By Elaine Rassel
Marcus is getting ready for a “Marcus Fall Festival” October 14, 2023, but in 1909 Marcus was also planning to have a Harvest Festival to show off their town. The Marcus News had been giving accounts of all the buildings, businesses, and business owners that Marcus had in 1909. They were building this up to advertise “just what a great town Marcus was”! Marcus was going to have a three-day Harvest Festival and of course it was necessary to have people, other than the residents of Marcus, present these three days. Towns around Marcus received the Marcus News and what better way to advertise this three day festival, than to put it in the newspaper!
Anyone who has put on a big celebration knows that it takes weeks of planning. This Festival wasn’t any different. Besides advertising Marcus, people had physical work to be done and this was where carpenters were asked for. Automobiles were asked for but had to practice as to where they were going to be in the parade that preceded this Festival.
People had to make sure their premises and business places were up to snuff. A church offered to be responsible for meals other than what the local restaurants offered. Was it possible to have a “quiet” place for women and small children to rest during this three day event? Committees were formed to help with the aforementioned events.
Preparations for the Harvest Festival began in July with the headlines of the newspaper reading, “Harvest Home Festival August 18, 19, 20, 1909 Boost for Marcus” and “Harvest Home Festival August 18, 19, 20, 1909 Get in the Procession”.
July 15, 1909—“Citizens Interested”. That the citizens of Marcus are going to have a regular picnic at the Harvest Festival is one of the certainties. Contracts have been made with the Reed’s Band consisting of 18 pieces and with speakers of undoubted ability to instruct and entertain. It is regretted that the Royal Hungarian Orchestra could not be secured as was at first expected. The Industrial parade will be worth coming 50 miles to see and the Automobile parade will be one of the prettiest sights ever witnessed in Marcus. The committee is anxious to have every auto in the country in line and would appreciate it if those who will take part in it would notify the secretary at the News office.
There is a vast amount of work to be done and much planning to be made and it stands everyone in hand should give he various committees all of the assistance possible. One of the greatest difficulties to be overcome is to provide meals and lodging for the “hundreds” of visitors who will be here, and we would advise everyone who can possible do so to make arrangements to entertain someone at least a part of the time.
For the amusement of those who like to dance, we are reliably informed that a bowery (a place enclosed by boughs or vines) will be built on the corner opposite C.W. Dorr’s implement house where Hollis Harp Orchestra will provide the music and the best of order will be preserved. Now, let us all get our shoulders under the wheel and putting away any petty prejudices, let us push for all we are worth.
July 22, 1909—The Quimby Independent Newspaper printed: Marcus is planning for a Harvest Festival to be held August 18, 19, 20. Over $1,000 has already been subscribed. When 24 merchants walk up and plank down $20 apiece to advertise their town, it means that someone is awake. Such work as that would put any town on the map.
Marcus News printed: Yes, we knew it would be contagious. H.H. Niemann and H. Niemann have each ‘gone and done it.” They had the front of their store buildings nicely painted this week. Seeger has also painted his building.
July 28, 1909—“Highways Need Attention”. A representative of the News has been out over some of the roads leading into Marcus and finds that very little, if any attention, has been paid to the new road law which makes the dragging of the public highways compulsory. The long, wet spring and early summer has left the roads in a badly worn condition. Many deep gullies are to be seen, and outside of the regular beaten path, the roads are anything but comfortable to travel over.
Not only should these roads be put in the best possible condition before the Harvest Home festival, but it seems to us that those who have most occasion to use them would be the most eager to see that they are improved for their own comfort and pleasure. The weeds along these routes also need the attention of a good mower. Wonder if we have any road supervisor?
August 5, 1909—“Marcus Float”. A float that will be expressive of the pride of every person who is fortunate enough to be a resident of this beautiful and up-to-date town will be designed by the committee in charge of the parade. The committee wishes to give all an opportunity to assist in making this float truly expressive of the pride we feel for our beloved home, “Marcus” and therefore we submit the following plan: We desire some lady to occupy the seat of honor in the float, and we recognize the fact that there are a great many ladies in Marcus, who for beauty and goodness, are qualified for this position, but only one is needed for this occasion, and we have decided to abide by the voice of the people who may wish to take a hand in the matter.
Votes will be polled at Carey Bros. and Petty’s for the lady of your choice. Each vote will cost “one cent” and you may vote as many times as you wish. A careful record of all votes cast will be kept and each evening bulletins will appear on the street with the list of contestants and the number of votes to the credit of each. The funds thus secured will be used for the building of the float, etc. It is now up to you to get busy and buy—your votes determine who shall be the “Queen of the Float, Marcus”. The contest will close on Saturday night, Aug. 14. The time is short and you’ll have to hurry.
August 12, 1909—“Marcus the Beautiful”. Several times since taking up our abode in Marcus, we have spoken of the beauty of the place, but last Tuesday did we realize what a nice town we could have if everybody could (or would) manifest the same interest in such maters as is now being seen. Especially in the east part of town, the improvements are most noticeable. The grass and weeds, which naturally grow along the outer edges of the streets, are being removed and the streets look almost as if they were paved with asphalt. The large trees along the north and south streets cast a delightful shade, and almost every lawn is kept well mowed while blooming flowers reminded the writer of many happy days he spent in the beautiful southland.
The residences are kept in good repair while quite a number of houses, whose paint had become lusterless, have been treated to a 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 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 as 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 Nafiziger 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. If there is someone who is not doing his best to make Marcus appear at its best, 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.
Everyone 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 he 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, then south on Main to Pine Street, then east to Elm Street, then north to Cedar Street, then west to Maple Street, then south to Spruce Street, then east to Main, and then 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 streets 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 and 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, there are men, women and children 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. 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. 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 with good fellowship and pleasure where-in during the whole time, no complaint is heard but each shall esteem the other’s interest 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, August 18, the first day of the Harvest Home Festival. The ladies are preparing to serve first class meals with the cost of Dinners at 35 cents and Supper at 25 cents. The Epworth League will serve breakfast every morning during the Harvest Home Festival at 6:30 until all are served for 25¢.
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.
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 Harvest Home Festival that took place those three days hopefully in next week’s newspaper.)