The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-13
Spirit of Optimism Manifested
At Christening of RiverdaIe
At Public Exercises Last
Night.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED
PEOPLE AT MEETING.
Speakers Congratulate the
Citizens on the Work They
Have Taken Up Many
Things to Be Done.

All that section of Richmond that is
located north of the railroad tracks,
bounded on the west and north by the
Whitewater river, and on the east
by Nineteenth street was formally
christened "Riverdale7 in exercises
held at Starr park last eve
ming. Mrs. Spaulding, the pres
ident of the Mothers League of
the Whitewater school. bestowed
the name. The meeting was at
tended by some fifteen hundred peo-
pie who were filled with pride and
happiness in the belief that in the fu-
ture this section Of the city will new
names, many of which sound very
rodius to Industrious residents of the
section.
In the christening speech, Mrs.
Spaulding said: II hope the people of
Richmond will fully appreciate the
work that we have so earnestly started
and that the citizens of the other sec
tions of the city will not call this part
of the city by the old obnoxious
names that have become hateful to us,
We have felt the infamy of these
names long enough and I now christen
the section of Richmond north of the
Pennsylvania railroad tracks, bounded
ton the west and north by the White
water river and on the east by Nine
teenth street ''Riverdale." Three
cheers for Riverdale Mrs. Spaulding's
christening speech was made just as
the bells from the Catholic church
tower tolled 8:45.
A curtain at this moment was
stretched across the platform which
was on the north side of the beauti-
ful Starr park, with "Riverdale'' print
ed thereon in large letters, and when
Mrs. Spaulding waved "the Grand Old
Flag" approximately 1 800 people sent
up deafening cheers. Although the
dedication ceremony was very short
1t was very impressive. 1t was point
ed out that what Is now known as
,Riverdale has always been considered
the worst section of the city, the place
where many people claimed it was un-
desirable to live, has through the ef-
forts of the Mothers League Of the
Whitewater school and the teachers of
that school and the Riverdale Civic
league. in few short weeks been
made one of the most desirable sec
tions. More manufacturing interests
are located there than in any other
part of the city and products are sent
to all parts of the country. The Rev.
j. o. Campbell said. "As soon as the
air ship is completed we will send
lawn mowers to Mars to be used by
the people there in cutting grass
The dedication exercises were a
great success. being far beyond the
fondest expectations of the Civic
League. The program that had been
arranged was unique in every way Ev-
cry one in attendance seemed to recog-
nize the Importance of the occasion
and white and colored residents OF
Riverdale joined in celebrating
A number of representatives from
other sections of the city and members
of the West Side and South Side i'm
provement associations were in at
tendance.
Gaily Decorated.
The speakers stand was decorated
In red, white and blue bunting with
small flags in the rear. The edge OF
the stage was draped with the bunt
Ing. A noticeable feature about the
decorations was that the blue which is
so commonly on the bottom of the
bunting, was reversed last evening
and this was noticed by many. When
the blue is used at the bottom it indi
Gates the spirit of giving up, but when
1t is on top it means all are still ready
to stand and fight to the last. 1t was
evident that the people of Riverdale
Will not stop and be content with the
success of past efforts. but will keer
on in their efforts
There were seats to the front of the
platform which accommodated over
five hundred people, On the stand the
Richmond City band was stationed
and on the front row were men who
have helped in some way to make
Riverdale a much better place They
were Rev. ]. o. Campbell. Luther C
Abbott. Rev. H, Robert Smith, DR.. T
Henry Davis. John Mccarthy, T. A
Mott, superintendent of public schools
George L. Goodwin. secretary of the
y. NJ. c. A. Mrs. George spaulding
president of the Whitewater Mothers
League. Sharon E. Jones, Prof N. C
Heiropimus Of the West Richmond
Improvement Association and Frank
III. Unthank. president OF the Riverdale
civic league.
The exercises were opened with a
prayer by Rev. II. Robert Smith. q,
CONTINUED on Page Eight.)