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EMANCIPATION PARK
Celebrations of “ Juneteenth ” — the anniversary of the June 19 , 1865 emancipation of Texas slaves — were first held in homes and churches . Later , festivities took place outdoors . By 1915 , the Huntsville Black community , led by former slave Jane Ward had moved the annual observance to this site , known as Emancipation Park . Dave Williams organized the band and park association to raise the down payment on the property .
In 1933 , R . A . Josey , a local businessman , completed purchase of the land for use by the Black community . The 9.04 acre site became a city park in 1963 .
— The park is located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr . Blvd .
OAKWOOD CEMETERY
This cemetery existed as early as 1846 .
In 1847 , Pleasant Gray , Huntsville ’ s founder , deeded a 1,600-square foot plot at this site . The original tract has been greatly enlarged by other donations from local citizens . Numerous graves bear the death date 1867 , when a yellow-fever epidemic swept the county . Among the many famous persons buried here are General Sam Houston , Henderson King Yoakum , author of the first comprehensive history of Texas ; state congressmen and pioneer families .
— The cemetery is located at the corner of Avenue I and 9th Street .
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