Decoration Day before the war

The oldest items here are about Decoration Day, not Armistice Day. In June 1903 the Clarke Courier said the Decoration Day services at Old Chapel were well attended, "one of the largest crowds ever seen there being present," with Capt. R. S. Parks of Luray giving the oration.

In May 1912 the paper reported the services at Green Hill Cemetery in Berryville. The weather had looked threatening, but the attendance was, it said, "possibly the largest ever registered at the annual services" there.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1903
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 3, 1903 reported that the Decoration Day services at Old Chapel were well attended, "one of the largest crowds ever seen there being present," and that Capt. R. S. Parks of Luray gave the oration.

What the source supports

That a Decoration Day service at Old Chapel in 1903 drew what the Courier called one of its largest crowds.

Uncertainty

One short report; the crowd is the paper's description and no number is given. The report does not give the day of the service.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Decoration Day at Old Chapel." (June 3, 1903).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1903, page 1: "Decoration Day at Old Chapel."

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1903-06-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Decoration Day at Old Chapel."

Relevant passage
The Decoration Day services at Old Chapel were well attended, one of the largest crowds ever seen there being present.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Decoration Day at Old Chapel." (June 3, 1903).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1903, page 1: "Decoration Day at Old Chapel."

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1903-06-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Decoration Day at Old Chapel."

Relevant passage
Capt. R. S. Parks, of Luray, delivered the oration

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1912
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of May 29, 1912 reported that the Decoration Day services at Green Hill Cemetery "last Saturday" were largely attended in spite of threatening weather, and that the attendance was "possibly the largest ever registered at the annual services" there.

What the source supports

That Decoration Day services were held at Green Hill Cemetery in May 1912, and that the Courier called them annual.

Uncertainty

One short report; "possibly the largest" is the paper's own hedge, and no number is given.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Decoration at Green Hill" (May 29, 1912).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 29, 1912, page 1: "Decoration at Green Hill"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1912-05-29 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Decoration at Green Hill"

Relevant passage
The Decoration Day services at Green Hill Cemetery last Saturday were largely attended, although the weather outlook was very threatening.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Decoration at Green Hill" (May 29, 1912).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 29, 1912, page 1: "Decoration at Green Hill"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1912-05-29 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Decoration at Green Hill"

Relevant passage
The attendance was possibly the largest ever registered at the annual services at Green Hill Cemetery.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A short newspaper item headed "Decoration Day at Old Chapel." It reports that the services were well attended, one of the largest crowds ever seen there, and that Capt. R. S. Parks of Luray gave the oration.

"Decoration Day at Old Chapel": the Courier's short report of the 1903 services and their crowd.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 3, 1903, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2078,9171,923,700 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 923 by 700 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1903, page 1: "Decoration Day at Old Chapel." Open the full image

A short newspaper item headed "Decoration at Green Hill." It reports that the Decoration Day services at Green Hill Cemetery were largely attended although the weather was threatening, and that the attendance was possibly the largest ever at the annual services.

"Decoration at Green Hill": the Courier's 1912 report of the services, held under a threatening sky.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 29, 1912, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1394,4389,687,740 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 687 by 740 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 29, 1912, page 1: "Decoration at Green Hill" Open the full image

A false armistice

The war ended in Berryville twice. On Thursday, November 7, 1918, the Courier's man in Washington telephoned home that Germany had signed the armistice. Berryville, "like every town and city in the country," rang its church bells, blew its whistles and celebrated. A week later the paper explained itself under the headline "That Erroneous Armistice-Signing Report": everyone in Washington had believed it, and the signing "was prematurely announced." The real armistice came four days after that celebration, on November 11.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1918
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of November 14, 1918 reported that Berryville rang its church bells, blew its whistles and "celebrated generally the ending of the war last Thursday," on a report telephoned by the Courier's man in Washington that Germany had signed the armistice, and said that the signing "was prematurely announced."

What the source supports

That Berryville celebrated on the false armistice report of Thursday, November 7, 1918, as the Courier itself told it.

Uncertainty

The Courier's own account of its own premature report. "Last Thursday" in the issue of November 14 is November 7, 1918, the day of the false report, not November 11.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT" (November 14, 1918).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 14, 1918, page 2: "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1918-11-14 (publication)

Locator: Page 2, "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

Relevant passage
Berryville, like every town and city in the country, rang its church bells, blew its whistles and celebrated generally the ending of the war last Thursday.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT" (November 14, 1918).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 14, 1918, page 2: "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1918-11-14 (publication)

Locator: Page 2, "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

Relevant passage
The signing of the armistice was prematurely announced.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A long newspaper column headed "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT." It says Berryville rang its church bells and blew its whistles on a report, telephoned by the Courier's man in Washington, that Germany had signed the armistice, and that the signing had been prematurely announced.

"That Erroneous Armistice-Signing Report": the Courier explains the celebration it had touched off a week too early.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 14, 1918, page 2. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 823,3289,751,4110 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 751 by 4110 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 14, 1918, page 2: "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT" Open the full image

Welcome home

In June 1919 a Patriotic Committee fixed July 4 as the day to honor the county's returning soldiers: a parade at 11 o'clock, "a big old-time Virginia dinner in the court house yard" served by the women of the county, and a "Welcome Home" arch over the Town Square.

The plan printed on July 3 had the parade form near the N. & W. depot and march up Main Street. The whole county was asked to bring dinners to a basket picnic on the court house green, and the business houses would close during the parade. "The colored veterans will march in a body in the parade," the paper said, and the county's Black residents were arranging a dinner for them afterward, at the Baptist Church on Liberty Street or in Josephine City.

The same issue printed "Clarke County's Roll of Honor," the names the Local Board and the Adjutant General had given the Circuit Court clerk to be recorded under a state law. It ran in two lists; the second was headed "Colored." Men who had served and were not on it were told to bring their proof to the clerk. The names are on this site's roll of Clarke's veterans.

On July 10 the Courier reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 people "packed and jammed Berryville." Behind the chief marshal came a vehicle draped in white, carrying a flag with seven gold stars. The paper named six men for them: Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby. It does not say who the seventh star was for.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1919
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of June 12, 1919 reported that the Patriotic Committee had fixed July 4 as the day to honor the county's returning soldiers, with a parade at 11 o'clock, "a big old-time Virginia dinner in the court house yard" and a "Welcome Home" arch over the Town Square.

What the source supports

The plan for the July 4, 1919 welcome home, as first announced.

Uncertainty

A plan, not a report of the day; the final arrangements were printed on July 3 and the day itself reported on July 10.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes" (June 12, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1919, page 1: "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-06-12 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes"

Relevant passage
The Patriotic Committee, at a meeting Tuesday night, fixed July 4th as the date when the county’s soldier boys will be invited to Berryville so that honor may be paid them.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes" (June 12, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1919, page 1: "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-06-12 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes"

Relevant passage
The plans embrace the erection of a huge “Welcome Home” arch over the Town Square, beneath which the parade will march.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1919
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of July 3, 1919 printed the final plan for the July 4 welcome home: a parade at 11 o'clock forming near the N. & W. depot, business houses closed during the parade, and a basket picnic on the court house green; it said "the colored veterans will march in a body in the parade," and that the colored people were arranging a dinner for them afterward at the Baptist Church on Liberty Street or in Josephine City.

What the source supports

The final plan for the welcome home, including the march of the county's Black veterans and the separate dinner arranged for them.

Uncertainty

A plan printed the day before; the report of the day (July 10) does not say where the dinner for the Black veterans was held.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY" (July 3, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Relevant passage
The parade will start at 11 o’clock. It will form near the N. & W. depot and march up Main street to Rice,

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY" (July 3, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Relevant passage
The whole county is invited and are asked to bring their dinners along and join in a basket picnic on the court house green. The business houses in the town will be closed during the parade.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY" (July 3, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Relevant passage
The colored veterans will march in a body in the parade. The colored people are arranging to give them a big dinner after the parade, either at the Baptist Church on Liberty street or in Josephine City.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1919
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of July 3, 1919 printed "Clarke County's Roll of Honor," the names "the Local Board and the Adjutant General furnished to the Clerk of the Circuit Court to be recorded" under a Virginia act, and told men who had served but were missing from the list to bring proof to the clerk; the list runs in two parts, the second headed "COLORED."

What the source supports

That the county's official list of its men in the World War was recorded with the Circuit Court clerk and printed in the paper in two lists.

Uncertainty

The names themselves are on the veterans roll of this site, not repeated here. The heading of the second list is read on the page image.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" (July 3, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR"

Relevant passage
The following is a liist [sic] of the names the Local Board and the Adjutant General furnished to the Clerk of the Circuit Court to be recorded, under an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" (July 3, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR"

Relevant passage
All men who were in the service and whose name did not appear on the Local Board’s List should present the proper proof to the Clerk and have his name recorded on the permanent rolls preserved in said office.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1919
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of July 10, 1919 reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 people filled Berryville on July 4 to honor the county's World War veterans, and that a vehicle draped in white carried a flag with seven gold stars, which it said "represented the heroic sacrifice made by Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby."

What the source supports

That the welcome home was held on July 4, 1919, with a crowd the Courier put at 5,000 to 6,000, and the names it gave for the gold stars.

Uncertainty

The crowd is the paper's estimate. Seven stars and six names: the report does not explain the difference.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes" (July 10, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 10, 1919, page 1: "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-10 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

Relevant passage
Between 5,000 and 6,000 people packed and jammed Berryville, July 4th, to pay homage to Clarke county’s world war heroes.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes" (July 10, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 10, 1919, page 1: "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-10 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

Relevant passage
A vehicle, draped in white with seven gold stars on a flag suspended from an arch, followed the Chief Marshal and his aids. These stars represented the heroic sacrifice made by Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A long front-page newspaper column headed "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke's Returning World-War Heroes," describing plans for a parade, speeches, a dinner in the court house yard and a "Welcome Home" arch over the Town Square.

"Big Celebration Planned for July 4th": the first announcement of the welcome home for Clarke's returning soldiers.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 12, 1919, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2211,2909,1357,4504 of the full-resolution page), 1357 by 4504 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 3983 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1919, page 1: "Big Celebration Planned for July 4th in Honor of Clarke’s Returning World-War Heroes" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY'S WELCOME HOME DAY," giving the parade route and time, the speakers, the basket picnic on the court house green, and the plan for the colored veterans to march in a body and be given a dinner afterward.

"All Is Now Ready for Clarke County's Welcome Home Day": the plan printed the day before, including the colored veterans' march and dinner.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), July 3, 1919, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1483,916,1342,1299 of the full-resolution page), 1342 by 1299 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 1162 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY" Open the full image

A tall newspaper column headed "CLARKE COUNTY'S ROLL OF HONOR," with a short introduction about recording the names with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, followed by long lists of names, the second list headed "COLORED".

"Clarke County's Roll of Honor": the list recorded with the Circuit Court clerk, printed in two parts, the second headed "Colored."

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), July 3, 1919, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1483,2202,1342,5168 of the full-resolution page), 1342 by 5168 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 4621 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 3, 1919, page 1: "CLARKE COUNTY’S ROLL OF HONOR" and "ALL IS NOW READY FOR CLARKE COUNTY’S WELCOME HOME DAY" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes." Part of it describes a vehicle draped in white with seven gold stars on a flag, representing Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby. A second column beside it reports a house party and dance.

"5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes": the Courier's report of the day, with the gold-star float and the names it gave.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), July 10, 1919, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1472,4787,1357,2120 of the full-resolution page), 1357 by 2120 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 1875 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 10, 1919, page 1: "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes" Open the full image

The first Armistice Days

For the first anniversary, the Lloyd Williams Post No. 41 of the American Legion called its members to Winston Hall for Tuesday evening, November 11, 1919, and asked every veteran of the World War to help make "this Armistice [d]ay meeting" a success. In 1920 the Courier printed Gov. Westmoreland Davis's proclamation making Thursday, November 11, a public holiday throughout Virginia, "to be known as Armistice Day."

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1919
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of November 6, 1919 printed a notice that the Lloyd Williams Post No. 41, American Legion, would hold a meeting at Winston Hall on Tuesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m., and asked veterans of the World War to help make "this Armistice [d]ay meeting" a success.

What the source supports

That the Berryville Legion post called a meeting for the first anniversary of the Armistice.

Uncertainty

A notice of a meeting to come; no report of the meeting is in this set.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ARMISTICE DAY MEETING" (November 6, 1919).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 6, 1919, page 3: "ARMISTICE DAY MEETING"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-11-06 (publication)

Locator: Page 3, "ARMISTICE DAY MEETING"

Relevant passage
A meeting of the Lloyd Williams Post No. 41, American Legion, will be held at Winston Hall, on Tuesday, November 11, at 7:30 p. m.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1920
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of November 4, 1920 printed Gov. Westmoreland Davis's proclamation designating Thursday, November 11, 1920 a public holiday throughout Virginia, "to be known as Armistice Day."

What the source supports

That the Courier printed the governor's 1920 Armistice Day proclamation.

Uncertainty

The proclamation as the paper printed it; the original proclamation was not read.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ARMISTICE DAY TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY" (November 4, 1920).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 4, 1920, page 3: "ARMISTICE DAY TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1920-11-04 (publication)

Locator: Page 3, "ARMISTICE DAY TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY"

Relevant passage
do designate Thursday, November 11th, 1920, a public holiday to be observed as such as provided by law throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and to be known as Armistice Day.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A short newspaper notice headed "ARMISTICE DAY MEETING," announcing a meeting of the Lloyd Williams Post No. 41, American Legion, at Winston Hall on Tuesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m., signed by L. D. Scheuer, Secretary.

"Armistice Day Meeting": the Lloyd Williams Post calls its members to Winston Hall on the first anniversary.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 6, 1919, page 3. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2102,2301,692,880 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 692 by 880 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 6, 1919, page 3: "ARMISTICE DAY MEETING" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "ARMISTICE DAY TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY" with the deck "Gov. Davis Proclaims Thursday, November 11, a Legal Holiday," followed by the text of the proclamation.

"Armistice Day to Be a Legal Holiday": the governor's proclamation for November 11, 1920, as the Courier printed it.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 4, 1920, page 3. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2739,4613,699,2150 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 699 by 2150 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 4, 1920, page 3: "ARMISTICE DAY TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY" Open the full image

Bells and parades

In May 1921 more than 600 people went to Stone's Chapel, near Swimley, for the unveiling of a marble tablet to Robert Edgar Russell, a son of the county killed in the Meuse-Argonne. The Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post gave it.

In the Courier's Armistice Day reports of the 1920s, the day belongs to the Legion and its Auxiliary. In 1925 the parade postponed from the Fall Festival was held on the night of Armistice Day, led by a former post commander, J. F. Spates, with the Citizens Band of Winchester, the National Guard and the Legion behind him. In 1927 the Legion and Auxiliary held an Armistice Day bazaar and a parade, with an impromptu dance at the Battletown Inn.

In 1930, at the post's request, every bell in town was rung for five minutes just before eleven o'clock, the hour the guns had stopped twelve years before. Business stopped and cars halted for two minutes of silence. The post and the Auxiliary also joined the School League in a program at the High School.

Source note: Clarke Courier, 1921
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 2, 1921 reported that more than 600 people went to Stone's Chapel, near Swimley, the Sunday before, for the unveiling of a marble tablet to Robert Edgar Russell, killed in the Meuse-Argonne drive, and printed its inscription, which says it was presented by the Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post, American Legion.

What the source supports

That the Legion Auxiliary's tablet to Robert Edgar Russell was unveiled at Stone's Chapel in May 1921 before a crowd the Courier put at more than 600.

Uncertainty

Read from the uncorrected OCR passages already released for this issue, and shown from the released crop of the page image; the crowd is the paper's figure.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The opening of the report: more than 600 at Stone's Chapel.

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1921

Clarke Courier · 1921-06-02 (publication)

Locator: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1921, page 1, report "600 Honor Memory of Robert Edgar Russell", the passage beginning "That gratitude for the heroic sacrifice..."

Relevant passage
That gratitude for the heroic sacrifice of Robert Edgar Russell, a son of Clarke county, who was killed in the Meuse Argonne Drive, lives in the hearts of the people of this county was exemplified last Sunday when more than 600 men, women and children journeyed to historic Stone's Presbyterian Chapel, near Swimley, to take part in the ceremonies of unveiling a beautiful marble tablet to his memory.

Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The inscription as printed, read on the page image, naming the Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post.

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1921

Clarke Courier · 1921-06-02 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "600 Honor Memory of Robert Edgar Russell," the inscription on the tablet as printed

Relevant passage
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT EDGAR RUSSELL Private Co. C, 128th Inf., 32nd Div. Killed in Action Oct. 12, 1918, MEUSE-ARGONNE, FRANCE Presented by Woman’s Auxiliary Lloyd Williams Post American Legion.

Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1925
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of November 12, 1925 reported that the parade postponed from the Fall Festival was held on the night of Armistice Day, led by former Post Commander J. F. Spates of the American Legion and followed by the Citizens Band of Winchester, the National Guard and the Legion, with floats and decorated cars behind.

What the source supports

That Berryville's 1925 Armistice Day evening was given over to a parade, the Fall Festival's postponed one.

Uncertainty

The parade was the Fall Festival's, moved to Armistice night; the report does not say why it was postponed.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE" (November 12, 1925).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 12, 1925, page 1: "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1925-11-12 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE"

Relevant passage
The big parade postponed from the Fall Festival was a huge success as staged here on the night of Armistice Day, Wednesday of this week.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE" (November 12, 1925).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 12, 1925, page 1: "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1925-11-12 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE"

Relevant passage
The parade was led by former Post Commander J. F. Spates of the American Legion, followed by the band, the National Guard and the Legion.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1927
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of November 17, 1927 reported that the American Legion and its Auxiliary had their "big days" with an Armistice Day bazaar and a parade, and an impromptu dance at the Battletown Inn.

What the source supports

That the Legion and Auxiliary held an Armistice Day bazaar, parade and dance in Berryville in 1927.

Uncertainty

The report gives the days as "last Thursday and Friday"; the headline puts the parade on Friday.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY" (November 17, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1927, page 1: "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-11-17 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Relevant passage
Armistice Day Bazaar and Other Legion Features Prove Successful.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY" (November 17, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1927, page 1: "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-11-17 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Relevant passage
Last Thursday and Friday proved the big days that were expected by the American Legion and its Auxiliary.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY" (November 17, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1927, page 1: "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-11-17 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY"

Relevant passage
There was an added feature in an impromptu dance at the Battletown Inn,

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of November 13, 1930 reported that on Armistice Day, at the request of the Lloyd Williams Post, every bell in town was rung for five minutes just before eleven o'clock, business stopped and cars halted for two minutes of silence, and that the Post and its Auxiliary joined the School League in a program at the High School.

What the source supports

How Berryville kept Armistice Day in 1930, under the Legion post's direction.

Uncertainty

The paper says "all" bells and businesses; it is the paper's account, not a count.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM" (November 13, 1930).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 13, 1930, page 1: "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-11-13 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

Relevant passage
At the request of the Post, all bells in the town were run[g] for five minutes just before eleven o’clock,

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM" (November 13, 1930).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 13, 1930, page 1: "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-11-13 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

Relevant passage
Last night the Post and the Auxiliary joined with the School League and carried out a most interesting program in the Auditorium of the High School.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A cropped piece of a page of the Clarke Courier of June 2, 1921, showing a long newspaper column headed 600 HONOR MEMORY OF ROBERT EDGAR RUSSELL, with a deck about a marble tablet unveiled at Stone's Chapel, followed by the report, including the inscription on the tablet.

The first part of the report 600 Honor Memory of Robert Edgar Russell on the front page of the Clarke Courier of June 2, 1921: more than 600 people at Stone's Chapel for the unveiling of a marble tablet to Robert Edgar Russell, who was killed in the Meuse-Argonne drive, with the wording of the inscription.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 2, 1921, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image at full resolution (the region lies at box 689,472 334x2001 pixels of the saved half-size copy of the page) and shown at its own 669 by 4002 pixels; not scaled, retouched, enhanced, highlighted or re-encoded.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1921 Open the full image

What this image is evidence for

Passage it reproduces: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1921, page 1, report "600 Honor Memory of Robert Edgar Russell", the passage beginning "That gratitude for the heroic sacrifice..."

Statements on this site that rest on it:

  • The Clarke Courier of May 26, 1921 announces that a memorial tablet to Robert Russell, killed in France in the World War and the gift of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post, would be unveiled at Stone's Chapel. Its issue of June 2, 1921 reports that more than 600 people attended the unveiling, and prints the inscription: Private, Company C, 128th Infantry, 32nd Division, killed in action October 12, 1918, Meuse-Argonne, France. Its issue of September 15, 1921 reports that his body, brought home from France, was buried beside his mother's grave after services at the Presbyterian Church.
  • The Clarke Courier of June 2, 1921 reported that more than 600 people went to Stone's Chapel, near Swimley, the Sunday before, for the unveiling of a marble tablet to Robert Edgar Russell, killed in the Meuse-Argonne drive, and printed its inscription, which says it was presented by the Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post, American Legion.
A long newspaper column headed "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE" with the deck "Armistice Day Saw Postponed Festival Parade Success," describing the band, floats, decorated cars and the ceremonies in the square.

"Fine Parade Viewed Here": the Fall Festival parade, postponed to the night of Armistice Day, 1925.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 12, 1925, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 75,993,866,3618 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 866 by 3618 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 12, 1925, page 1: "FINE PARADE VIEWED HERE" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY" with the deck "Armistice Day Bazaar and Other Legion Features Prove Successful," describing the parade and an impromptu dance at the Battletown Inn.

"Good Parade Here Friday": the Legion and Auxiliary's Armistice Day bazaar, parade and dance, 1927.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 17, 1927, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 99,981,870,2073 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 870 by 2073 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1927, page 1: "GOOD PARADE HERE FRIDAY" Open the full image

A tall newspaper column headed "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM," with the deck "Legion And Auxiliary Join With School In Putting On Interesting Armistice Feature," describing the ringing of the town bells and two minutes of silence.

"League Presents a Fine Program": the bells, the halted traffic and the two minutes of silence of Armistice Day, 1930.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 13, 1930, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 102,1049,821,4480 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 821 by 4480 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 13, 1930, page 1: "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM" Open the full image

Memorial Day's own calendar

Memorial Day kept a calendar of its own. In 1920 the Courier announced Decoration Day at Old Chapel for 4 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, when flowers would be strewn on the graves. In 1925 Stonewall Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was placing crosses on the graves of the Confederate veterans at Green Hill, with its exercises set for May 30, while on the same page the Ladies' Cemetery Committee printed its own order of services for Green Hill on the fourth Saturday in May.

In 1927 the paper set it out plainly: the Confederate memorial services at Green Hill were "held the fourth Saturday in May each year," Old Chapel kept the same day an hour later, and National Memorial Day followed on May 30.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1920
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of June 3, 1920 announced that Decoration Day at Old Chapel "will be held next Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock," that flowers would be strewn on the graves, and that the public was invited.

What the source supports

That a Decoration Day observance at Old Chapel was announced for a Saturday afternoon in June 1920.

Uncertainty

An announcement, not a report of the day.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Decoration Day in Historic Cemetery Will be Observed at 4 O’clock in The Afternoon—Flowers Will be Strewn Upon Graves . of Heroic and Beloved Dead." (June 3, 1920).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1920, page 1: "Decoration Day in Historic Cemetery Will be Observed at 4 O’clock in The Afternoon—Flowers Will be Strewn Upon Graves . of Heroic and Beloved Dead."

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1920-06-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Decoration Day in Historic Cemetery Will be Observed at 4 O’clock in The Afternoon—Flowers Will be Strewn Upon Graves . of Heroic and Beloved Dead."

Relevant passage
Decoration day at Old Chapel, where are buried many of the heroic and beloved dead of Clarke county, will be held next Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1925
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of May 21, 1925 reported that crosses secured by Stonewall Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, to mark the graves of the Confederate veterans in Green Hill Cemetery were being placed, with the chapter's exercises set for Memorial Day, May 30; on the same page the Ladies' Cemetery Committee's order of services for Memorial Day at Green Hill gave the time as "Fourth Saturday in May, 3 p. m."

What the source supports

That two Memorial Day observances at Green Hill were announced for 1925, the UDC chapter's on May 30 and the Ladies' Cemetery Committee's on the fourth Saturday in May.

Uncertainty

The two observances appear on one page; the item does not say how they related to each other.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE" (May 21, 1925).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 21, 1925, page 1: "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1925-05-21 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE"

Relevant passage
The crosses which have been secured by Stonewall Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, to mark the graves of all Confederate veterans who lie at rest in Green Hill Cemetery, are being placed on the graves.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE" (May 21, 1925).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 21, 1925, page 1: "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1925-05-21 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE"

Relevant passage
Time Fourth Saturday in May, 3 p. m.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1927
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of May 19, 1927 described the Confederate memorial services at Green Hill Cemetery as "held the fourth Saturday in May each year," set them for 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, put the annual Decoration Day at Old Chapel at 4 p.m. the same day, and said National Memorial Day would be observed on Monday, May 30.

What the source supports

The Courier's own statement, in 1927, of the Memorial Day calendar: the fourth Saturday in May at Green Hill and Old Chapel, and May 30.

Uncertainty

"Each year" is the paper's statement; this set does not have an item for every year.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Relevant passage
The usual Confederate memorial services, held the fourth Saturday in May each year at Green Hill Cemetery, will be observed as usual.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Relevant passage
The annual Decoration Day observance at the Old Chapel will also fall on Saturday, May 28, but at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

Relevant passage
National Memorial Day will be observed as usual May 30, which is Monday,

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A newspaper item with a long headline beginning "Decoration Day in Historic Cemetery Will be Observed at 4 O'clock in The Afternoon," announcing that flowers will be strewn on the graves at Old Chapel and inviting the public.

The Courier announces Decoration Day at Old Chapel in 1920, "at 4 O'clock in The Afternoon."

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 3, 1920, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2216,4422,681,1070 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 681 by 1070 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1920, page 1: "Decoration Day in Historic Cemetery Will be Observed at 4 O’clock in The Afternoon—Flowers Will be Strewn Upon Graves . of Heroic and Beloved Dead." Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE," about crosses placed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy on Confederate graves at Green Hill Cemetery, followed by a boxed "Order of Services on Memorial at Green Hill Cemetery" listing hymns, prayers and the distribution of flowers.

"Place Markers on Graves Here": the UDC's crosses at Green Hill, with the Ladies' Cemetery Committee's order of services below.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 21, 1925, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1742,938,808,2430 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 808 by 2430 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 21, 1925, page 1: "PLACE MARKERS ON GRAVES HERE" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" with the deck "Special Services at Front Royal, Berryville and Old Chapel," and subheads "Berryville Exercises" and "The Old Chapel".

"Memorial Days for Section": the 1927 calendar, Green Hill and Old Chapel on the fourth Saturday in May, and May 30.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 19, 1927, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2515,946,797,2409 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 797 by 2409 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" Open the full image

Green Hill in the 1930s

In the 1930s the Courier reports the Legion post holding Memorial Day at Green Hill. In 1932 the post, its Auxiliary and a detachment of the Headquarters Company, 91st Infantry Brigade, decorated the graves of all the soldiers there with flags and flowers; the Courier noted that soldiers of the Civil War, the Spanish American War and the World War lie in the cemetery. That fall the Auxiliary planned to present a flag to the Elementary School on Armistice Day.

Old Chapel kept its own observance: in 1935 Col. B. M. Roszel of the Shenandoah Valley Academy gave the Memorial Day address there in tribute to the Confederate soldiers. In 1936 the county "turned out" at Green Hill, where Legion members, Boy Scouts and a detachment of the Berryville National Guard company arrived in automobiles and army trucks.

Armistice Day had grown quiet. In 1938 the Courier said Berryville marked the twentieth anniversary "quietly." The streets were nearly empty and the stores, banks and post office were closed, but the merchants had put out their flags before they locked up.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1932
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 2, 1932 reported Memorial Day exercises at Green Hill Cemetery held by the Lloyd Williams Post, American Legion, its Auxiliary and a detachment of the Headquarters Company, 91st Infantry Brigade, at which the graves of all soldiers were decorated with flags and flowers; it said soldiers of the Civil War, the Spanish American War and the World War are buried there.

What the source supports

That the Legion's 1932 Memorial Day at Green Hill honored the soldiers of three wars buried there.

Uncertainty

The report dates the exercises only as "Monday"; one word in its opening sentence is damaged on the page.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill" (June 2, 1932).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1932, page 1: "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1932-06-02 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill"

Relevant passage
There are many soldiers of the Civil War, Spanish American and the World War buried at this cemetery.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill" (June 2, 1932).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1932, page 1: "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1932-06-02 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill"

Relevant passage
The graves of all soldiers were decorated with flags and flowers.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1932
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of October 27, 1932 announced that the Woman's Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post No. 41, American Legion, would present a flag to the Elementary School on Armistice Day, November 11, at 3:30 p.m.

What the source supports

That the Auxiliary planned a flag presentation to the school for Armistice Day, 1932.

Uncertainty

An announcement; no report of the presentation is in this set.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "WOMAN’S AUXILIARY TO PRESENT FLAG" (October 27, 1932).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 27, 1932, page 1: "WOMAN’S AUXILIARY TO PRESENT FLAG"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1932-10-27 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "WOMAN’S AUXILIARY TO PRESENT FLAG"

Relevant passage
The Woman’s Auxiliary, of the Lloyd Williams Post, No. 41, American Legion will present a flag to the Elementary School on Armistice Day, November 11, at 3:30 P. M.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1935
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 6, 1935 reported that Col. B. M. Roszel, superintendent of the Shenandoah Valley Academy at Winchester, gave the Memorial Day address in tribute to the Confederate soldiers at the annual exercises at Old Chapel.

What the source supports

That Old Chapel held a Confederate Memorial Day observance in 1935, which the Courier called annual.

Uncertainty

The report dates the address only as "last Sunday."

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'REBEL' SOLDIERS" (June 6, 1935).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 6, 1935, page 5: "PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'REBEL' SOLDIERS"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1935-06-06 (publication)

Locator: Page 5, "PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'REBEL' SOLDIERS"

Relevant passage
Tribute to tfie [sic] Confederate Soldiers was paid in a Memorial Day address last Sunday by Col. B. M. Roszel, superintendent and commandant of the Shenandoah Valley Academy, Winchester, at annual exercises at Old Chapel.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 4, 1936 reported that the county "turned out" for Memorial Day exercises at Green Hill Cemetery sponsored by the Lloyd Williams Post and the Woman's Auxiliary, and that Legion members, Boy Scouts and a detachment of the Berryville National Guard company were carried to the cemetery in automobiles and army trucks.

What the source supports

How the 1936 Memorial Day at Green Hill was organized and who marched in it.

Uncertainty

"Turned out" is the paper's phrase; no number is given.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES" (June 4, 1936).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 4, 1936, page 1: "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-06-04 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES"

Relevant passage
Clarke county turned out last Saturday to pay homage to its war dead at special Memorial Day exercises held at the Green Hill Cemetery

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES" (June 4, 1936).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 4, 1936, page 1: "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-06-04 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES"

Relevant passage
Members of the local post of the Legion, Boy Scouts and a detachment of the Berryville company of National Guard met at the Legion building and were transported to the cemetery in automobiles and army trucks.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1938
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of November 17, 1938 said Berryville marked the twentieth anniversary of the Armistice "quietly," with the streets nearly deserted, stores, banks and the post office closed and American flags out in front of the stores, in contrast with the bells of November 11, 1918.

What the source supports

That Armistice Day 1938 was a closed, quiet holiday in Berryville, as the Courier described it.

Uncertainty

The Courier's description; it names only the drug stores and filling stations as open.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice" (November 17, 1938).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1938, page 5: "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-11-17 (publication)

Locator: Page 5, "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice"

Relevant passage
Twenty years later, Berryville celebrated the signing of the Armistice last Friday quietly

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice" (November 17, 1938).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1938, page 5: "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-11-17 (publication)

Locator: Page 5, "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice"

Relevant passage
But before merchants locked up, American flags were displayed in front of their establishments.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A newspaper column headed "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill," reporting that the graves of soldiers of the Civil War, the Spanish American War and the World War were decorated with flags and flowers.

"Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk at Memorial Day Services at Green Hill": the 1932 exercises, held by the Legion, its Auxiliary and a Guard detachment.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 2, 1932, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 975,1703,790,1917 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 790 by 1917 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 2, 1932, page 1: "Dr. Tucker Gives Fine Talk At Memorial Day Services At Green Hill" Open the full image

A short newspaper item headed "WOMAN'S AUXILIARY TO PRESENT FLAG," announcing that the Auxiliary of the Lloyd Williams Post would present a flag to the Elementary School on Armistice Day at 3:30 p.m., with Captain Frank M. Wray to speak.

"Woman's Auxiliary to Present Flag": the Auxiliary's plan for Armistice Day, 1932.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), October 27, 1932, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 1791,5784,800,470 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 800 by 470 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 27, 1932, page 1: "WOMAN’S AUXILIARY TO PRESENT FLAG" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'REBEL' SOLDIERS" with the deck "Col. B. M. Roszel Delivers Main Address At Old Chapel Memorial Day Exercises".

"Pays Tribute to 'Rebel' Soldiers": the 1935 Memorial Day address at Old Chapel.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 6, 1935, page 5. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 2489,4261,796,2918 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 796 by 2918 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 6, 1935, page 5: "PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'REBEL' SOLDIERS" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES," reporting Memorial Day exercises at Green Hill Cemetery sponsored by the Lloyd Williams Post and the Woman's Auxiliary.

"County Pays Honor to War Dead at Exercises": Memorial Day at Green Hill, 1936.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 4, 1936, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 863,5309,809,2104 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 809 by 2104 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 4, 1936, page 1: "COUNTY PAYS HONOR TO WAR DEAD AT EXERCISES" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice," comparing the quiet holiday of 1938, with stores and banks closed and flags out, to the wild rejoicing of November 11, 1918.

"20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice": a quiet holiday in 1938, set against the bells of 1918.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 17, 1938, page 5. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 3138,802,793,1699 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 793 by 1699 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 17, 1938, page 5: "20 Years Ago Town Observes Armistice" Open the full image

War again

In November 1941, a month before Pearl Harbor, the Courier's editorial said the armistice had ended the fighting in the first World War, "but the peace laid the foundations for No. 2." In 1942 it remembered the bells and whistles of 1918.

On Memorial Day 1943 intermittent rain sent a crowd of several hundred people at Green Hill under the trees. The gasoline ban kept them from driving to the exercises, and most walked out from Berryville. For that Armistice Day the paper announced a blood donor clinic, the mobile unit's fourth visit to the county, and asked for 200 donors.

On Sunday, November 11, 1945, Berryville held a Victory Loan rally and its Armistice Day parade and program. The following May the Lloyd Williams Post held Memorial Day at Green Hill through a rain that fell harder as the program went on, and the paper announced that the graves of the soldiers of all wars at Old Chapel would be decorated, each with the flag he had served under.

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1941
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

In an editorial headed "Armistice Day, 1941," the Clarke Courier of November 6, 1941 wrote that the armistice ended the fighting in the first World War, "but the peace laid the foundations for No. 2."

What the source supports

How the Courier's editorial page saw Armistice Day a month before Pearl Harbor.

Uncertainty

The paper's opinion, quoted as its opinion.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ARMISTICE DAY, 1941" (November 6, 1941).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 6, 1941, page 10: "ARMISTICE DAY, 1941"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1941-11-06 (publication)

Locator: Page 10, "ARMISTICE DAY, 1941"

Relevant passage
Yes, the armistice ended the fighting in World War No. 1, but the peace laid the foundations for No. 2.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1942
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

A Clarke Courier editorial of November 5, 1942, headed "Armistice Day," recalled that on November 11, 1918 the county "rang its church bells, blew its whistles and celebrated generally the ending of the war."

What the source supports

That the Courier remembered 1918 in its wartime Armistice editorial.

Uncertainty

The paper's own recollection.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "ARMISTICE DAY" (November 5, 1942).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 5, 1942, page 8: "ARMISTICE DAY"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1942-11-05 (publication)

Locator: Page 8, "ARMISTICE DAY"

Relevant passage
county rang its church bells, blew its whistles and celebrated generally the ending of the war.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1943
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of June 3, 1943 reported Memorial Day exercises at Green Hill Cemetery on a Sunday afternoon, with several hundred people sheltering under trees from intermittent rain, and said the gasoline ban did not keep people away, as most of the spectators walked the short distance from Berryville.

What the source supports

That the wartime Memorial Day of 1943 at Green Hill was held in the rain and attended on foot.

Uncertainty

"Several hundred" is the paper's estimate.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday" (June 3, 1943).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1943, page 13: "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1943-06-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 13, "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday"

Relevant passage
The program continued through intermittent rains that sent the crowd of several hundred people scurrying under trees at the Green Hill Cemetery.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday" (June 3, 1943).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1943, page 13: "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1943-06-03 (publication)

Locator: Page 13, "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday"

Relevant passage
The fact that the gasoline ban forbade people from attending the exercises in automobiles did not in any way deter them, as most of the spectators walked the short distance from Berryville.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1943
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

The Clarke Courier of November 4, 1943 announced that Clarke would have another Blood Donor Clinic on Thursday, November 11, Armistice Day, the fourth visit of the mobile unit to the county, and that 200 people were needed to give a pint of blood.

What the source supports

That Armistice Day 1943 was set aside in Clarke for a blood donor clinic.

Uncertainty

An announcement; the report of the clinic is not in this set.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week" (November 4, 1943).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 4, 1943, page 1: "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1943-11-04 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week"

Relevant passage
Armistice Day Marks Fourth Time That Mobile Unit Has Visited County

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week" (November 4, 1943).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 4, 1943, page 1: "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1943-11-04 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week"

Relevant passage
Clarke county is having another Blood Donor Clinic on Thursday, November 11 and 200 persons are needed to give a pint of blood

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1945
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

A Clarke Courier editorial of November 15, 1945 praised "the Victory Loan rally and Armistice Day parade and program which took place in Berryville last Sunday."

What the source supports

That Berryville held a Victory Loan rally with an Armistice Day parade on Sunday, November 11, 1945.

Uncertainty

An editorial; "last Sunday" in the issue of Thursday, November 15 is November 11.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "THE BOND RALLY AND CELEBRATION" (November 15, 1945).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 15, 1945, page 8: "THE BOND RALLY AND CELEBRATION"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1945-11-15 (publication)

Locator: Page 8, "THE BOND RALLY AND CELEBRATION"

Relevant passage
Clarke county may well be proud of the Victory Loan rally and Armistice Day parade and program which took place in Berryville last Sunday.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1946
✓ DocumentedThat it happened

The Clarke Courier of May 30, 1946 reported a Memorial Day program at Green Hill Cemetery, sponsored by the Lloyd Williams Post, held through a growing rain before several hundred people, and announced that the graves of the soldiers of all wars in the Old Chapel or Burwell Cemetery would be decorated with the flags under which each served on Sunday, June 2.

What the source supports

The first Memorial Day after the Second World War at Green Hill, and the decoration of the soldiers' graves at Old Chapel that followed.

Uncertainty

The Old Chapel item is an announcement; no report of June 2 is in this set.

Source

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated" (May 30, 1946).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 30, 1946, page 1: "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1946-05-30 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated"

Relevant passage
The program, sponsored by the Lloyd Williams Post, American Legion, got underway during a shower Sunday afternoon and continued throughout with rain falling harder as the program progressed.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Reporting

Evidence role: supports. The passage in "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated" (May 30, 1946).

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 30, 1946, page 1: "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated"

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1946-05-30 (publication)

Locator: Page 1, "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated"

Relevant passage
The graves of the soldiers of all wars who are buried in the Old Chapel or Burwell Cemetery will be decorated with the flags under which each of them served on Sunday next, June 2.

Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

Open source

Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

A newspaper editorial headed "ARMISTICE DAY, 1941," recalling the armistice signed in 1918 and saying that the peace laid the foundations for the second war.

"Armistice Day, 1941": the Courier's editorial a month before Pearl Harbor.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 6, 1941, page 10. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 294,2351,2283,2701 of the full-resolution page), 2283 by 2701 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 1420 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 6, 1941, page 10: "ARMISTICE DAY, 1941" Open the full image

A newspaper editorial headed "ARMISTICE DAY," opening "Twenty-four years ago, November 11, 1918".

"Armistice Day": the Courier's 1942 editorial looks back to the bells of 1918.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 5, 1942, page 8. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 324,2694,2302,3072 of the full-resolution page), 2302 by 3072 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 1601 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 5, 1942, page 8: "ARMISTICE DAY" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday," reporting exercises at Green Hill Cemetery in intermittent rain, with most of the crowd having walked from Berryville under the gasoline ban.

"Tribute Paid Dead on Memorial Day Sunday": the 1943 exercises, in the rain and on foot.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 3, 1943, page 13. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 3120,404,1087,2480 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 1087 by 2480 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 3, 1943, page 13: "Tribute Paid Dead On Memorial Day Sunday" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week" with the deck "Armistice Day Marks Fourth Time That Mobile Unit Has Visited County".

"200 Volunteers Are Needed for Blood Clinic Next Week": Armistice Day, 1943.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 4, 1943, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 396,1789,1044,2639 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 1044 by 2639 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 4, 1943, page 1: "200 Volunteers Are Needed For Blood Clinic Next Week" Open the full image

A newspaper editorial headed "THE BOND RALLY AND CELEBRATION," praising the Victory Loan rally and Armistice Day parade held in Berryville.

"The Bond Rally and Celebration": the Courier's editorial on the 1945 Armistice Day rally.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), November 15, 1945, page 8. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 209,875,2032,2491 of the full-resolution page), 2032 by 2491 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 1471 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 15, 1945, page 8: "THE BOND RALLY AND CELEBRATION" Open the full image

A newspaper column headed "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says," reporting the Memorial Day program at Green Hill Cemetery, with a second item headed "Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated".

"Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says," with the notice of the decoration of the soldiers' graves at Old Chapel: Memorial Day, 1946.

What this image does and does not showA crop of part of one newspaper page; the rest of the page is not shown.

Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 30, 1946, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cut from the Library of Congress page image (IIIF region 322,1736,1078,3580 of the full-resolution page) and shown at its own 1078 by 3580 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.

Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 30, 1946, page 1: "Starving World Challenges Us, Speaker Says | Soldier Graves At Old Chapel To Be Decorated" Open the full image

About the accountsWhat the evidence says
What the evidence says

Twenty-seven Clarke Courier reports, notices and editorials from 1903 to 1946, each read on a Library of Congress page image, show Decoration and Memorial Day services at Green Hill and Old Chapel, the false and the real armistice of 1918, the July 4, 1919 welcome home, and the Legion post's Armistice Days.

Crowd sizes are the paper's estimates. Announcements are reported as announcements, not as events that took place. The 1919 float carried seven stars and the paper named six men; the story does not guess the seventh.

  • That it happened✓ Documented

    The Clarke Courier of July 10, 1919 reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 people filled Berryville on July 4 to honor the county's World War veterans, and that a vehicle draped in white carried a flag with seven gold stars, which it said "represented the heroic sacrifice made by Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby."

    See the evidence
    ✓ DocumentedThat it happened

    The Clarke Courier of July 10, 1919 reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 people filled Berryville on July 4 to honor the county's World War veterans, and that a vehicle draped in white carried a flag with seven gold stars, which it said "represented the heroic sacrifice made by Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby."

    What the source supports

    That the welcome home was held on July 4, 1919, with a crowd the Courier put at 5,000 to 6,000, and the names it gave for the gold stars.

    Uncertainty

    The crowd is the paper's estimate. Seven stars and six names: the report does not explain the difference.

    Source

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes" (July 10, 1919).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 10, 1919, page 1: "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-10 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

    Relevant passage
    Between 5,000 and 6,000 people packed and jammed Berryville, July 4th, to pay homage to Clarke county’s world war heroes.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes" (July 10, 1919).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., July 10, 1919, page 1: "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1919-07-10 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "5,000 Pay Homage to Clarke Heroes"

    Relevant passage
    A vehicle, draped in white with seven gold stars on a flag suspended from an arch, followed the Chief Marshal and his aids. These stars represented the heroic sacrifice made by Maj. Lloyd Williams, Robert E. Russell, Oliver L. Smallwood, Wilmer W. Wiley, James W. Lanham and Oliver W. Ashby.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

  • That it happened✓ Documented

    The Clarke Courier of November 13, 1930 reported that on Armistice Day, at the request of the Lloyd Williams Post, every bell in town was rung for five minutes just before eleven o'clock, business stopped and cars halted for two minutes of silence, and that the Post and its Auxiliary joined the School League in a program at the High School.

    See the evidence
    ✓ DocumentedThat it happened

    The Clarke Courier of November 13, 1930 reported that on Armistice Day, at the request of the Lloyd Williams Post, every bell in town was rung for five minutes just before eleven o'clock, business stopped and cars halted for two minutes of silence, and that the Post and its Auxiliary joined the School League in a program at the High School.

    What the source supports

    How Berryville kept Armistice Day in 1930, under the Legion post's direction.

    Uncertainty

    The paper says "all" bells and businesses; it is the paper's account, not a count.

    Source

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM" (November 13, 1930).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 13, 1930, page 1: "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-11-13 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

    Relevant passage
    At the request of the Post, all bells in the town were run[g] for five minutes just before eleven o’clock,

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM" (November 13, 1930).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 13, 1930, page 1: "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-11-13 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "LEAGUE PRESENTS A FINE PROGRAM"

    Relevant passage
    Last night the Post and the Auxiliary joined with the School League and carried out a most interesting program in the Auditorium of the High School.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

  • An account exists✓ Supported by a source

    The Clarke Courier of May 19, 1927 described the Confederate memorial services at Green Hill Cemetery as "held the fourth Saturday in May each year," set them for 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, put the annual Decoration Day at Old Chapel at 4 p.m. the same day, and said National Memorial Day would be observed on Monday, May 30.

    See the evidence
    ✓ Supported by a sourceAn account exists

    The Clarke Courier of May 19, 1927 described the Confederate memorial services at Green Hill Cemetery as "held the fourth Saturday in May each year," set them for 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, put the annual Decoration Day at Old Chapel at 4 p.m. the same day, and said National Memorial Day would be observed on Monday, May 30.

    What the source supports

    The Courier's own statement, in 1927, of the Memorial Day calendar: the fourth Saturday in May at Green Hill and Old Chapel, and May 30.

    Uncertainty

    "Each year" is the paper's statement; this set does not have an item for every year.

    Source

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Relevant passage
    The usual Confederate memorial services, held the fourth Saturday in May each year at Green Hill Cemetery, will be observed as usual.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Relevant passage
    The annual Decoration Day observance at the Old Chapel will also fall on Saturday, May 28, but at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION" (May 19, 1927).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 19, 1927, page 1: "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1927-05-19 (publication)

    Locator: Page 1, "MEMORIAL DAYS FOR SECTION"

    Relevant passage
    National Memorial Day will be observed as usual May 30, which is Monday,

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

  • That it happened✓ Documented

    The Clarke Courier of November 14, 1918 reported that Berryville rang its church bells, blew its whistles and "celebrated generally the ending of the war last Thursday," on a report telephoned by the Courier's man in Washington that Germany had signed the armistice, and said that the signing "was prematurely announced."

    See the evidence
    ✓ DocumentedThat it happened

    The Clarke Courier of November 14, 1918 reported that Berryville rang its church bells, blew its whistles and "celebrated generally the ending of the war last Thursday," on a report telephoned by the Courier's man in Washington that Germany had signed the armistice, and said that the signing "was prematurely announced."

    What the source supports

    That Berryville celebrated on the false armistice report of Thursday, November 7, 1918, as the Courier itself told it.

    Uncertainty

    The Courier's own account of its own premature report. "Last Thursday" in the issue of November 14 is November 7, 1918, the day of the false report, not November 11.

    Source

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT" (November 14, 1918).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 14, 1918, page 2: "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1918-11-14 (publication)

    Locator: Page 2, "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

    Relevant passage
    Berryville, like every town and city in the country, rang its church bells, blew its whistles and celebrated generally the ending of the war last Thursday.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    Reporting

    Evidence role: supports. The passage in "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT" (November 14, 1918).

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 14, 1918, page 2: "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

    Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1918-11-14 (publication)

    Locator: Page 2, "THAT ERRONEOUS ARMISTICE-SIGNING REPORT"

    Relevant passage
    The signing of the armistice was prematurely announced.

    Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.

    Open source

    Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

    AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-12. How this project checks its sources

Each statement above is assessed on its own evidence. Nothing here is averaged, scored or voted on, and a well-attributed account can be documented while what it describes stays unconfirmed.

Closing notes
What to take awayFor more than forty years, as the Courier reported it, Clarke honored its soldiers on two calendars: Decoration and Memorial Day at Green Hill and Old Chapel in late May, and Armistice Day in November, which the Legion post made its own.

Source note

Every item here is from the Clarke Courier, read on the Library of Congress page image. The newspaper pages held for this project end in 1948, and this story ends in 1946. The record shows Armistice items in some years and not others, so it does not say the day was kept the same way every year; where the paper itself says "each year" or "annual," the story quotes it. Old Chapel appears in 1903, 1920, 1927, 1935 and 1946. Only the 1919 items speak of the county's Black veterans, and no Black newspaper is held.

Open question

Who was the seventh gold star on the 1919 float, and where were the Black veterans of 1919 given their dinner?

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Dear Dan: Clarke's home front, 1943–1945

The same war years from the home front: spotter posts, the harvest and the two victory days.