Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-09-13
history OF
MELON DAY
lsfk From Data Fsriithed By
Hoe. G. ". Swink.

n isu. Watermelon Nv was In
tA III" country then hsrag very
u.l, settled the crowd WAS quite
I.all no. more than twenty-five peo-
- i.inT present. and they being
rosily from La Junta. eunitzg In n
A.,i fc caboose. Hon. q. w. Swink
ct the melons on the grain door OF
a1 r1r Only one wagonload was
rqg!red to feed the crowd and give
tlt- NIL !, iey wanted to carr? home.
10 lSi9 Mr.. Swink gave the same in.
rt,unn end the crowd WIS itnr eascd
9boat fifty. mostly from La Jun'a
'iaih rlcy ate and carried home
,ih hcm one large wagonload OF
tsioaA y grain door again served
y iailc. and Mr.. Swjnk did all
ae sarvtrg
IA l3tunc crowd increased 10 100
I'd consumed two wagonloaHs of mel
g.
IN ISM there was another .hSrcnsc.
10 s1acihpnds coming from La yJunta.
iAat year a table was built twelve
bet long, and the melon supply cor
h.pOndinsly Increased.
Ihe samo growth of attendance was
,ded In 1882, the pile OF melons stead
iy growing. so that all waits we're
applied. 6,ring all these years the
net waI Nerved in the odd S'ink
Nore adjat1iing the Santa Fe track. .
IN 1888 there was another me- ked
afreasc Ia the crowd. and the .fsble
T melons was transferred 10 the
IoIe north Lf town. which WAS al art
DIT. swints timber claim. which has
ne distinctsm OF being the 6rst tim
~ culture claim proved mp on In
ae United STA tes. The feast OF mel
Gus was accompanied by n basket pie
u.s. table is!ing built separate from
vac melon table. On this the lath II
'pead a most axccllent dinner for the
'hltors. Adjacent to the two tables
S display 1f plums. grapes ahu
sppIes which we're given to the erow''
slore the day ended. This was the
canning of the now celebrated Rocky
,ord fairs of the n rkansas Valley Fat
association.
in 1881 there WIS another increase
vvIn In the crowd and the size OF the
agiSh pile. The FREE dinner also waF
M1tgcd in quantiir and improved 10
sualty. The ladies of Rocky Ford
% %ok great pride In preparing hne
Irn""r and deserve much credit Tor
:, Ie valuable aid rendered. The as
way OF Horticultural products was
laae feature again.
III 1888 there was 1he usual III.
SeaS" y, in the crowd and the spread
y, W toothsome viands. TO the display,
", =, fruits was this year Widcd that OF
tatn m products. Up to and Including
hS W.. year Mr., Swink cut snd served all
""n melons which were eaten.
,,.. III 1856 sHkreat was the attendance
o'a1 w. The lads had to put tive big pot
w. nut the3 had an abundance OF
,s sLun and as fine as could be pro-
.aed anywhere This year Mr. Swink
ss compelled to call In help 30 cut
aus, s"s serve the melons. There was the
nv, sss% display OF fam and orchard
nn.oascts. nro's. but in larger quantity thah
p'eVious years. -.
,,.ih an 1887 were run the first special
s,a.' "a,hs' which brought . very large fa-
,,,a H.aSe In the crowd. So great was the
,behaance that 1t was necessary 10
SsSn ruandon the free dinners. But the
A. M'Nu was not wholly unprovided ior,
m, committee OF public comfort
btue b,"e an arrangement with Reckers
,","ery and restaurant whereby ns
esaa.lshed esr.l an excellent meal for 10
'4S 80 great wRs the amount Oh