Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-07-07
The CELEBRATION
Weather Was Ideal and the Crowd
Good Ndtured
CROWD ESTIMATED 10000
MeSSrS. c. F. Brown President of the Day and
his Committee Entitled to Credit

The sun never dawned on more
beautiful morning than it did last
Monday. The extreme hot weather
of the previous week had disappeared,
the mercury in the thermometers in
stead of indicating 90 or more de-
grees was down among the seventies,
a light breeze was blowing and all
conditions seemed favorable for an
ideal celebration, and in this respect
none were disappointed
Early in the morning the crowd be-
gan TO arrive. All kinds of convey
ances were pressed into use, the only
object seemingly being to reach Alma
for a day of sport. Three hundred
and sixty head of horses were
cared for at Partee's l0-cent sheds,
while hundreds more were looked
after by Eicher and others. AT
7:30 a. m. the Alma City band and the
uniformed rank, Knights of Pythias
met the trains from the north and
south on the Ann Arbor railroad,
every available space in both trains
being filled in both baggage, passen
ger car and platforms. The p. NJ. r.
R. trains were in like manner loaded
with humanity, all bent OH good
time at Alma. Shortly after the ar
rival of the Stanton band, the parade,
which had formed on East Superior
street, started west, headed by Messrs.
Caple, Pringle and Brock, mounted on
| fali kN. 1,a
ton band of 20 pieces and the Fourth
of July committee in Fred Wright's
automobile. Then followed a long
line of automobiles gaily bedecked
with flags, bunting, etc.
Next in line was the Forest Hill
band, which preceded the Wilmington
! Zouaves of Jackson, followed by a
long line of floats, first of which was
the +. J. Burr piano and organ
agency, Then came Parr & Erwin of
the Wright House Livery, with gor-
geously bedecked open barouche con-
tanning four of Alma's fairest daugh-
ters.
The Alma Elevator company, the
youngest of Alma's agricultural imple-
ment dealers, was next represented by
line OF Sterling machinery, followed
! by the most ingenious float of the pa
rade, lumber wagon, upon which
had been placed a gasoline engine,
from which belt had been run to the
back wheel of the wagon and by the
aid of contrivance prepared by the
designer the driver had complete con-
,rol of the vehicle and drove it at his
will. The canopy which covered the
outfit was trimmed with national col
ors and presented very attractive
appearance.
The next float in line was that of
the Little Giant Paper Press. Two of
their up-to-date machines occupied
places in the rig, while bale of paper
showed the ability of the machine to
convert the waste of shop and office
into dollars and cents
Caple Hardware company was next
i'll line with their eavetrough outfit and
were followed by the float OF the Os-
coda Grange labelled The Farmer
Feeds Them ALL" To this grange
was awarded the organ offered
as prize to the best float in the pa
rade representing any one of the
secret societies of the county.
The next rig contained Roosevelt
family, father, mother and thirteen
children, TO whom was awarded the
barrel Of Alma Bread flour offered for
the largest family in the parade
Smith * Carr was represented by a
float labeled Before and After" and
proved a good advertisement for their
line of bath tubs and plumbing outfit.
The Milk Maids 4 float repre-
senting the Central Michigan Produce
company's industry, attracted a great
deal of attention along the line of
march and was the occasion of much
favorable comment
The hustling furniture dealers,
Messrs. Crandell & Scott, had most
excellent display OF furniture in>their
float, which was trimmed with morn
ing glories and the national colors.
Next in line of parade came the
Alma band, followed by the members
OF the uniformed rank, Knights of
| Pythias, and Pine River Canton. Then
the Ithaca fire department, ST Lonis
fire department and the Alma hose
wagon and hook and ladder truck.
The parade from start to finish was
| one of the best ever seen in central
Michigan, and moving off as it did
without a hitch, was the occasion of
many favorable remarks from the
thousands of spectators who lined the
line of march.