Mike Jones and Kevin Valentine
Chillicothe — The commemoration of “Juneteenth” has begun, with art in the Pump House, and a program at the Lucy House Saturday.
“Juneteenth” marks the very end of slavery in the United States, when freedom was finally enforced on June 19th, 1865, in the furthermost reaches of the Confederacy. The opening of the Juneteenth show in the Pump House Center for the Arts on Thursday evening helped start the now-popular African-American commemoration of history.
Mike Jones, local pastor and board member of the Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, was there with his daughter Krystian who is the featured artist. (Learn more about that show in an upcoming related story.) Jones explained the Juneteenth event at the Lucy House on Saturday, and you can hear him in his own words below.
With the theme of “Learning and Growing From Our Past,” a panel discussion will include Deacon James Tanner of Zion Baptist Church, Minister Jemar Harris of the Undisputed Barber Shop Council, and Chairman Paul Harris of the Catawba Nation of Carrs Run.
This a free public program starts at 1pm on Saturday, June 6th, 2026, with light refreshments. Weather allowing, it will be outside. (A weather system has been forecast to move in that afternoon, but the latest prediction shows it weakening and slowing.)
The Lucy Hayes Heritage Center commemorates Lucy Webb Hayes, born in the house now at 90 West Sixth Street in Chillicothe, and the wife of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.
As well as being the first college-educated president’s wife, Lucy contributed to her husband’s policies – Jones pointed out that Lucy supported tribal / native rights, as well as emancipation before her husband fought for the Union in the Civil War.
“Juneteenth” points out the last gasp of slavery after it was defeated by the Civil War, and Jones said “you can either focus on the pain or the progress, and we are focusing on the progress but not forgetting the pain.”
Learn more in the event listing by the Ross Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau.
A separate event was Friday night, the “Chillicothe Jazz, Funk and Blues Concert — A Juneteenth Celebration” at the Majestic Theatre (45 E. Second Street).
Find the article on the Scioto Post.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
Jones describes the event at the Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, with his daughter’s art on the wall behind him.
The flyer for the ongoing “Juneteenth” show in the Pump House.
