The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-09-14

z2
BeautituI Decorations. Fine Par
ade, and a Great Crowd.
HNHURsDAY September 0, 1888 was
- great day in the history Of Blooms
burg. Perhaps on two other occasions the
display and the crowd approximated that
OF Grand Army Day, these occasions being
July 4th 1876, when there was long pro-
cession of firemen, soldiers, and tableaux;
and the brigade cncampment in 1881; but
they did not equal IL. The number in at
tendance at the county fair has been great
er than the number In town on Thursday,
but no occasion ever crowded Main street
as it was on that day. Teams poured in
from the country and neighborng villages
all the morning, and every train that ar
rived brought many car loads OF passen-
gers. Arrangements we're effected with all
the roads for extra trains and every one
was filed, so that by noon the town was
packed. Complaint had been Tade that at
other towns the accommodations for feed
ing the people were not sufficient, and so
extensive arrangements were made not
only by the hotels and saloons, but by
many others, and there were stands along
the street at which lunches could be OBJ
tanned.
As the different Posts arrived they were
met at the depot by assistant maTshals
Sloan, Ent and Furman and the reception
committed and marched up Market street
to Main, and thence to Music Hall which
had been converted into great dining hall
Here the visiting posts were fed. Wooden
plates, tin cups, forks and spoons made up
the table ware. There were consumed
1000 pounds of ham, 900 loaves of bread,
200 pounds of butter, 200 pounds Of coffee,
barrel of pickles and 8 cheeses. There
were left over 100 loaves of bread and 20
hams which were given away to needy
people. The arrangements for feeding the
visitors were under the direction OF Quar-
termaster w. r. Ringrose aud the General
Committee of Ent Post, consisting of G, T.
Sloan, L. Cohen, P. s. Meyer, and U. Il.
Ent How we'll they performed their duty
the result shows, for there was plenty OF
good substantial food provided, and after
all were fed there was still some left. The
expenses were paid out Of fund of which
Ent Post gave $100, and about $500 was
raised by subscription by the citizens.
There were about 1000 men in the visit
ing Posts including bands and drum corps.
Over 1000 people were fed at Music Hall.
| II all the Posts had come that were at first
expected there would have been nearly
5000 veterans here, but many of them could
not get here on account OF railroad con-
nections, without leaving home the day be-
fore.
THE DECORATIONS.
When Bloomsbury awoke on the morn
ing of Grand Army Day, it was to behold
clear sky overhead and the rays Of the
bright sun streaming down upon the .towr
resplendent with the beautiful national col
ors. Red white and blue bunting floatet
everywhere on the breeze, and there wa
scarcely house within the limits of thu
town that did not display flag of som'
kind.
Main street was waving mass OF stream
ers, bunting, shields, flags, and bright col
ors. whose beauties were much admired b.
the thousands of people that visited ou
town that day. The remainder Of the towI
did not present as gaudy an appearance a.
Main street, but there were many very
handsomely and tastefully decorated homes
| in all portions of the borough. The DdnviH
Record speaking of our decorations says
"Many of the streets were handsomely
| arched and trimmed and the buildings gor
geously trimmed with flags, banners snt
bunting presenting one of the most beauti
full views ever seen in any town in this dis
trict on Grand Army Day. 1t reminded u
very much of the display on some of tn
streets in Philadelphia, during the last tw'
or three Centennials in that CITY,"
There were handsome arches scattere,
along the whole length of Main street
while arches of evergreen spanned man.
of the other streets in town. Two OF tn
arches were arranged by the professiona
decorators that were here, one on Marke
Square and the other at the Normal Schoo
and both were very handsome. The Mar
ket Square arch consisted of four squar
pillars, Joined by arches in the shape of in
verted VS.. The whole was covered witt
white and grey cloth, giving the appear
ance of marble and, with the flags an
bunting that decorated 1t, making a YER
pleasing effect. The arch at the Norma
School was single one OF the same build
very pretty arch was put up at Main AM
Centre streets by the business firms ao
joining that place. This consisted of fou
pedestals, covered in the same manner a
that on Market Square. Statues of soldier
surmounted the pedestals, which wer
joined by arches handsomely decorated
Two semi-circles of gas jets at the top c
the arches crossing Main street gave yer
pretty effect at night There was also
double arch of evergreen crossing at Iro
, and Main streets, one on East street at .
, Hess; on fifth at Centre; on Market at ID
Shattucks and another at j. o. Wilson,
, and one at corner of third and West
, MenrS " pOu uuu uSuuSoih
t arch at East and Fifth streets surmounte
by one of the excellent wsshing-machinei
of which they are the manufacturers. Th
t remaining arches IN various parts OF Il
Q town were of evergreen.
: The business houses and hotels on Ma
) street presented gorgeous appearance
The court house loomed up with its fro
covered with mass of flags, stresmers al
shields, and was one of the finest lookir
buildings. The Exchange opposite al
looked very handsome and large flag W
0 hung across the street between the tv
buildings; a semi-clrcle OF gas jets abo'
the Exchange verandah threw brillia
: light over that part of the street at nigh
3 Gilmores saloon was handsomely trimme
and line of jets in front threw brig
light over the large pictures of scenes fro
/ the late war, which decorated the upp
part of the building. The remainder of II
hotels and other buildings were in propo
d ton. G. A. X. Hall looked very pret