Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-10
Wednesday, July 10, 1878.
The Fourth OF July.


July is a custom that we hope will
never be abandoned by the Ameri-
can people. 1t serves to bring the
people together; it reminds them
of the Inauguration of liberty IN
America, and it can not fail TO help
to perpetuate the feeling OF In
dependence by reminding the peo-
nile of what their ancestors have
done for them, and what they are
expected to leave for their child
ren-that greatest of blessings
freedom. All men, no matter OF
what nation, can cheerfully cele-
brate the Fourth, for it was the
commencement of popular govern
ment and religious and civil lioer-
tv. and the beacon lighted on July 4,
1916, will yet illuminate the whole
world.
The day before the Fourth was
n brisk one for the people of Al
pena. who were busily engaged in
preparing for the celebration
There were evergreens to get for
the purpose of decorating their
horscs and stores. on the line of
march: there were the streets to
beautify, flags to get ready ar
engagements to be made, and nu-
merous other matters to be looked
after. Every one appeared to be
full of the Fourth, and we dare
say that there were but few child
rem whose dreams were not tinged
with delightful visions OF what
they expected to see the next day.
Regarding the decorations, there
were number of tasteful displays.
The entrance to the armory was
declzed with evergreens, which were
arranged in the shape of an arch,
and interspersed with the ever
greens, were the national colors,
red white and blue. Across the
street, from the roof of the armory
to the opposite building, was sus-
pended an evergreen rope, from
which, in we'll formed evergreen
letters, hung the cheering word
"welcome." The bridge, Cans
mans BARRIERS shop, Whiting ~
Co.'S music store, and Monaghan's
drug store were tastefully decorat-
ed. At Gansman's was the figure
of Uncle Sam under an evergreen
arch. above which foated the Stars
and Stripes. Several of the mer-
chants displayed red, white, and
blue goods in their store windows.
During the night of the 3rd.
n union ball was given by the
members of fire companies No. /
and No. ., which proved very
pleasant affair to the many per-
sons who were present.
The Fourth was ushered in by
the roaring of cannon, ringing OF
bells, and screaming of mill whistles,
which woke the citizens from their
slumbers and informed them that
the glorious Fourth was at hand,
and, a few hours after, the people
began to assemble at the Campus,
to take part in, or witness the pro-
cession, which was to form at 9 A.
NJ. At the Campus all was life and
hustle. Grand Marshal John T..
Bostwicl, and the Assistant Mar
shals Geo. L. Maltz, ]. II. Fletcher,
f. o. Avery, S. Eddy, F. S. Good
rich. b. r. Young, r. J. Kelley, A.
n. Spratt, S. A. l.. Warner, g. III.
Shelton, d. Scott and ]. j. Potter,
being as busy as men could be in
arranging the procession and get
ting ready so that the march could
take place at the time appointed.
Such would have been the case but
for the delay of the Dunlap, on
which were the Bay City PENN
sulars and a large number of guests
which put the march over an hour
behind time. When the Dunlap
arrived, the Peninsulars immediate
" disembarked, amid large crowd
that had assembled to greet them
the Alpena Guards and their band
being drawn up in line a short dis
lance from the dock. The order
to march being given, the PENN
sulars, headed by the X. E. band
of West Bay City, which had come
MP on the Dunlap, moved off in
column Of fours, the Guards pre-
senting arms as the company pass
ed in front Of them. The Guards
then formed column in rear of the
Peninsulars, and both companies