The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-13
CENTENNIAL Of
GILES COUNTY.
Great Gathering at harrisburg
IS. in Celebration Of the
Event.
HOMECOMING FOR MANY
a Grand Parade With Beautiful
and Unique Floats-Fine
Speech.
HOMECOMING FOR MANY
Special to Tho TImes-Dlspatch.)

Especial to The Times Dlspatch)
HARRISBURG. VA. May 12.-The cit
izenship of Giles county was well repre-
scented here to-day in the celebration
OF the one hundredth anniversary of the
county. On the 18th day OF May, 1906,
the county Of Giles was established, being
cut off from Montgomery county. The
history OF Giles during the past hundred
years has been admirably written by the
development of what was a sparsely set
tied district in the beginning into one
OF the richest. most prosperous and sub
stantial counties Of Southwest Virginia.
The county Of Giles Is we'll known for
Its reliable and substantial citizenship.
the prosperity of its people, rich blue
grass farms. fine live stock and beautiful
mountain scenery.
Tho centennial celebration has been Il
pronounced success from every point.
BY far the largest crowd ever gathered
in the county assembled here to-day.
The most conservative estimate gives
from 11ve to six thousand people.
For the past two days and up to the
arrival of the mountain Gers to-day, peo-
pie Of all ages and sex have poured Int
the town of harrisburg. o,,
Thousands came from oil sections of
the county and many visitors were pres
emit Hundreds of former residents or
Giles came back home for to-day to
meet relatives and mingle with OLD &C
qunntanCes.
The duy Has been one which Will live
long in the memory Of the people OF
Giles county. The weather has been all
that an ideal May day affords. Stirring
and eloquent addresses which touched
upon local and national patriotism, the
love and esteem Of man for MS lclloW-
man, individual honesty ana ntesll.y
and the resources or Giles, were delivered.
Nothing to make the celebration a sue
cess was left undone by the committee
on arrangements ,
MI. II. b. Shannon. of Popular Hill
chairman Of tho committee who took the
first step toward the centennial exercises
successfully carried out Well-nrrangec
programme for to-day.
In the forenoon a parade took place
made UP as follows Odd-Felows' Band
Confederate veterans, $50 strong. Order OF
| Odd Fellows Judiciary of the county, pas'
ard present, county and district officials
| past aud present. school teachers ane
| children of the county, followed ny many
| beautiful and unique floats.
| After the parade the crowd gathered
! IN the COURTHOUSE pib sNhS'' s'D'S ~
| dresses were delivered by Rev. Tylel
| Frazier Hon. James D. Johnston. OF
| Roanoke, and Judge Robert c, Jackson
| Of Wythevilc. Judge Martin Willams
| presided at tho speaking and the speaker:
we're introduced Dy Committee Chairman
| w. d, Snyder.
A basket dinner was served to tho Ole
soldiers by the Daughters of the Con
fcdcracy. The hospitality of the goot
people of Giles was never moro NANTES
/ than was evidenced to-day by the super
abundance OF provisions provided for al
| present,
The business and dwelling houses were
| decorated in the national colors; music
was furnished BY the Odd Fellows Band
and the exercises were completed to-
night with band concert and n grant
display Of fireworks.
The following committee has been ap
pointed to have brief record of to-day
! exercises spread upon the records o
| the court: ". 3. Snidow, j. Y. IIosue, j
! H. Durham, b. p, Watts, II. y. Shannon
| and Martin Williams. Judge j, II. Fulton
| grand commander of the state Camp
was among the distinguished visitors
| present.
About four hundred dollars We're raised
| 10 rthe erection OF a monument to thu
Confederate veterans at Giles Court
| house