Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-19
Fun AT THE LAKE
The Retail Grocers Held Their
Annual Picnic
AND 10000 PERSONS HELPED
Judge Hatch Addressed the Guests, Every.
body Had Plenty 10 Eat and the
Games Were Good.

Tall gfOCcfs Anu sucit cHp.cecs III tAS
city. the occasion being the sixth
annual picnic OF the members OF the
trade held at Reeds Lake. Promptly
at IL O'clock. noon. their stores were
closed. They left behind them the
perplexitiss arising from fault-hudlng
customers, the worry over bad book
accounts and the odor OF the open
vested Goldfish and went TO the lake.
They took their wives. daughters aud
mothers. The clerks jumped with
glee when the hour for closing business
WAS announced by their superlors.
They hurriedly donned their fancy
vests, white ties and badges OF invita-
ton and were soon en- route 10. the
lake with their sweethesrts, sisters aud
those who had promised 10 be sisters TO
them. 1t WAS great day. The weather
was superbly fine and the means
for transportation were excellent. A
two-minutc service was gwen 10y the
street car company and the cars were
at no time uncomfortably crowded.
The crowd was immense. 1t was estl-
mated by Warren Sweetland that
10000 persons were on the resort
grounds. The old silvery haired
veteran IN the trade ~as there.
The Pavilion swarmsd.
The step of the over-worked clerk
was accelerated by the enlivening
scenes of the merry crowd. The
pavilion was . veritable swarm OF
young men and women who spent the
time in social merriment over the COOL
ing dish of ice cream and rich delicacies
provided at the resort. Lunches were
spread in the shady groves and were
replenished as fast as q decrease in the
amount was noticed. They consisted
Of all the good things mentioned IN the
culinary receipt book ana were as free
as water to the grocers' patrons and
friends. The steamers were crowded
at each trip around the pretty lake,
and the row boats were in use nearly
all the time. The bathing grounds
were also literally patronIzed. The
merry-go-rounds were kept on a hus-
tie, and the whole resort was scene of
enthusiastic animation. The program
of sports WAS carried out as advertised.
The contestants were limited to whole
sale and retail grocers, meat dealers or
employees. Each contestant entered
the ring with a determination to win,
and much enthusiasm was aroused
among the spectators and friends OF the
contestants. w. l.. Freeman, Amos s.
Musselman and f. J. Parker were
judges. The prizes In each contest
ranged from IS to 81. The winners IN
the several contests were as follows:
Sack race-First,A. Baker; second. E.
L. Knapp; third. j. Vanderveen.
Foot race, 100 yards and return
First, r. DeYoung; second, G. Stuart;
third, Z. ALERT.
Fat Mems Race
Fat Mems Race-First, c. De Young;
second, ]. B. McGuinnis; third, w.
Haggstrom.
Ladies' Race-No entries.
Blindfold Race-First, A. Baker;
second, A. Wiser; third, j. W. Wat
kins.
Three Legged Race-First, Andrews
aud Coats; second, Vidro and Valen-
tine; third, DeYoung and Crowley.
Barrel Race-First, L. DeIoung;
cond, A. Vidrow; third, J. w. Wat
kins.
Obstacle Race-First. R. De Young;
second, A. Baker; third, A. Wiser.
w hdSt-T liet, NJ. nibsiCl, sSSoh4s
| A. Vidro; third, c. Andrews.
Swimming Race-Frst, NJ. Ringler;
second, c. Trip; third, A. Goats.
Package contest, tieing fifteen two
pound packages of dried peas-FIrst,
L. NJ. Huntly; time, 81 minutes. Sec
ond, p. Posthumus; time, l21 minutes.
! Third, NJ. c. Goossen; time, l3t min-
utes. Mr.. Goo.sen labored under a
disadvantage, as he understood the
packages were to contain three pounds
and tied up that sized packages. AT
the conclusion of the contests Judge
| Rueben Hatch delivered an address to
the grocers IN the grove north OF the
| pavilion, after which they all again
gathered around bountiful spread.
| Toward evening many of the other mer-
chants from the city joined the crowd
and were made welcome. The days
festivities passed without mishap and
| the crowd was one of the most orderly
that has visited that resort this season,
The sixth annual picnic of the retail
grocers was a pleasing success IN every
1 raanort