I Remember Old Tuscaloosa, June 17 1971

June 17, 1971.pdf

Title

I Remember Old Tuscaloosa, June 17 1971

Subject

History--Tuscaloosa (AL)
Maxwell, Fred (Frederick Richard Jr.), 1889-1988

Description

Fred Maxwell wrote "I Remember Old Tuscaloosa" for a weekly newspaper in Tuscaloosa called The Graphic from December, 1970 through December 1971. The Graphic was founded, owned and published by Maxwell's daughter Camille Elebash and her husband Karl Elebash beginning in 1957. It was sold to The Tuscaloosa News in 1976 and ceased publication sometime later.

To see the complete article enlarged click on the image.

Creator

Fred Maxwell

Source

Camille Elebash

Publisher

The Graphic

Date

June 17, 1971

Contributor

Brenda Harris (Description)
Tuscaloosa Public Library

Type

Document

Identifier

1699

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Text

Once a year they had a parade, bedecked in fancy costumes and all wearing face masks. The parade started at the top of River Hill and moved south on Greensboro (24th) Ave. The minority who were riding horseback wandered two or three blocks away from the main parade, but they would return again.

My first remembered contact with these mysterious paraders occurred in front of our house on the corner of 6th St. and 27th Ave. (circa 1894). I was about four or five years old and was with my father on our front sidewalk when a band of about 12 masked riders came down 6th St. covering street, sidewalks and front yards indiscriminately. One rider came up to me and announced that he was going to take me with him. Since my father was laughing and talking with others in the gang I knew they must be friendly so I was not frightened, however, I did have some misgivings and stayed close to my father.

Who were the masked riders?

They were known as Rosicrucians. Their parades were called “Riding Rosicrucian.” They were a secret order and no one seemed to know where they came from, only that they seemed to be natives of Tuscaloosa.

The Universal Standard Encyclopedia has this to say:

“Rosicrucian Order, an international nonsectarian fraternity (said to be of Egyptian origin) operated on the lodge system and devoted to the practical application of the arts and sciences to human relationships. Allied jurisdictions send their representatives to congresses held periodically at Geneva. In the United States the organization is known as Amorc, an abbreviated form of the name, The Ancient and Mystical Order of Rosae Curcis (Order of the Rosy Cross). In most states the society is incorporated as a college as well as a fraternal order, and courses of instruction are available to members.

The order was first established in America in Philadelphia in 1693. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were among its early officers.”

The World Almanac gives the following:
Rosicrucian Fraternity (1616) in Germany, (1859) in U.S.

Rosicrucian Order AMORC (1915) Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, Calif.

Rosicrucian, Society of (1909); 321 W. 101st St., New York, N.Y.

So if you see a Rosicrucian parade in progress please call me.

Original Format

Newspaper