Barrington Hills Village Hall - Closed Memorial Day

The Barrington Hills Village Hall will be closed Monday May 28, 2012 in observance of Memorial Day, reopening Tuesday May 29, 2012.

What we now know as Memorial Day originated as Decoration Day, started by General John A. Logan after the Civil War to honor fallen Union Soldiers.   By the 20^th century the day became known as Memorial Day, honoring all Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Barrington Hills has special place in this commemoration.  As the 150^th anniversary of the American Civil War arrives we take this day to honor the 91 Barrington Area residents who served in the Union Army.  Their names are found on commemorative plaque on a boulder located on the grounds of Barrington Center Church.

We do this as they did in 1933, a copy of the original Barrington [Courier] Review article, highlighting Memorial Day services then held in memory of those who served in the Civil War or the War to End All Wars.

Barrington Review - May 25, 1933

Dedication Will Be High Light of Holiday Program

Memorial Day Services to Be Conducted at Barrington Center

Dedication of the boulder and bronze tablet marking the scene of Civil war recruiting activities in Barrington Center will be a highlight of the Memorial Day services to be in the Barrington District Tuesday.

The day’s program will start with services at the White cemetery and will be concluded with dedication services at Barrington Center. The Legion drum and bugle corps members and color bears will meet at the Legion room at 8:30 a.m. ready to leave for White cemetery. Services will be held there and will be followed by services at Lake Zurich cemetery shortly after 8 o’clock. From Lake Zurich the Legion men will be taken to St. Paul cemetery to assist in the usual services which will start at 8:45 a.m.

One hour later at 9:45 o’clock participants in the Memorial Day parade will congregate in front of the Masonic temple ready to march to Evergreen cemetery. The parade will start at 10 o’clock with services scheduled to begin 15 minutes later at Evergreen. Included in the parade will be the Legion members, the drum and bugle corps, the Auxiliary, the W. B. C., the boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, and school children. Services will be concluded before noon.

The boy scouts and others who take part in the afternoon services will congregate in front of the school house at 2 o’clock from where they will be given transportation to Barrington Center church.

The services at Barrington Center will start at 2:30 o’clock. The program will be as follows:

Advance of colors – by Barrington post drum and bugle corps and the color guard.

Invocation – George J. Miller, Barrington post chaplin.

Song “America” – by the entire assemblage.

Address, “Meaning of the Memorial” – C. F. Paxton, chairman of Memorial committee.

Unveiling – by Frank B. Perkins, a surviving veteran of the group to whose memory the tablet is dedicated.

Prayer of dedication – Rev. Thomas E. Beam of Elgin.

Dedication address – Judge Charles S. Cutting.

Memorial service – Women’s Relief Corps, Gen. Thos. W. Sweeney Corps, No. 85.

Benediction – Rev. Charles R. Drussel, pastor of Baptist Church of Barrington.

Salute – Barrington Post No. 158, American Legion.

Retirement of Colors and Taps – Barrington post drum and bugle corps.

Song, “Star Spangled Banner” – by assemblage.

The stone and tablet have been erected by the Barrington post No. 158 of the American Legion with the assistance of the descendants of the victims, their friends, and the Women’s Relief Corps of Gen Thos. W. Sweeney Corps No. 85.

Source: Article found in the archives of the Barrington Area Library