leroy Edwards, George Mitchell, Jessie Houston and William James Eichelberger.   Karl 'Tony' Edwards shared about his great grandfather Leroy Edwards of which most of his descendants live in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Mississippi.  Mattie Eichelberger Davis shared stories about her father William James Eichelberger and his 22 children of which eleven still live. They live in California, Louisana and Mississippi. Rev. Silas Smith, an Air Force veteran,  shared about Jessie Houston and his family of which two of his grandsons, Jerry and Alvin Smith live in Mississippi. This writer shared about George Mitchell. She attended Rust University with his children George Terry and Betty Joe. 

There were  displays of other veterans who served in various wars and served in branches locally and nationally. The veterans of the Gulf War were acknowledged and displayed. Henry Carter, a retired veteran who served in the US Army for over 20 years recently moved to Winston County from Orangeburg, S.C. shared his story as a veteran.

The highlight of the event was a presentation by former history teachers Roy and Shirley Eichelberger of LHS. They talked extensively about enslaved African Americans who fought on both sides of the War of Independence and were promised freedom by both but continued to be slaves for many years after 1776.  

Roy praised the struggle of the enslaved soldiers who continued to fight for their personal freedom until the Emancipation Proclamation was signed January 1, 1863 which only freed slaves in the confederate states. It was the 13th Amendment that abolished the ownership of human as slaves.  The states ratified the 13th Amendment on December 6, 1865. However, the Mississippi Legislature did not ratify the 13th Amendment until March 16, 1995 - over 130 years later.. Because Mississippi did not file the necessary paper work to the Federal Register, the ratification only became official on February 7, 2013. Slavery as punishment for those convicted criminals remained after the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment was the first of three amendments passed after the Civil War that helped to expand the civil rights of Americas. The 14th and 15th were the other two. 

Fresh produce from farmers and canned goods were sold at the event. Also, free hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks were provided by The Kulis Society with their president Charles Heard grilling. He introduced himself as the newly appointed Dean Park Commissioner, also, he explained his responsibility to help the other Commissioners manage Dean Park. Fried apple and peach pies were sold by Johnny Haynes. America is known for hotdogs, apple pies and baseball. Baseball was not available.

Center Hill Farmers Market is closed for the summer season. It will open for the fall season in October.