The last week we read how Marcus had been getting ready for the Harvest Home Festival that was to take place August 18, 19, and 20 in the year 1909. The town certainly did a lot of advertising to let surrounding towns know about this Festival. Even the residents of Marcus had jobs of getting ready for the occasion. Kids were busy pulling weeds from yards and adults were cleaning up the alleys in preparation for the big event. How about the girls that met trains and handed out bouquets of flowers and a note of the forthcoming event?
The time had finally arrived! There was a photo shown of the automobiles that were in the parade and labeled, “Automobile Parade at Marcus”. Our Blue Book called them, “Marcus High Rollers”. They also had floats pictured that were labeled, 1910. Unless there was another Harvest Home Festival the following year, the one we have been getting ready for was in 1909. Fortunately, there is a 1909 Marcus News where the information on this Harvest Home Festival was reported and printed.
August 19, 1909—”Marcus Festival Is On”. The morning of Aug. 18, opened bright and fair and early in the day, great crowds from the country and the nearest towns began to arrive by wagon, buggy, and automobile. Of course, as is always the case, there were some of our own people who had predicted rain and a small crowd, but before 9 o’clock, it was demonstrated that a bigger fete was on in Marcus than anything that ever entered within her gates.
Everywhere the concessionaires were doing business from the moment they opened their stands and swings and by 11 o’clock, everybody had at least heard enough about the Industrial Parade to fill them with great anticipation. At the appointed time, the parade made its appearance at the north end of Main Street and followed out the route outlined two weeks ago in the News. The parade was headed by one of the most elaborate and beautiful floats ever seen in northwest Iowa. This float was designed and the construction superintended by S.M. Wixcel of the Wixcel Mfg. Co. The body being in the shape of a gondolier, painted a pure white and trimmed with burnished gold. On either side, in block letters, stood out in bold relief, the word “Marcus”. In the float sat Miss Ebba Ulstad, “Queen of Marcus” surrounded by a dozen young ladies, six on each side, carrying a little parasol lettered in a unique manner, and at the stern of the float, as a sort of rudder, hung a banner of blue and gold lettered as follows:
Marcus
America
Right Here
Cherokee County
United
States.
The whole conception was skillful and very artistic and reflects great credit upon its designers and makers.
To fully describe the excellencies of each float would exhaust the entire space of this week’s issue, and so we must say that without an exception, they were eminently representative of the business houses of Marcus and were extremely beautiful.
People go hundreds of miles and pay large fees to witness circus parades which for beauty do not compare with ours and we believe that every visitor was well satisfied with his outlay of money even when the parade was over.
In the afternoon, the program at the tent began, but as we go to press at 2 o’clock, we cannot give further report until next week.
August 19, 1909—”Always an Objection”. We were very much in hope that the Harvest Home Festival might be carried on without a single discordant note, but it seems that some of our citizens have objected to the location of certain stand privileges and some unpleasantness has resulted. Concessionaires of course want the best positions for the display of their wares and feeling that there was a spirit of unity among our businessmen, the commissioner granted such locations as were asked for by the various stands. Perhaps no man in Marcus was particularly anxious to have one of these stands in the front of his place of business, but for the good of the Harvest Home Festival, little objection was urged. It makes a difference however to some people which foot the shoe is on and although they do not hesitate to maintain a nuisance themselves, they are not willing to allow others any concession, even for a three days Festival. It is a long lane that has no turn and if we are not mistaken, the end of the matter has not been reached. We hope no further discord will mar the festivities of this Harvest Home Festival.
August 19, 1909—”Our Neighbors Here”. In fulfillment of their promise, the Remsenites turned out in great shape—300 strong, and each visitor wore a neatly printed badge bearing the words, “Remsen at Marcus Aug. 18.”—We extend to the citizens of our neighboring city, the glad hand of welcome and bid them to take anything that isn’t nailed down and enjoy it.
As an expression of their good will, Remsen sent her excellent band over and they added much, not only to the appearance of our parade, but their music was first class and compared very favorable with the Reed’s Band of Sioux City.
Quite a nice delegation from Cleghorn, Meriden, and Cherokee are taking in the Festival and on every hand, expressions of surprise are heard, that such an elaborate affair should be gotten up as a free attraction and an expression of appreciation for the patronage given the town.
—Reed’s Famous Band came to Marcus on the early morning train Wednesday and as soon as they hit the street, they began to discourse their excellent music and they have kept it up to standard ever since.
—Rev. H.E.K. Whitney, Field Agent of the Way Side Evangelism League, spent the day in Marcus Wednesday. Rev. Whitney’s headquarters are at Newell.
—While this issue of the News is off the press before the close of the Festival, yet the fondest dreams of the Board of Directors has been more than realized. Every train from both directions has brought large delegations from surrounding towns and everybody has seemed to enjoy the occasion so far. One of the satisfying features is the fact that our police force has attended to their duties faithfully and yet in such manner as not be to unduly offensive even to a few violators of the law. We understand that it is their intention to maintain the same rigid conformity to law which has characterized the beginning. A few parties forgot themselves in the early part of the Festival and were promptly taken in charge and others will receive the same treatment so we would advise all parties to let the booze alone and avoid trouble and expense.
August 26, 1909—”The Festival in Detail”. Well, the Harvest Home Festival of 1909 has passed into history and to say it was a success in every detail is putting it in just no modest terms as it is possible to do. The weather was all that could be asked for the occasion. The crowd, and it was a crowd too, was in the best of good humor. The attractions, with one exception, were on time and delivered the goods according to contract. The one exception was Prof. A.V. Storm who arrived too late to take the time appointed him and who tried to justify himself by saying he “thought three o’clock was a good hour for an afternoon engagement,” when 2 o’clock was his hour. Of course, this was a disappointment to many who were anxious to hear him, but his place was admirably filled by Miss Mabel Roberts of Payton, a reader of rare ability.
Reeds Military Band fulfilled every expectation and was ready at all times to give our people splendid service. Dr. E.B. McDowell delighted three vast audiences with his descriptive lectures which were illustrated with motion pictures so realistic that one felt that he had indeed made the trip through Panama, Cuba, the Grand Canyon of Arizona and the glaciers of Alaska. Professors, R.K. Bliss and A.E. Snyder of the Ames Agricultural College gave most interesting and instructive lectures on livestock management and the soils of Iowa and those who were fortunate enough to hear these men will certainly profit by their coming.
The old settler’s reunion was not as well attended as was hoped for, still, there are now 110 names on the list who are eligible to membership in the organization which we are assured will be formed in the near future. This is a feature which ought to be made permanent. At the meeting last Thursday, speeches were made by Captain S.H. Dixson and Mr. Greer and those who were there enjoyed the occasion very much.
The Hon. W.I. Nolan, humorist, gave two very excellent lectures and was listened to by audiences which taxed the seating capacity of the big tent. In the Auto Parade of Friday morning, there were 45 autos, many of them beautifully decorated and all of them carrying the feminine beauty of Marcus, or at least a part of it, to have accommodated all would have required hundreds of machines. This parade traveled the route twice and was a very pretty sight, but did not compare with the Industrial Parade which will be the talk of the country for months to come.
The baseball games with scores are as follows: Wednesday, Marcus vs Remsen, 11 to 7 in favor of Remsen. Thursday, Marcus vs Amherst, 7 to 3 in favor of Marcus. Friday, Marcus vs Paullina, 6 to 3 in favor of Marcus. Much credit is due to the M.E. and Christian Churches for the excellent manner in which meals were served to the hungry multitudes. This was the one great source of worry with the committees lest some could not be properly cared for, but we have not heard one word of complaint while the praises are many. A rest room in the basement of the M.E. Church provided a place where weary mothers might retire with their little ones and escape for a session the noise and heat of the street, and it was appreciatively patronized.
The Derando Amusement Co. did well, their part. They are artists in their line and at all times were perfect in behavior.
Now, citizens of Marcus, we have tried to give you credit for the noble manner in which you took hold of the enterprise. We promised in the beginning to devote the columns of the News to help make a success of it and we believe we have kept our word. We have not written a line which we did not believe is true. Success has crowned our united efforts and now that we have shown to the world what a good entertainment can be carried on in a small place where push and enterprise abounds, it seems to us that this should be but the beginning of large and better things. Why not make this a permanent function? Perhaps not just the same each year, but something similar where the people may come together and spend three or four days in social and intellectual enjoyment. We make the motion, now who will second it?
August 26, 1909—”Church Notes”. Methodist Church—Persons having pans and jars of any kind at the church are requested to call for them at the church basement this week.
—Despite the heat and a the weariness following a week of festivities, good congregations were in attendance at all of the services last Sunday.
August 26, 1909—Who was the fellow who said Marcus couldn’t play ball? We would like to see the color of his hair and ask him what he thinks about it now. The game of Friday was entered with no small amount of solicitude on the pat of a good many people in Marcus who knew the playing qualities of the Paullina team. But when the game was called, it was not long before it became evident that Paullina had at last met her match. Marcus had the best support from start to finish and the way our home folks rooted was enough to drive almost any outside team crazy. We don’t mean to infer that Paullina can’t play ball. Oh, no, she puts up a stiff game, but she did not have the support of the people like Marcus, and of course couldn’t deliver the goods. The score stood 6 to 3 in favor of Marcus, and our boys feel that they have added quite a nice feather to their cap.
August 26, 1909—”Miss Amanda Clemens” In giving praise to those to whom praise is justly due, we want to mention the lady, Miss Amanda Clements of Yankton, S.D., who umpired the ball games during the entire Festival. Miss Clements understands the game to perfection and not once was there any questioning of her decisions. Not only this but aside from her knowledge of baseball, she is a well posted woman and a bright conversationalist. As we understand it, she is a member of the Congregational Church at Yankton, an active W.C.T.U. worker and a delegate to the Y.M.C.A. assembly, and is by this means undertaking to care for a widowed mother and at the same time pay her way through a medical school in which she is preparing to practice the profession. In her stay among us, she was always a lady and the effect of her presence on the ball ground was to eliminate all rough and profane language which is sometimes heard in the moments of excitement. We are glad she came and will bid her welcome again next year.
August 26, 1909—The only thing that occurred in the way of serious accident during the Festival was what came near severely injuring Miss Lyda Kelley Friday afternoon at the ballgame. Miss Kelley had driven a rather spirited horse to the grounds and as she turned along the east side and the horse passed within the enclosure, he became frightened at the noise of the rooters and started to run. Miss Lyda was thrown out and the buggy passed entirely over her body but aside from a few flesh bruises, no injury resulted. The horse was caught and pacified by a gentleman standing near, but it was certainly a close call and the young lady will not care to have repeated soon.
August 26, 1909—The committee of the Sioux City Tribune anent (concerning) the Harvest Home Festival in their issue of Aug. 24th strike us as somewhat premature. While the Festival was a huge success in every detail, and any people have suggested making the Festival an annual occasion, yet it is far from certain that such will be the case, and even if so, the management is of self perpetuating, but is elected by the Marcus Civic Commercial League to which any reputable citizen of Marcus is eligible. The News would be pleased to publish letters from our citizens expressing their desires concerning the permanency of the Festival.
August 26, 1909—The merry-go-round under the management of Mr. Geo. A. Kehn of Ft. Dodge was well patronized. Owing to an accident to the boiler which put the swing out of commission a few hours, some of the children were disappointed, but Mr. Kehn did all in his power to get things repaired, even going so far as to pay $25 for the use of another engine for one day. The manager proved himself a perfect gentleman and lived up to his contract in every particular. We hope to see him back here again next year with a new machine.
(Well, the Festival is over but there was other newsy events going on in addition to the Festival:)
August 26, 1909—”Personals”. Joe Heines, wife and daughter, and Miss Scott of Remsen took in the whole Festival and were entertained at S. Londergan’s.
—W.C. Weimer was a passenger for Le Mars Tuesday and will attend the big Homecoming festival there.
—Marcus ought to increase largely in population from now because everybody who attended the Festival thought that it would be a fine town to live in. That’s right because a finer town cannot be found in Northwest Iowa.
—Lou Hartlip, a Rock Township young man, while out driving last Sunday with three Tilden young ladies, came near having a corner at Fielding when the box broke from the buggy and they were thrown out. They escaped serious injury and consider themselves lucky that it turned out no worse.
August 26, 1909—”Correspondence”. Amherst Notes: George Erickson and Miss Mary Grauer of Remsen were married Wednesday at 3 o’clock at the home of the bride. A number of friends and relatives of Amherst were in attendance at the wedding. We hope more sunshine than shadow may fall athwart the pathway they are to travel together, is the wish of their many Amherst friends.
—Cherokee is agitating the question of erecting a huge mausoleum containing 200 crypts in the city cemetery. This plan of disposing of the dead has been adopted in many cities of late years and has proven highly satisfactory. Not only is this method strictly sanitary but it robs death of much of its horror and is much less gruesome to the bereaved than either an earth burial or cremation. We hope the plan will be carried to a successful issue.
—On entering the stable last Friday morning, W.G. Pitts discovered his horse had in some way, run the tines of a fork into its body and it was considered an act of mercy to kill the animal.