Now that ceremonies commemorating the Rhythm Night Club disaster are over, we invite you to go north on Union Street to Watkins Street Cemetery and see where the Master Gardeners of Adams County have set up a beautiful memorial park in remembrance of those 209 unfortunate young people killed in the club fire.

The Master Gardeners have spearheaded the investment of thousands of dollars, hours and hard work to reclaim this neglected, overgrown and seemingly forgotten part of a generation.

Although called private when the cemetery was incorporated, it was simply separate when everything was either “colored” or “white.”

When the cemetery was purchased, blacks had no other place to be buried other than a restricted back part of the city cemetery. Even though thousands of blacks are buried at Watkins Street, based on the old separate plan the city refuses to assume any responsibility for the care and maintenance of these 17 acres.

Our deepest gratitude goes out to those right-thinking citizens who are helping to remedy some wrongs and recognize the worth of all people.

Our gratitude goes to all who remember the large portion of our people who were not bad or evil, but were just having fun at the Rhythm Night Club.

Thelma White, President, Worthy Women of Watkins

Cemetery Association