The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-07-05
FIRST CELEBRATION,
A Large Aff~ir July 4, 1854, in Southern


! An unique and interesting item in
the history of Oregon, is the first large
celebration of the Fourth of July which
was held in 1854, i'm the Umpqua valley,
/ i'm the grove by the Umpqua Academy,
where the town of Wilbur now stands,
The entire population of the valley
turned out, some coming as far as thirty
miles. i'm all about 600 persons. 1t was
n Sunday school celebration, all uniting
at the one point.
At that time there was not a musical
instrument in that section, so no brass
band headed the procession, but large
banner was carried in front, on one side
an open Bible and on the other the
words "Feed My Lambs
The president of the day was Rev. j.
II. Wilbur, opening prayer by Rev. j..
w. Miller. The Declaration of lnde-
pendence was read by II. c. jenkins,
addresses to the children and parents
were made by Rev. j. O. Raynor and
Rev. West.
The orator of the day was Judge r. f.
! Stratton.
The music was furnished entirely by
singing of patriotic and religious songs,
which rose as q sweet incense to heaven
and sent echoes flying back from the dis
tant mountains.
A large flag and streamer which were
on the Academy were made by Captain
kilborn, an old seamen, and father of
the since famous auctioheer, Frank Kill
born, of Portland.
The great attraction OF the day was
the dinner. Two hundred and twenty
five feet of table with seats had been
constructed, two being each one hun
dred feet long, were set parallel and
were connected at one end by the
twenty-five foot table.
Two stoves were set between the long
tables and from these tea, coffee and hot
vegetables were served. All the dishes,
tinware and knives and forks from the
stores within reach were borrowed, so
that the tables were well supplied.
A large tin pail full of water and
dipper, was placed every ten feet
throughout the tables.
Such'an array Of good things to eat, as
was witnessed on this occasion is seldom
seen. The entire table was loaded.
There were seventeen young pigs roasted
whole and almost endless cakes, pies,
bread, roast chicken, peas, etc, etc.
Two men had been hired at 50 per day
each TO dig pit and barbecue one-hali
of fine fat beef ard an unusually large
The antlers We're left on the !
deer and he was stood up on the cross |
table and decorated with wreathes of
flowers.
The tables and seated GOO presented Il
spectacle unusual and striking, never to |
be forgotten by any who witnessed it..
The steward of the day was Rev. j. |
II. b. Royal, who was principal OF the |
Academy at that time, and who person |
ally gathered up, marked and returned |
without loss or mistake all the knives,
forks and crockery the only accident be-
ing the breaking of one plate.
The dinner and expenses of the cele-
bration were raised by subscription and |
when all was paid the balance, seven
teen dollars was donated 10 the Acad- |
envy.
No fireworks or fire crackers were oh.
tainable but as the people went to their
homes all felt that they had indeed had |
a "Glorious Fourth"
Many OF the participants OF that oc.
casion have gone TO their "long home"
but some are living in Salem today who |
were present at that celebration forty
FIVE years ago.