Continued from last week…
The residences themselves also are kept in good repair while quite a number of houses, whose paint had become lusterless, have been treated to new finish. We noticed that the Catholic church and residence is receiving finishing touches at the hands of a large crowd of painters. The Loretto Academy is also being painted. Fred Paine has recently redressed his home until it looks like a veritable picture. F.S. Barnes, whose progressive spirit stands not back at the outlay of any sum of money which will conserve the advancement of Marcus, is erecting two thoroughly modern dwellings in the addition. W.M. Flaherty has the foundation in for an elegant home. Mrs. Nettie Lewis has her new residence nearly completed and nearly all these new houses, together with dozens of others of recent building, have good substantial cement walks laid in front and to out buildings.
The dome on the Methodist church has been recovered and glistens like a diamond in the sunlight. All this in east Marcus but the same spirit is gaining among the citizens of west town. Streets and alleys are being freed of ugly growth and some of the choicest flowers to be seen in the city are here. One of the rare beauties is the Hermatis at the Naffziger home. Mesdames Ben Delaney, A.P. Anderson, C.L. Coats and C.E. Freeman also have splendid beds of plants loaded with blossoms of beauty and fragrance. We have been very busy in the office this week and could not get out to all parts of the town, but in order that we may not slight anyone, suffice it to say that the person who is not doing his best to make Marcus appear at its best is the exception, and we presume he will be so ashamed of himself, that during the whole Festival, he will either leave town or crawl in a hole and pull the hole in after him, and he certainly ought to do so.
August 12, 1909—”Carpenter’s Attention”. The committee requests every carpenter in Marcus to be on hand Friday, tomorrow morning, to donate labor in building a large arch on the corner of Main and Cedar Streets. Many hands will make light work and we feel justified in asking this donation fully believing our mechanics will be glad to comply with the request. The plans for the arch may be seen at B. Radcliffe’s office.
August 12, 1909—”Order of the Parade”. The committees for the Festival held a very enthusiastic meeting Tuesday night and went over the arrangements in detail and found that everything is working out splendidly and that a program of unexcelled merit is in readiness for the enjoyment of our guests, many of whom have written that they are coming.
Everybody should make it a point to be in Marcus early Wednesday morning. The Industrial parade will march at 10 o’clock and you will be greatly surprised and pleased at the artistic beauty of the floats which will represent our business houses. This parade will form at the corner of Main and Railroad Streets and march under the direction of Marshal White, south on Main to Pine Street, thence east to Elm Street thence north to Cedar Street thence west to Maple Street thence south to Spruce Street thence east to Main, thence north on Main to Railroad Street where they will disband. People from the country with teams should not hitch on Main Street nor any of the central street until after the parade is over. We suggest this as a matter of safety to all. Now get ready and bring the whole family; Marcus extends to you an open hand and hearty welcome.
August 12, 1909-”Festival Fever Is Now On”. The spirit of civic pride is everywhere manifesting itself in Marcus as we approach the greatest “doings” the town ever witnessed. On every street and alley, men, women and children may be seen cleaning up the refuse, hoeing the weeds and grass, and otherwise improving the conditions generally. When our guests arrive, we may expect to be able to show them a “spotless town”, unless somebody’s pride gets a set back or they get weary in their doing before the job is completed. Even the children are becoming highly enthused. A large committee of young ladies under the direction of Louis Radcliffe are meeting every train passing through Marcus this week and giving to each passenger a nice little bouquet of flowers to which is attached by ribbon a little folder descriptive of Marcus. In this way many a person who has hitherto known Marcus only as a point on the map will have their attention called to the many good things we have to offer and doubtless some of them will see that they are wonderfully cheating themselves by consenting to live anywhere else on earth, and will eventually come to be fellow-citizens with us.
There is no guess work about it, if the weather is favorable, Marcus will have the biggest crowd here those three days, Aug. 18-20, that she ever entertained in all her history. No other town we ever heard of has ever undertaken to give such a magnificent program to the citizens of the town and surrounding country absolutely without cost to the individual spectator.
Many towns undertake a sort of chautauqua course expecting to make some money out of the proposition through gate receipts, but Marcus, “the only town on the map,” goes them one better putting on the program that will cost upward to $1,200 and extended an open invitation to one and all, to come to our homes and abide with us three days enjoying our hospitality, learn from the lecturers how to better till the soil and care for the stock and farm and also interspersing this rich program with splendid music and thrilling pictures which will be almost equal to an actual trip into many foreign countries.
The committees in charge have earnestly sought to provide a program that will be adapted to all. If you don’t like some parts to it, you will certainly enjoy other parts. The other fellow will like what you care nothing for. Now, put away all your cares of the summer and quit worrying about the winter and let us all get together next Wednesday morning and see if there may not be placed on record, an occasion good fellowship and pleasure where-in during the whole time, no complaint is heard but each shall esteem the other’s interests as para-mount with his won, and shall strive to make another heart rejoice.
August 12, 1909—”Notice Auto Owners”. All owners of autos are requested to assemble on the streets for practice in parade work Friday and Saturday nights. This is essential as some practice will be necessary to make the parade appear well. It is also a measure of safety. Please remember and be on hand at 8 o’clock. Committee.
August 12, 1909—”Church Notes”. (Methodist Notes) The King’s Heralds will serve dinner and supper in the basement of the church Wednesday Aug. 18, the first day of the Harvest Home Festival. The ladies are preparing to serve first class meals. Dinners are 35 cents and supper is 25 cents.
The ladies of the church wish to announce that a restroom will be fitted up in the reception room of the church basement for the convenience of visitors during the second and third days of the Harvest Home Festival. Rocking chairs, cots, reading material will be at your disposal. Mothers with children feel free to make use of this restroom, for you are welcome.
Services for Sunday: Sunday school at ten. Despite the rain, we had a fair attendance last Sunday and an interesting session. Because of the rain, the offering for Missions was not taken last Sunday but will be presented this week. Epworth League at 7:30. Preaching at 8.
The Epworth League will serve breakfast every morning during the Harvest Home Festival at 6:30 until all are served, for 25¢
August 19, 1909—The grand arch over the intersection of Main and Cedar streets is indeed a work of art and a thing of beauty. Much, if not all of the work of construction and decoration, is a donation from the public spirited mechanics of the city.
The big tent arrived Tuesday morning and a large force of men went to work at once to have everything in readiness for the crowds that are here today.
August 19, 1909—The following letter from an old settler will doubtless interest many and we are glad to give it publication.
Dear Sir & Friend:
Please accept my thanks for your kind invitation to attend the Old settlers Reunion at Marcus on the 19th and regret that it is impossible for me to be present at this time. I know I would enjoy it very much, and it would indeed be a luxury to meet again after so long an absence with many of the first settlers.
In the spring of 1871, Father settled in eastern Amherst being the first settler locating east of the West Fork and built the first house there. The first preaching being held in his house was by Rev. H.L. Curl, a M.E. Minister. Father also organized the Sunday School that season and was held in the home of M.E. Hinkley. I wintered the winter of 1872 in the city of Marcus. Jonas Ray, the man who had six fingers on each hand, was landlord and proprietor of the Hotel being located in one end of the Depot. That winter the O’Brien County farmers used to come by dozens to Marcus with ox teams to buy coal from I.M. Jackson.
Yours truly, W.E. Hornibrook, Golden Dale, Wash.
(I will have the conclusion of the Harvest Home Festival next week as there isn’t room for in this week’s edition.)
August 19, 1909-”Classified”. The stingiest man in Iowa lives in Marcus. He has a fine lady friend with whom he occasionally takes a pleasant evening stroll. She believes in the power of a gentle hint and one evening, not long ago, as the young couple was passing Dwight’s restaurant, she said, “Don’t those peanuts smell good?” The young man replied, “Yes, let’s stop and smell them awhile.” Remsen News
—The News is receipt of the official program of the Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the Corn Belt Editorial Ass’n which meets at Spirit Lake August 12 and 13. We regret that other duties prevent us from attending this association but with our presses running day and night, we can’t get away this year.
Marcus will hold a big carnival in that town this month on the 18, 19, and 20. Over a thousand dollars have been subscribed to be used in the entertainment of visitors and without question, Remsen will be well represented at the doings. At all events Marcus citizens will treat you right. We understand that the majority of the many autos here will be represented in the big auto parade on the carnival. Remsen News.
The public schools of Marcus are in the accredited list and we can truthfully say no finer corps of teachers can be found anywhere. The instructors for the school year which opens Aug. 30, are R.A. Fenton, Principal; Miss Minna Merriam 1st Ass’t; Miss Alta Ferguson, 2nd Ass’t; Miss Mary Flanegin, Grammar Grades: Miss Rena Loban, Miss Lulu Hobbs, and Miss Maud Barr.
—The first copy of the Ireton Ledger under its own editor, R.P. Willis, has reached our table. In his salutatory, the editor admits that the present issue is not what he would have it, but promises to make good in the future. R.P. is capable of doing this and believe he will do it. We gladly place the Leger on our exchange list.
”Notice”. Notice is hereby given to all parties operating steam engines on the public highway of Amherst Twp. that they are requested to comply with the law. Chapter 2 Sec 1571 of the code of Iowa. By Order of the Board of Trustees.
An exchange says: “One little old black skunk, not as large as a rabbit, can stink up a drove of a thousand sheep and trot off with it’s tail over its back. In like manner, one long tongue, lying gossiper can stir up a whole town and besmirch the fairest characters unharmed. Of the two, we would rather be the skunk, for the gossiper is sure to go to hell but the skunk won’t.
”Notice”: To the young men who were prowling around my premises on the night of Aug. 9, and run my buggy out of the shed into the road taking the burrs off, tipping outhouse over in Sub. Dist. No. 9 and shooting at my mail box, you are known, and if this offense is repeated, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Now, boys this is fair warning. Joe Bierman