Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-10
w'LLmAR CELEBRATES.

"lllII1dTs Mlnn6SOId,
4 wILLMAR CELEBRATES.
independence Day Is Observed In ou'
city-Raln Mars tho Festivities.
The rain last Thursday interfered
with the Fourth of July celebration
and prevented it from being as sue
cessful as the committee had planned
The forenoon's program was carried
out and large number of people
were in the village to witness the open
ing exercises. After dinner, however
the rain poured down and the races
were declared off. The crowd in towr
was swelled by the arrival of the moor
trains and it was great disappoint'
ment that the festivities were marred
by the heavy rain. Atwater and Ben
son were we'll represented, and brought
along their bands to discourse sweet
music during the day.
The turnout of floats was not az
large as it might have been, and was
q poor showing for the village. The
few business houses that were repre-.
sented were highly complimented on
their efforts, and their floats were very
we'll gotten up. They we're as follows
F. W. Ferguson, cigar factory; Jones
Clothing House; A. Peterson, furni.
ture store; Boyd, Sandven & Co.,
"Golden Rule" dry goods and gro.
ceries; Person & Johnson, cigar fac.
tory; Lund & Olson, hardware; Will.
mar Gasoline Engine Works; G. A.
Erickson, Plano harvester; A. J. Elk.
ander, Huber threshing rig; Larson &
Paulson and Tornquist & Kalbec, house
movers. The Lindner & Embertson
cigar factory was represented by the
delivery wagon and the Shetland pony
rig of Milton Madison was no small
part of the affair. The Benson, At
water and Willmar bands, in their
neat uniforms, were greatly admired,
and the Willmar fire department, with
it's apparatus, came in for q large
share of praise. The procession was
headed by the city mayor and alder
men, and was in the following order:
Village council, Benson band, Will
mar fire department., Atwater band,
carriage containing speaker of the
day, Hon, A. F. Nordin, and reader
Of Declaration of Independence, Mrs.
c. E. Gerretson; floats, Willmar Citi-
zens' band, floats, and citizens in car
riages.
Among the attractive features of the
parade were the mammoth gasoline
engine and the Huber threshing outfit,
both of which were in full operation.
The log cabin was an original feature,
gotten up by Larson & Paulson, and
Tornqnist & Kalbec, the house nov
ers.
After the parade the crowd assem-
bled at Central Park, which had been
furnished with seats and other conven-
fences. Here the different bands dis
coursed music and q program of exer-
cises was given until the noon hour.
Mayor Tyler gave the address of well
come and an invocation was given by
Rev. Bradford, of the M. E. church.
The Declaration of Independence was
read by Mrs. G. E. Gerretson in q
clear and forcible manner. Judge
Nordin gave the oration of the day.
1t occupied the time until the noon
hour, but the speaker held the close
attention of the audience with his flow
of patriotism.
The first game of ball between the
Norenbergs of Minneapolis and the
Willmar team was billed for 1890 g..
m. and Athletic Park drew a goodly
share OF the admirers of the game.
The visiting team was defeated by a
score of to IL.
The races were to take place on Pa
cif1c avenue at l:30 p. NJ, but on &C.
count of the rain had to be abandoned.
The heavy shower left the streets in q
bad condition and the threatening
weather caused number of country
people to leave for their homes.
Athletic Park was the scene of a
second game of ball later in the after
noon, in spite of the bad condition oil
the grounds. The clubs were unable
to put up as creditable a game as
might have been expected, owing to
the "sloppy'' diamond. The score
was Is to S, in favor OF Willmar, the
Norenbergs suffering worse defeat
than in the morning game.
Owing to the rain, which left the
bowery near the park in damp con.
dition, the Bonde hall was used fo1
dancing, and the Willmar orchestra
which had charge of this feature o1
the program, furnished most excellent
music for the participants.
The Citizens band entertained the
crowd at the park until supper time
with their excellent selections, and
many were the compliments paid tc
them by the visitors.
The evening turned out to be mos,
pleasant one, and the crowd enjoyed
itself at bowery dancing and witness
ing the display of fireworks north O
Central Park. Music was also fur
l nished hv the Waiting hands thro,,nh