River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-08-26
Gala Day for G. A. R.
I. N. Nichols Post Celebrates Quarter
Century Mark.
Impressive and Interesting Exercises Held In
The Glen Park

ter day on the calendar of all the OLE
soldiers of this vicinity, for on tina
day l. N. Nichols Post No. III, O.
the Grand Army of the Republic
celebrated the twenty-fifth anniver
sary of its organization. Nearly al
the active members of the Post were
present and several comrades from
out of the city, but some were com
PEELED to remain at home on ac
count of the unfavorable weather
Extensive preparations had beer
made to hold the exercises of the
day in Glen Park, where the crowd
which was expected could be easily
and comfortably accommodated.
Monday morning, however, it looked
for some time as if the festivities
planned for the day would have to
be postponed, for drenching rain
poured down and flooded the streets,
and when it ceased the leaden skies
seemed to betoken that the cessa-
ton was only temporary one. But
with that strong faith which was
their bulwark on many a hard
fought field, the boys in blue"
stuck to their original program and
carried it out without further let or
hindrance from the weather.
1t had been intended to hold the
exercises of the day out of doors,
but the rainfall necessitated seek
ing the friendly shelter of the paw
ilion. After the reports of the day
the exercises were opened with an
invocation by the Rev. F. w. Har-
ris, pastor of the Methodist church.
Nichols and Pratt then sang pa
triotic duet, which was warmly ap-
plauded. Roll was called by the
adiutant and then trio, composed
of Pratt, Jack and Nichols, rendered
very pleasing selection, Miss
Sarah Powell accompanying them.
Judge Weld was the speaker of the
day and delivered very able and
interesting address. This was fol-
lowed by a couple of instrumental
selections given by Miss Clark,
Gladys Currier and Ester Demul-
ling. After another selection was
sung by the trio, c. G. Knowles read
the history of the Post, an intensely
interesting document, excerpts from
which we publish below. The his
tory of the w. r. G.. was read by
Mrs. Hughes. Each of these papers
exhibited great care in their prep
aration and much research on the
part of their authors. Prof. ]. W..
t. Ames was called upon for a few
remarks and was listened to with
much attention by. all. His remarks
were in a happy vein and to the
point and were excellent in their Sc
| lection. A defamation by Mrs.
| Dena E. Perkins was effectively
rendered and proved very accepta-
BILE to the entire assemblage. In
closing the audience joined in
singing America" till the Glen
was filled with the echoing melody.
At the conclusion of the exercises
of the day, splendid banquet was
served by the ladies of the Relief
Corps and a delightful social time
was had. On the whole the cele-
bration was complete success and
a credit to the efforts of the G. A. r.
boys and to the ". r. c., who SO
fittingly closed the festivities. And
yet through the joys and happiness
of the hours of pleasure and feast
ing there could be seen a strain of
sadness, -memories of those who
once answered the calling of the
roll, but are now departed, and
thoughts of the future when the
Post and it's members shall be a
thing of the past, when the boys
shall answer their last roll-call on
earth and be mustered out to join
that mighty host who now respond
to the roll in the Grand Army
above.
The following history of 1. N.
Nichols Post III, G. A. R., is taken
from data arranged by c. G.
Knowles:
The origin of the idea of form
ing an association of Civil War