Come to our first Archives After Hours event of the year on Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 pm. This event’s focus will be on our local World War I veterans and the Handley Plaques.
Have never heard of the Handley Plaques? Well, the story begins in 1924. The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion local chapter decided that the community would like to honor the fallen soldiers from World War I. After a discussion of how to pay tribute to them and where this memorial would be located, organizers decided to plant fifty red oaks along the boulevard next to the newly completed Handley High School. Each tree would have a bronze plaque in front of it dedicating the tree to the memory of a Winchester-Frederick County resident killed while serving in the Great War.
The first tree was planted during the very first Apple Blossom Festival on May 3, 1924 by Secretary of War John W. Weeks, who was in town for the festival and was asked to plant the first tree. Over the coming months more trees were planted, and a list of all the area’s fallen soldiers was compiled.
The official dedication of these memorial trees and plaques was held on Armistice Day (now Veterans Day) 1924. Celebrations began with a parade from City Hall to the Handley High School grounds where a dedication ceremony was held.
Today, only seven of the forty-nine plaques dedicated to those fallen soldiers are known to exist.
What happened to the plaques? Who were these men who were honored by the community? How did World War I affect the community?
Local historian Gene Schultz will be leading a discussion about these very events and questions. Come learn more about this local story and get a close-up look at our collection and what we do every day in the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives. A behind-the-scenes tour of the archives space is to follow after the presentation.
Registration is required (click here to register).