In the News-
Conrad tells of KKK clash
with the townsfolk of Lilly
At
the Historical Society’s annual dinner meeting, held at
the JFK Center of Saint Francis University on June 12,
attendees were treated to an interesting talk by journalist
and historian, Hugh Conrad, on the 1924 riot between the
townspeople of Lilly and the KKK.
Conrad,
whose Uncle Philip was killed in the clash, prefaced his
remarks by saying he knew how the riot happened but really
didn’t know the “why”.
It remains a subject that, even today, the older
residents of the small coal mining town don’t care to
discuss.
Conrad
explained that while today the Klan is more associated
with their views of racial intolerance, after WWI,
and especially in the north, the Klan’s hatred was focused
more toward the Catholic Church. Lilly was over 90%
Catholic.
Approximately
400 Klansmen arrived just after 7:00PM on Saturday April 5,
1924 on a specially chartered train. They marched to the top
of a hill and burned two crosses. They arranged to have the
electricity in Lilly shut off bringing more attention to
themselves from many of the residents who were unaware of
their presence.
By the time the
Klansmen made their way back to the train station, they
found themselves being met by a large number of Lilly’s
residents. A shot was fired and the riot broke out.
When it was
over, three men were dead: Philip Conrad, 24; Frank Miesko,
24; and Cloyd Paul, 27. An estimated 20 townspeople were
injured along with three KKK members.
In June 1924,
Judge Thomas D. Finletter of the Common Pleas Court of
Philadelphia was brought in to preside over the subsequent
trial. The charges included: rioting, unlawful assembly and
affray. Eighteen Klansmen and 13 Lilly residents were found
guilty.
Conrad’s talk was presented in conjunction with the
upcoming bicentennial activities being planned by the
Lilly-Washington Historical Society. February 7, 2006 will
mark the 200th anniversary of the settlement of the Lilly
and Washington Township area. Several commemorative events
are being planned.
Our
New Board of Directors
Acting
President- Fremont J. McKenrick
Vice President-
Donald J. Wolf
Secretary-Dave Huber
Treasurer-Lewis H.
Ripley, Jr.
The
Heritage is published quarterly and mailed to CCHS Members. A few
of the articles will be published here. 