Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, February 14, 2020 CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Arthur Jordan: Spanish-American War veteran to Everett City Councillor First African American City Councilor In 1901 the Everett Republican Committee nominated Arthur E. Jordan for one of the three seats on the Common Council in Ward Five. At the time, the GOP nomination ensured election, and Jordan was indeed elected. At its core, that doesn’t sound like much of a story, and judging from newspaper accounts, it wasn’t. Except for a brief mention in both The Boston Globe and The Boston Post, the story did not generate much interest. The lack of publicity that the story generated led to a decades-long inaccuracy in Everett history. For years, it was widely believed that Robert Smith of Woodville Street was the fi rst African-American elected to the Everett Common Council in 1929. It turns out that it was Arthur E. Jordan in 1901. Arthur E. Jordan was born on June 7, 1877, to Alfred and Amanda (Stringer) Jordan. The Jordans were originally from Virginia and came north after the Civil War and settled on Charles Street in Charlestown. On April 25, 1898, the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. Arthur joined the 6th Massachusetts Infantry, Company L the only African-American company assigned to an otherwise allwhite regiment. Four days before the Company was moved from Camp Dewey in South Framingham to Camp Russell A. Alger near Falls Church, Virginia, Arthur married Mary Phillips, the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Shephard) Phillips of Chelsea. When Company L fi rst met up with the rest of the 6th Massaadier General George A. Garretson, who tried to have the Company transferred to an all African-American regiment. When that failed, he extensively drilled the Company in blazing heat, and when they performed admirably in every test, Garretson withdrew his objection and complimented the Company through their commander, Captain William J. Williams. On July 8, Arthur and the 6th Massachusetts boarded the Pvt. Arthur Jordan chusetts in Baltimore, the other companies were at fi rst shocked to see an all “colored” company led by “colored” offi cers; however, after the initial shock, Company L was subject to thunderous and continuous applause. The 6th Massachusetts arrived at Camp Alger on the 22nd of May, and on the 28th it was reviewed in parade by President William McKinley, who complimented the Company; however, not everyone was convinced that Company L could perform under the stress of battle. Their biggest doubter was their commanding offi cer, Brignewly commissioned USS Yale and headed toward Cuba. Lt. William Jackson was appointed acting captain as Captain Williams was unable to accompany the men due to a serious case of typhoid fever. The Yale sat off - shore as the island of Cuba was about to be surrendered to the U.S. troops, and the orders came after 17 days on board the Yale – sending them to Puerto Rico. Soon after setting up camp at Guánica, Company L was one of two companies called to guard the perimeter from attack. They set up their position on a small hill that overlooked a coff ee hacienda in Yauco. The attack, to become known as the Battle of Yauco, indeed came just before JORDAN | SEE PAGE 20 SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com | 781-231-1111 ATM on site Sunday Located Adjacent to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Saugus Plaza, South Bound Route 1 MBTA Bus Route 429 FREE WI-FI - 2 WIDE SCREEN TV’S FULLY AIR CONDITIONED WINTER SKATING SCHEDULE ATTENTION! 12-8 p.m. $7.50 Monday Private Parties Tuesday School & PTO GROUPS 7:30-10:30 p.m. Adult Night 18+ only $8.50 Wednesday Private Parties Thursday Private Parties 3-11 p.m. $7.50 Friday Saturday Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 12-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 Skates included in price/Blades $3 Bowling Alleys, 2 snack bars, video games. School Vacation Weeks 12-8 p.m. Admission $7.50 Win a trip for 2 to Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel Jet Blue Air 5 days / 4 nights Your school PTO can for your group. Call for details. BIRTHDAY PARTIES $11.50/Person, min. of 10 kids. Price includes Adm. + Roller Skates. Cake, soda, paper goods, 20 tokens for birthday person plus 100 Redemption Tickets and a gift from Roller World in one of our private BP Rooms.
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