Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-06-02
DECORAH'S EARLY DAYS.
Home Coming Idea Suggests Mem
cries of Earlier Days and PeO-
pie. "reminiscences by f.
NJ. Coleman.
Ruskin. Neb., June /, 1909.

The announcement of a Home
Coming Celebration" at DEBORAH re-
calls to my mind many scenes of my
early life, and thoughts of old
friends.
We, perhaps, who have left the
dear old place and made homes in
other states, have fonder memories
than those who have remained and
grown up with the town; and / look
forward to the time when a great
many of us will again assemble and
talk over the past.
My memory, while not going back
as far as some, recalls the little old
school house that stood about where
the brick Lutheran church now stands
also the having of school in the old
M. E. and Congregational churches.
1t also recalls the names of some of
the earlier inhabitants-the Bee
mers, Quinbys, Burdicks, Shannons,
Aikens, Forbes, Adsits, and a great
many others who are gone but not
forgotten by the older inhabitants.
1t also recalls the old stages that
run to McGregor before the railroads
came, when such men as Goddard
& Henry, Tanner G Smout, A. Brad
ish, Henry Miller ]. c. Spencer, D.
N. Oaks, Bowles & Wilson and others
were in business. The mere thoughts
of boyhood days in DEBORAH makes
one home sick and longing comes
for the home of our youth, and
for one am glad that the good peo-
pie of DEBORAH have given us poor
wanderers a chance to get together
once more.
The Public Opinion speaks of the
DEBORAH Drum Corps, and DEBORAH
being noted as the home of the
corps. This is, l believe, a fact, De-
corah received more advertising by
the drum corps than by any other
means. Even in these days | fire.
quently bear of the once famous De-
corah Drum Corps by the mere men,
tion of DEBORAH. 1t would please
me, and l know the rest of the boys
as well, to find at the Home Coming |
every member of the old corps so
we could get together and talk over |
the good old times we have had
And right here allow me to add
the DEBORAH Drum Corps was the |
pride of the town. Its achievements |
were won by the hard work of its !
members, and 1 believe was of such |
character that the citizens cannot |
afford to allow The name DEBORAH |
Drum Corps" to die out. Steps
should be taken to organize, equip |
and keep in first-class condition a |
corps as monument to the energy
and ability of the old members.
Perhaps / am egotistical, but at
any rate, at fifty years of age l am
just as enthusiastic when it comes to
the DEBORAH Drum Corps as | ever
Wuo' iHCIc Is just DIS SOOu material,
perhaps better, as there was in
1875 when the corps was first or
gained; or as in 'S2 and 'S5 when
the boys were at their best.
When l look back and remember
how the people always came to our
help, when help was needed, gave
us encouragement in all ways, and
received US with open arms when
we returned from some prize-win-
ming contest, 1t is with feelings of
Joy that was not appreciated in those
days.
Nothing would please the "old
boys" more than to have a Deco
rah Drum Corps" greet them on
their return to the Home Coming in
August, for that would make the
old town, old scenes and old faces
seem more real.
You can expect me August 1929.