Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-12
Retention of the Editors.

decided to entertain the Michigan
Press Association, they determined
that the event would be one so en-
twined with pleasurable associations
that it would not be soon forgotten,
and that the guests Alpena delight
ed to honor should long remember
their short visit to our beautiful
and enterprising city.
Shortly after sunrise, on Saturday
morning, July the 9Th, the men,
bers of the reception committee be-
gan to assemble at the Churchill,
for if the steamer City of Alpena
was on time she would be at her
landing by 9 o'clock, and the COM
mittee were determined the welcome
guests should find warm greeting
on their arrival. The steamer was
delayed about an hour, and did not
arrive until seven o'clock. During
the night and until 6 a. m. there
had been rain, and heavy clouds
filled the skies, making the early
morning hours gloomy and caus-
ing fear that the weather would
place a veto OH the carrying out of
the arranged program. Nature,
however, had no intention of doing
anything to mar the pleasure of
the reception, and as the fine palace
steamer entered the river the sun
began to cast its bright rays be-
tween the clouds and send her
cheering greeting to the visitors.
When a short distance from the
wharf the Germania band sounded
a musical welcome to the approach
ing steamer, on the forward decks
of which were gathered hundreds
of men and women, making scene
that would be difficult to excel for
picturesqueness. Ii was a beauti-
full view, full of life, pleasure, ami
nation, and one that could not
fail to cause a thrill of pleasure in
the many observers on the wharf.
Scores Of handkerchiefs huttered
their welcome signals from the
ladies on the steamer. The scene
before the visitors must also have
been an interesting one. The
banks of the river were adorned
with piles of lumber. The two
lumber mills of F. w. Gilchrist
and w. l.. & H. ID. Churchill were
busily at work, giving an indication
of the business energy of the city.
On the opposite side Of the river
was the steamer Atlantic, while a
short distance further up was the
Alpena steamship, the Viking.
Half mile above the bridge could
be seen the spars of the other YES
sells, while the steel bridge seemed
to bar the way up stream, short
distance from where the steamer
lay mOored to her wharf. From
the upper deck of the steamer could
be observed scene that was sug-
gestive of the enterprise of Alpena
people, showing the business blocks
mills, hotels and the beautiful ma.
pies along the resident part of the
city.
As soon as possible the members
of the press association came ashore
and were welcomed by the recep-
ton committee, and then headed
by the band proceeded to the Opera
House, accompanied by their ladies
When at the foot of First street
the visitors saw before them as
pretty scene as any city can show
especially so close to the landing
and the heart of a city. On their
left was the well known Churchill
On the right was the attractive
looking bath house of the Magnetic
Sulphur Bath Go. Both buildings
were given pleasing effect by the
beautiful shade trees in front OF
them. Looking up the paved
street the visitors saw two rows Of
fine shade trees as far as the eye
could reach, at the distance seem.
ing 10 arch over the street. Tn,
walk on the bath house side was
completely arched over with tn,
green leaved canopy of nature
On the streets were numerous car.
riages awaiting the guests, to tax,
them about the city. The gentle
rains of the early morning hat
given an intense green to the foil
age, and the bright sun darting be-
tween the clouds and striking here
and there made the effect still
more beautiful. Then to finish
the picture and make it perfect
one there were hundreds of peopl,
passing along, and the air was filled
with joyous animated buzz Of
voices, the sound of music and the
subdued tones from the hives of in
dustry.
At the Opera House the guests