Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-07-10
The Big Fourth at Toms BROOK.

The big 4th of July celebration at
Toms Brook, for which extensive prep
marathon had been made, came off and
was big success all around, there not
being single draw back to mar the en-
ioyment of any one, and all passed of as
smoothly as the most earnest well-wisher
could have desired. The 945 morn nc
train carried the Anderson Guards and
ladies and gentlemen from Woodstock,
while many Others drove down on the
Valley pike. Every train that passed
brought large additions to the amuse-
ment seekers so that by the middle of the
day and later in the afternoon the crowd
was very large. After dinner the military
moved out TO field a short distance
southeast of the town. where under COM
mapd of Col. Joe Mutton, of the 2nG Va
Rept. they engaged in a sham battle, that
nroved TO he a most exciting and interest
inc spectacle to the crowd. For a little
while the sharp crack of the muskets and
the puffs of powder smoke floating
over tbe field made the blood leap quicker
| in the veins of old soldiers present. Un-
fortunately the supply of blank cartridges
was not what it should have been which
cnt short the display somewhat. Still it
|
most highly en- iOyed by the large num-
her of spectators The music was furn-
ished by the Brook band who in their
new uniforms made handsome appear
ance. ANY town could feel prOsd of this
band. Although they have only been or
canned a few months and none of them
had ever had the least previous knowledge
of an instrument, they play remarkably
well. as was evidenced 10y the real pleas
lure " it'll which every one listened 10 the
mnsic. The Anderson Guards and many
of the visitors were most Hospitality en-
tertaiped at the boarding houses ol
Nessrs Bowman and Albert, bOuntifu
dinners being serl ed at both these places
Refreshments were also served at STANDS
upon the ground at very loS figures 81
that no one had TO 90 hungry. which
wonld have been the strangest thing thai
had ever happened at Toms Brook,
well-known gentleman remaIking in th'
presence of the writer, THAT the people
of Toms Brook never stopped feeding a
fellow when they got started on him.
At night the festival was largely attend
ed and a more joyous or happy assem-
blage of ladies aud gentlemen was nevel
seen in this county before. The nigh
wound up with very me display OF fire
: works showing many beautiful form
? and lighting mp the heavens with thei
: dazzling brightness, and after which th
. tired but happy thrOng went to thei
homes full of praise for the Toms BroO
Guards, the cOrnet band, the manager
= of the celebration and the good men an
5 fair ladies of the growing village. Tn
Brook Guards. to whom much of the sue
I; cess Of the whole affair can be ascribet
is a splendid body of men, comprising on
s of the best military companies IL I'll
Q Valley. The officers are Capt. - Fleu
l. inc : list 1t. b. +. Borden 2nd 1t -
0 Walton. The company will attend ii
unwilling Itbe Jackson statue at lie,
ippton, on the 2lst, and viii be a cred
10 their town and the county. We T
oret that want of space will not perm
9s TO speak of the rapid growth and gres
} Improvement OF. Toms Brook Many Of ii
visitors could not realize that they verc
what was the Toms Brook of few yea
aqo-then little hamblet OF half doz,
houses, now beautiful and rapid
growing village, chuck full of the spir
of enterprise and progress.