Before there was Memorial Day, there was Decoration Day. It was a day set aside for the families of Confederate dead to remember their fallen heroes. In Anderson, Lenora Hubbard was usually in charge of the celebration. Small Confederate flags were placed at the graves by Anderson's school children.

At the time, several Union soldiers were buried in Old Silver Brook Cemetery, and it was common for the school children to place U.S. flags on their graves. On April 19, 1893, a letter was written by Henry B. Cleaves, Governor of Maine (shown in photo), to the citizens of Anderson. Governor Cleaves was impressed with the way Anderson honored the Union dead as well as the Confederate. His letter stated in full:

"I have read with a great deal of interest and pleasure your esteemed letter to Maj. A.Q. Hill, of Calais, and beg to express to you my sincere appreciation of the attention shown by you for the graves of the Federal Soldiers buried at Anderson."

By Under the Kudzu