River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-07-08
The Celebration

One of the largest crowds that has
ever attended a Fourth of July cell
ebration in River Falls gathered at
Glen Park last Monday to enjoy the
great national holiday. 1t was an
ideal day, neither too warm nor too
cold, and it was the first 4th for
many years that celebration here
has not been hindered by rain.
The River Falls Base Ball Associ-
alton had planned and worked hard
and faithfully TO provide entertain
ment for their guests, and their eff
forts were crowned with marked
success. The people were on hand
for the first event and when the
Woodmen and ForesterS crossed
bats at 1880 there was the largest
attendance that had ever witnessed
ball game in this city, and the af-
ternoon game between the city team
and North St. Paul had still larg-
er attendance. CA detailed account
of these games is given elswhere.)
After the picnic dinners were over
the farmers and citizens lined up
for the tug-o'-war, which the farm
ers won. The prize was a box of
Bobby Beach" cigars, donated by
Edm. Nicholson, manufacturer.
Next came the 300-yd. dash. Kelly
Clark won first and received a Cor
don hat from Stewart Mercantile Co.
Mrs. c. Arndt of Saltwater won the
married ladies' 100-yd. dash and re-
ceived a sack of White Crest" -four
from the Whitcomb- Campbell Co.
Mrs. VIM. Ray was second. Jesse
Smith won the pair of OXfords in
the boys race once around the park.
Stanley Johnson was second. j. S.
Wadsworth donated the prize for
this event. Six runners entered for
the fve-mile and two blocks Mara
thon race. Four completed the dis
lance, and in the following order:
Walter SturteYant, (31 minutes),
Kelly Clark, Jay Lunger, Vim, Hunt.
Ssurtevant finished with sprint
and won by several yards, the other
three coming in almost abreast.
Hunt was under the impression that
there was another lap to run and
did not try for place at the finish.
The prizes were $500 for first place,
SIS. 90 for second and 81 90 for third.
Chas. Atkins was the successful
CREASED pole climber and was given
a fine watch by F. G. Peterson.
The potato picking contest was one
of the big laughs" of the program.
Each contestant was given a row of
eight potatoes, placed yard apart,
each tuber to be picked separately
and placed in a pan at the end of
the row. r. S. Freeman & Son do
mated the prizes. Lewis Harvester
won first prize-a dollar bottle of
perfume; Myra Johnson won second
prize-a IS cent bottle of perfume;
and Sophia Carlson and Floyd
Chapman being tied for third, each
received SO cent bottle of perfume.
Walter Sturtevant and Kelly Clark
were tied for first place in the 100
yard dash and the first and second
prizes, amounting to $500, were
divided equally between them.
The dance at the pavilion re-
ceived steady patronage all after
noon and evening. The River Falls
band gave an excellent concert on
Main street in the morning and
played during the ball games and
the races. The band boys and their
leader received a great deal of mer-
tied praise for their fine playing.
The work of the Tanz orchestra
at the pavilion was also of first-class
order. One hundred twenty-six
dollar dance tickets were sold and
seventeen more dollars were taken
in for separate dance admissions of
ten cents each. This amount, with
the receipts at the ball games, net
ted the Base Ball Association about
$4,000 over and above all expenses
of the celebration. This surplus
will go toward improvements at the
ball park.