Redlands Juneteenth Celebration & Unveiling of Memorial Honoring Israel Beal By John Coleman

REDLANDS, CA- A Juneteenth Celebration and unveiling of a Memorial honoring Israel Beal, a former slave, who came to California and bought twenty acres of land in Lugonia; next he purchased seventeen and one- half acres adjoining this, and then ten acres in Redlands. The Redlands property has since been traded for twenty acres adjoining the original purchase. Mr. Beal was a builder and improved his land and was one of the leading horticulturists. Mr. Beal was honored this year at a Juneteenth celebration.
Juneteenth also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved blacks throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth”, the date of its celebration. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in forty-five states.