The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-11-30
The Military Hall.

The Military hall.
II the churches on Thanksgiving Day we're not
crowded with thanksgvers it was probably be.
cause the people who had the spirit OF thanks in
them chose to let it flow from their heels rather
than the heart. Per conse9uens, although the ex-
erciscs at the dedication Of the new Armory were
announced for nine o'clock at the earliest, the
hall began filling with people AT an early hour,
and some time before nine not less than 800 OF
GOO people were seated or standing in the room.
| Promptly at nine o'clock the company, preceded
by the 10Th Battalion Band, marched into the
hall and were drawn up in lines in the centre OF
the hall. l; having been announced that Brig
Gen. j. T. Terrence, commanding the First Bri
gade, would arrive at nine o'clock and be pres.
ent, further proceedings were held in allegiance
till he should arrive After a somewhat lengthy
wait the General and Capt, Purington of the 9Th
Battalion, arrived, escorted by I'd Lieut.. Petit,
and Captain Trimble. Lieut.. Petit introduced
Gen. I. to Capt. Smith, who warmly welcomed
him to the exercises and to our city, adding that
the company felt most highly honored by this
visit and the interest taken in them. The Battal
ion Band then gave moonlight Revels" in fine
style, which was followed by the drill. There
were between 40 and 50 men in the ranks-nearly
the full strength Of the company. Perhaps the
drill was not entirely satisfactory to the spscta-
tors-not because the movements were not we'll
executed, but because the want Of room reduced
the number Of movements possible to mini
num- Such cvolutons as were possible were
executed in the usual good style.
The drill was succeeded by the dedicatoral
speech, delivered by Mr.. Z, n. Lewis. The
speech was some Is minutes in length, and very
well constructed. 1t eulogized the energy of the
builder of the Armory Block, who had sufficient
faith in our young men to prepare SO beautiful
q room for military purposes, and eulogized the
soldierly character and dwelt upon the high moral
purposes to which the room is now dedicated
The orchestra then rendered Prof. Krommer's
new march, "Ottawa Guards March"-a very
fine composition and well played. To this music
the Guards withdrew, and the guests prepared
for the dancing of the evening, which began al
most Immediately with great gusto.
1t would be quite impossible to enumerate the
guests, some 800 or 700 being present throughout
the evening The strangers were somewhat as
follows:
Among the military men present were Brig,
Gen. J. T. Terrence, of First Brigade, and Capt
Purington, of the 9th Battalion, accompanied re-
spectively by Miss Dow and Mrs. Purington),
Chicago; Major Coulter, 18th Bat, La Sale;
Capt. Mills and Lieut.. Merritt, Streator Guards
Asst Surgeon Smith, 18th Bat, Streator; Lieut.
Monroe, Joliet Citizens Corps.
Among the civilian guests from abroad we
saw: Mr.. * Mrs. Calender, of Boston, Mass,
guests of Mr. " Mrs. w. II. Hull; Mr.. X Mrs l..
II. Tower, Wenona; Mrs. T. J. Valentine, guest
of Mr.. n Mrs. j. Il. Cameron; Miss Celia Butler
Aurora, and Miss Annie Stewart and Mr.. VIM
Forrest Davenport, guests of Miss Gertie King;
Miss Matte Johns, Deer Park; Miss Lamb, Chi
cago guest of Mr.. Il Mrs. Allen Grggs; Miss
! Lottie Clark, Utica: Mr.. IL Mrs VIM Thomas
Lockport; a party of nine composed of Mis-,
Bangs, Chicago, Misses Bowers, IIibbon, McCor
mick, Mattocks, DR.. Etslcr and Messrs. Stubs
Moore, Dairympe and Hubbard, all Of Peru
Messrs. Burke, Robt. Cation, Arnold, Chicago
Miss Small, Il guest of Mr.. " Mrs. Swift Mrs
Petit, Monmouth; Miss Nellie Frank, Rock Is
land; Mr.. Ross, New York City; Mr.. Baum, Nor
rs Edward A. Penniman and wife, HOnesdale
Penn; Frank and Miss Burnett, Genesseo; Oak
ley Griggs, Streator
The hall was tastefully though simply decora
! ted. Over the music was flag in festoons sur
rounding the monogram |. n. e.. in gold; on the
east wall was another flag similarly arranged
surrounding the company letter d. The parlo
was much improved by the presence of easy
chars and numerous pictures.
Altogether the evening was most pleasan
one to all present; and the entertainment can b,
set down as a great success, financially, as other
wise.