Ashland Boys’ Association

The Ashland Boys' Association of Philadelphia Chapter coming home via train to Ashland was greeted by a proud coal mining hometown. This was a Independence Hall float that was made and it represented the Philadelphia contingent. This float was pulled by the Philadelphia Ashland boys in early homecoming parades.

The "Oakland Miners" was a family tradition for generations in the Ashland Boys' Association Mummers Parade. With blackened faces and pick and shovel in hand, the Oakland Miners paid tribute to the anthracite coal trade that built the area.

The proud hometown slogan as they greeted the Ashland boys home.

The annual homecoming reunions were held on Labor Day at Washington Park. Later years, the reunions were moved to Eureka Park in Ashland.

The decorated arch shown above, in front of the Washington Fire Company No. 1 (Hookies), was placed across Centre street in the early 1900's. One arch stood here at the 13th and Centre Street location, and the other near 7th and Centre Street. The decoration arch lasted a couple years over the Ashland Boys' Association Homecoming weekend.

This is the earliest Ashland Boys' Association Parade photo. The Home Staff Parade began circa 1905. The Ashland Boys' Association began their home staff when the reunions were moved from Wadleigh's Grove to Washington Park. The home staff parade began at 9 a.m. on Labor Day, and this home staff parade tradition lasted until the 1960's.

The Philadelphia contingent coming home to Ashland off the train evolved into the annual Mummers Parade. In 1910, the first known celebration started on Saturday night at 8:00PM when the members of the Philadelphia Branch of the Ashland Boys' Association arrived in special train over the Reading Railroad. There were three coaches attached to Engine No. 97 and the train carried two hundred jolly Philadelphia Ashland Boys and their families. This was the tenth anniversary of the association and was one of the most successful celebrations in the history of the Ashland Boys' Association.

Ashland was a proud community greeting the Philadelphia contingent with a celebration. The following organizations were in line to greet the Philadelphia Branch of ABA in a informal parade: Ashland Boys Band, Philadelphia Branch of A.B.A., German Catholic Knights, Centralia Band, American Hose Company, Knights of Golden Eagle, Emmett Band, Washington Fire Company, Woodman of the World, Improved Order of Redman, Washington Light Infantry, the German Catholic Knights, a splendidly drilled organization formed the letters "A.B.A." in perfect accord and thrilled the spectators. The Ashland community all had roman candles and torches in there hands to greet the informal processions as it grew bigger.

Ashland was the only town to respond in this unique way of sentiment and pride while walking all the returnees home. The independent Ashland A.B.A. Mummers Club finally formed in 1928 according to the Ashland Daily News and at this point, everything was an organized parade. Curley Lentz from Ashland Boys' Association of Philadelphia faithfully carried an Olympic torch in the mummers parade. This was the symbol of the Philadelphia contingent and he carried the torch until he couldn't walk anymore. The parade was an anthracite coal region showcase that brought thousands of non-Ashland residents into Ashland for almost a century. The Saturday night before Labor Day will always be remembered in the hearts and minds of Ashland residents.

This is a photo of the beginning of the last mummers parade back in 2008.

Inscription on brass plaque, visible in Photo 13, at base of Welcome Home Plaza. “It honors all mothers, past and present and is the only one of its kind in the country. Erected by the Ashland Boys Association and dedicated on Sept. 4, 1938.

“Designer: Emil Siebern; Sculptor: Julius C. Loester. Courtesy of Ashland Chamber of Commerce, 1963.”

At an A.B.A. Homecoming Reunion in 1933, it was proposed to honor all Ashland mothers by erecting a monument or memorial. Members felt that such a memorial would represent the very foundation of the organization, because their motto was, “Come on home” and home evoked thoughts of one’s mother. A committee was formed in 1936 to investigate and plan the memorial. Some A.B.A. members, as well as many residents of the town, advocated the establishment of a library instead, but the memorial was decided upon and eventually gained the full support of the organization and the town. The idea of commissioning a sculpture based on the painting known as “Whistler’s Mother” was a unique one. The A.B.A. responded enthusiastically and raised over $6000 for the project. The seven foot high three-dimensional sculpture was designed by Emil Siebern and sculpted by Julius Loester. Both artists were sculptors from New York who specialized in public art—funerary decoration, memorials, park statuary, etc. Although they did not routinely work together, both participated in several projects overseen by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The completed Ashland monument was made of bronze and placed atop an impressive stonework terrace built by the WPA in 1938.

Pictures taken Labor Day, 1903. Frank Hoover, W. P. Snyder, Burd Billman, Curtis Hoover, Frank Seeley, Joe Oestreich, Harry Livers, Harry Billman, Charles Barnhardt, Isaiah Seibert, Horatio Seeley, Harry Shelley, H. L. Leam, Harry Snyder, W. D. DeMoyer. Click on the image to see detail.

South 3rd Street is named Hoffman Boulevard honoring Ashland Boys' Association leader while he was alive.

The 1937 A.B.A. Homecoming Reunion, the Ashland Boys' Association approved "Whistler's Mother" as the subject on canvass for the Mothers' Memorial. A.B.A. President Dr. John L. Hoffman stated, "He didn't think any boy can honor his mother too much, whether she is living or passed to her reward." When adjournment of the Ashland Boys' Association reunion meeting was about to be taken. Oscar Nolte arose to ask President Dr. J.L. Hoffman to relinquish the chair to Vice President Horn. Walter Payne was then called upon to present a matter which he said, has been on his mind for some time. Mr. Payne reviewed the splendid work that has been done by President Hoffman as President of Ashland Borough Council and as a token of the Ashland Boys' Association's gratitude he suggested Ashland name South Third Street to "Hoffman Boulevard." A motion was immediately made by Messrs Burchfield and Meiswinkel and passed amid vociferous applause. Dr. Hoffman was much affected by the action of the Ashland Boys' Association to defer tribute until his demise but everybody was enthusiastic in their desire to honor the association's faithful president now while he is still alive and at work in Ashland.

Dr. John L. Hoffman was the main force behind the statue, and the statue overlooks Hoffman Boulevard (Pennsylvania Highway Route 61), which is named in his memory.