The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-09-04
BLOOMSBURGS GREATEST EVENT.
The Centennial Celebration Was The Biggest and
Best Show Columbia County Ever Saw
immense CROWDS BEAUTIFUL DECORATIONS GRAND PROFESSIONS


In It's issue Oh january 2nd, 1901
THE COLUMBIAN first suggested
that as the centennial of the found
ing of Bloomsbury would occur in
1902, it would be fitting that the
event should be properly observed,
and urged that steps be taken at
once so that there would be plenty
of time for preparation. AS it SEEM
ed long way ahead no action was
taken at that time, and so the matter
rested until April of this year, when
the subject was again agitated by the
Morning Press, and on April IS last
a public meeting was held in the
Court House for the purpose of as
certaining the wishes Of the people,
and if the sentiment seemed favor
able to take the preliminary steps
for a celebration. Mayor John r.
Townsend presided, and the out
look was SO encouraging that it was
decided to organize and arrange for
a centennial. A general executive
committee was appointed and active
work begun. AT second meeting
the following permanent officers
were elected: President, John r.
Townsend Secretary, Geo. +.
Elwell ; Treasurer, L. N. Meyer ;
Vice Presidents, DR.. J. P. Welsh,
A. Il. Schoch. Subsequently nu-
merous committees were appointed,
a list of which has appeared in this
paper for the past four weeks.
How we'll the work ofthe various
committees was performed, the re-
suits have shown. AS is always the
case, there were a few on some OF
the committees who rendered no
service, but the efforts of the active
ones were united and energetic. and
every detail was so closely looked
after that the entire affair passed of
in a manner highly creditable to
the management, and to the salts
faction of everybody. The town
was never so beautifully decorated,
not only in the business portion,
but along the residence streets. 1t
was this loyalty on the part Of all
the people that helped to make our
celebration the great success it was.
Many strangers were heard to ex-
claim that the decorations were
more elaborate than they had ever
seen before in a town of this size
The appearance of the streets was
much beauti6ed by the small flag:
strung on the trolley guy wires
and on the trolley and telephone
poles throughout the town. Thi'
was the conception of Mr.. H. Bruce
Clark who with the assistance o
several others of the Decorative,
committee raised special fund O
nearly seventy dollars by small sub
scriptions. There were over tive
thousand flags used for this purpose
Mr.. P. X. Vannatta is also entitled
to special mention for his valuabl,
services as chairman of the Decora
ton Committee, in supervising th'
construction and decoration of th
various arches. So much goo'
work was done by so many member
of the various committees that i
would be invidious to name an,
special ones. Chairman TOWNSEND
devoted his time and energies to tn
work for several weeks past, and
he and those who were working
with him almost constantly mad
any mistakes they were of the hea
and not of the heart. 1t was i'm
possible to please everybody, au
when any supposed grievance
were brought before the committee
all reasonable requests were cheer
fully granted. cTA~T
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Centennial exercises opene
on Wednesday evening, August p
in the Methodist church, where a
audience of two thousand people as
sembled. 1t was an inspiring sigh
and an occasion never to be forgot
ten. On the platform sat all tn
clergymen ofthe town, and address
es were made by Rev. d. N. Kirk
by, Rev. ]. R. Murphy and Rev
DIR. Frysinger; Protestant Episcopa
Roman Catholic and Methods
Never before has there been sue
an assemblege in Bloomsbury. Th
addresses were of an interestin
character and were listened to wit
marked attention. We shall nc
attempt to give synopsis of whs
the speakers said. These speeche