A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected visit from my neighbor Mrs. Shirley Greb. She handed me a large package containing an artifact from a chapter of American history which is a faint memory unless you are a student of American history.

I gasped when I opened the package! There, in mint condition, was a uniform worn by her grandfather Titus Brownmiller. He served in the Spanish-American War, not in Cuba, but in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection.

Here is some background: The Spanish-American War occurred in 1898 under the administration of President William McKinley. The immediate cause of the conflict was the destruction of the Battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, killing 260 of her crew. The real cause was unknown but Spain was blamed for the disaster. Cuba was governed by Spain. An independence movement in Cuba resulted in violence between the government and the island's inhabitants. The United States declared war on Spain.

The conflict was relatively short. Both Admiral George Dewey and Theodore Roosevelt became popular war heroes – Dewey for his destruction of the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay and Roosevelt for his leadership of the volunteer regiment, the Rough Riders.

Our objective was to grant independence to Cuba and the Philippines, but some politicians pressured for annexation of the Philippines. The country is 6,000 miles from our west coast.

Filipino rebels aided U.S. forces during the war. They expected independence, which was being delayed, so a war of insurrection took place from 1899-91. Here, private Titus Brownmiller served with an artillery unit. The war was costly. It required 60,000 troops to be sent to the Philippines. It was not until 1916 when the United States promised independence to the islands but final independence came after World War II.

In all my research, Mr. Brownmiller was the first local son I found to have served in that theatre of the war. Titus was born in 1879 and passed away in 1945. There was no selective service during that war. The young man enlisted to serve the nation.

Later, like many Northampton residents, he was employed at the Atlas Portland Cement Company He also was an early police officer in the borough.

His son, Luther, was a dedicated cement worker at the Lawrence Dragon Cement Company, where he was longtime president of a union of the past, United Cement Lime & Gypsum Workers.

One daughter, Irene, worked – do you remember it? – at Lerner's Department Store. Another daughter, Hilda, spent many years working for the Catasauqua School District.

By the way, Shirley and husband Richard also were employed at Lerner's.

We thank Mr. and Mrs. Greb for this precious treasure from our past. It will be donated to the Northampton Historical Society to share with their many visitors.

***

In two weeks, I'll dig for another treasure, I hope I'll find one!