Work in progress for ABA marker
JOHN E. USALIS/Staff Photo Adam J. Bernodin III, left, and James Klock look over the site plan and application to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to place a historical plaque recognizing the former Ashland Boys Association, which contributed to the community in many ways, including starting the famous ABA Parade and the sponsoring of the Mother's Memorial, seen in the background.
ASHLAND - If the tradition had continued, Saturday would have been the 110th annual ABA Mummers Parade in Ashland. However, the loss of the parade has heightened the need to remember the organization that founded the popular parade, created a tribute in bronze to mothers, and has historical significance at the local state and national levels.
An initiative has begun to have the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to approve an official state historical marker in honor of the Ashland Boys Association (ABA). The marker would be placed at street level in front and to the right of the Mother's Memorial, which was sponsored by the ABA.
Spearheading the initiative is Adam J. Bernodin III of Ashland, who is preparing the application as chairman of the Historical Marker Committee of the Ashland Mummers Club, which had operated the parade when the ABA disbanded in 1976. The last year of the parade was 2008, having been canceled due to lack of finances and volunteers.
Bernodin and James Klock, a member of the Ashland Mummers Club and treasurer of the Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society, met at the Mother's Memorial to look over the application and the location were the plaque will be placed if approved.
"The roadside marker will be placed so that tourists can see it and learn the whole meaning how the Mother's Memorial got here," said Bernodin.
The Mother's Memorial was dedicated in 1938. It began with an idea in 1936 when ABA members began planning for 1937. On Labor Day of 1937, a committee that had been formed to suggest ways to honor and memorialize Ashland mothers recommended that a monument or memorial be constructed in the form of the figure in the painting by James McNeil Whistler called, "An Arrangement in Gray and Black, No. 1," best known as "Whistler's Mother."
Bernodin said there is no doubt that the ABA goes well beyond the local community.
"They (PHMC) can't say there's not state and national significance. It goes well beyond Ashland," said Bernodin.
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