Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-09
A Grand Celebration of the Fourth.

The much looked for July 4th, 1890, Is
now a memory Of the past, but around II
cling pleasant memories that the mind
will often recall. 1t is notable as the
largest and best public celebration ever
held in this city. The people are vel
satisfied. There was a pleasant days
amusement. Hundreds of strangers were
attracted to the city. Our people were
kept at home and their money spent here
where it will materially assist business
and as regards the younger generation II
was memorable day to them.
The great dread previous to the fourth
was rain and terribly hot day. III
always rains on the Fourth" said the
croakers, who delight in making disma
forebodings. Their predictions proved
failures.
For days previous to the memorable
day the citizens had been busily engaged
in making the necessary preparations FOL
the event. The various committees were
all hard at work, and there seemed to bt
a general determination to make the day
one long to be remembered.
More or less rain had fallen from June
30th to July 3D.. This had tendency to
cool the atmosphere, and when the morn
ing of the Fourth arrived, and IL was
discovered that gale was blowing from
the Northwest, the citizens knew that
all danger from rain was over. The wind
travelled briskly along all day, at times
attaining a velocity OF 20 miles per hour
and as the sky was well covered with
clouds, no annoyance was to be expected
from heat. In fact II was almost per.
20 Nd Ias f<- ht..r, 1.A o..
that could be found was with the wind
1t was poor day for those who had
lemonade stands and most Of their
liquid stocks were OH their hands. There
were no scorching sun rays to make
people thirsty.
Shortly after breakfast the streets be.
gan to fill up with people, and by ten
o'clock there were thousands of them
ly scene, and especially on Dock street
when the procession was forming. About
ten o'clock the procession began to march
was organized as follows:
President OF the day, marshal of the
procession, drum corps, Lockwood Post
G.. A. r., Alpena Guards, No. 17O, |. o.
o. F., Knights OF st. John, two tents OF
the Knights of the Maccabees, the Anci-
ont Order of United Workmen, Highland
pipers, Caledonian society, Norwegian
band, st. Jean Baptistc Societe, long
shoremen union, Polish band Polish
society, hose company No. 1, hose CON-
pany No. 2, AuSable hose company, hose
carts and fire engine, Highlanders In
costume. Then followed the business
houses display, represented by b. Kramer
Bradford q Co., John Beck, dye works,
feather works, novelty store, Furbush
draying business. Then came the Wild
West with an old fashioned stage, call
thumpians, maskers, Indians, negroes,
clowns, and numerous other comical
characters. The rear Of the procession
was brought up with - bicycle riders,
most OF the wheels being trimmed I'm red,
white, and blue and decked with small
union flags. AS part OF the marching
route was on sand, the bicycle club did
not follow the procession only part OF
the journey.
The route was along Dock street to
Water street, then to First street, then to
Chisholm, to State, to First, to Second, to
Washington avenue, then to Fifth, then
to Chisholm, then to Second, then to
River street, then to the corner of Third
and River street where the exercises
Of the day took place. The entire route
was about two and half miles In length,
and nearly all was on paved streets. A
large portion Of the route was along
beautifully shaded streets. The process
sion was over half mile In length, and In
IL were over $50 men on foot, besides q
large number on horseback and In car
riages. -Four OF the societies were In
uniform. The members of the German
Aid society all wore white plug hats and
marched well.
Tho exercises at the conclusion OF tho
march, consisted VI reading Of the dccla-