Published: July 07, 2009 02:10 pm      

The Glorious Fourth as celebrated locally seven months into a new century

Having just witnessed the 2009 version of Zionsville’s annual tribute to our nation, what better time to compare it with the type of celebration held in Zionsville 109 years ago. As you follow the long list of activities planned for the crowds of all ages, remember that Zion Park, the focal point for the 1900 events, covered about 20 acres now occupied by Eagle Elementary and Zionsville’s nature center.

Since the review, under the headline “The Nation’s Birthday Appropriately Celebrated—A Great Throng of People at Zion Park.” is lengthy, we’ll turn this column over to Zionsville Times Editor Calton Gault. This time he has broken the copy into shorter paragraphs, leaving us to add breaks only twice.

“The nation’s natal day was duly celebrated at Zion Park yesterday, and the occasion drew a large attendance notwithstanding that it was a very busy time with the farmers.

“At an early hour people began to throng the streets to witness the industrial parade which was the first thing on the programme of the day. At the head of the procession rode Reetus Gregory, fancifully dressed as Uncle Sam, mounted on an infant bicycle.

“The Essex Cornet Band was next in line and then followed the display of the Big Four railroad. This consisted of a traction engine, engineered by Rodney Wells, drawing a section flat car, thoroughly decorated, on which was seated the accommodating agent of the road at this place, Harry McDaniel, bearing aloft a large banner, representing the big four, tastefully decorated. Then followed a number of wagons gotten up by the business men of our town to represent various lines of business. Twenty or more wagons were in line of march and each one was a creditable display.

“After the parade the crowd made its way to the Park where music by the band and choir was followed by the address of the day by Rev. J. W. T. Lathrop, the subject being ‘The American Citizen in the American State.’ The address showed that the speaker had put much study and thought on the theme and presented the subject in an interesting and instructive manner which was thoroughly appreciated by the audience.

“The afternoon programme consisted of field sports. The ball throwing was first on the programme and was won by Hines of Augusta, who distanced his competitors by several feet. The young men’s foot race was won by Prof. Powell, of the Bell Ringers company which is giving daily entertainment near the park, and showed that our boys were not in his class as a sprinter.

“The boys’ foot race was won by Bert Swaim. The game of ball was between a club from the Williams Creek neighborhood and our home club and proved a one-sided affair, our boys winning by a score of 12 to 5. This was followed by the bicycle road race, which attracted as much attention as any event of the day. There were five entrees and the riders were handicapped according to their supposed speed.

“The first out was G .H. Brown of Carmel, who was followed by C. M. Booth and Carleton Starkey, the scratch men being Omer Stultz and Bradfield, the latter from Sheridan. The first round found the riders in the same positions as the start, while the finish was as follows: Stultz, first and time (21:30); Bradfield, second; Starkey, third; Booth, fourth and Brown, last.

“The cantata, ‘The Haymakers’ drew a large crowd to the Park again in the evening. The music was rendered in a manner that did great credit to all who participated, leaders, singers, chorus and pianist, and proved to be really the event of the day. There is no question but that Zionsville has musical people and that training is the only thing lacking to produce a creditable entertainment at any time.

“The gate receipts were $151.47, while the sales of the refreshment stand reached the neighborhood of $113.00. Taken altogether, it was a successful day and put a neat sum in the treasuries of the churches who so successfully managed the enterprise. The ladies deserve special credit for their continued efforts.”