The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-02-02
pAIATKA's WELCOME TO ocALA
NORTHERN

ine the ocala Northern Railroads
nrst through passenger train for
paiatka LEFT Ocala amid the loud
cheers % those on board as well as
the hundreds who congregate at the
depot a. bid them a safe and enjoy
able trip.
The engine had been decorated
with bunting. "Ocala" and "Palatka'
pennanta. and large green "Palatka,"
penants were unfurled az the rear of
tho train az markers There were on
board. besides about fifty special
guests of President Rentz who occu-
pied the parlor car. over a hundred
excuraionists bent on taking the
initial trip over the new Ocala North
ern which gives Ocala and Palatka
practically an air line between the
two cities.
Az each station along the route
large number Of excursionists came
aboard and when Il arrived in Palat-
an the elegant Hve-coach train.
Upon their arrival in the Gem City
they we're Ereeted by the music of a
brass band and the shouts of several
thousand citizens who had provided
long string OF automobiles and Pres
ident Rentz and his guests were treat
Cd 90 a ride around the city over its
beautifully brick paved avenues. after
which they were taken 10 the Putnam
hotel for luncheon. The parade was
headed b. the S. Johns Colony band
which dispensed music along the route.
Every business house in the city was
sally decorated with bunting and
flaRs. a. were also the automobiles
and carriages throughout the city.
Amongthe nObby decorations that at
tracted tho visitors was the one in
n. g. Smiths cool drink establish
ment on Lemon street On the mir
rora which surrounded his place on
the inside be had painted scenery OF
the yarlous places on the Ocala
Northern railroad Ocala was repre-
scented By a picture Of our new court
house. while Burbank, Fort Mccoy,
hay Lake Orange Springs and Ken
wood each were represented by
picture OF the best buildings of the
place The last picture was one of
the new Putnam county courthouse.
interviewer in the pictures was the
Ocala Northern on its way from the
Brick City 10 the Gem City.
The holiday spirit was certainly in
evidence everywhere, and the well
come OF an enterprise TO a city was
never more enthusiastically displayed
than vas the entry of the Ocala
Northern Railway into Palatka on
Thursday January %, 1912.
In he afternoon several motor
boat races and a pigeon shoot from
the docks along the st. Johns river
we're pulled OF for the enjoyment of
the visitors The new public traffic
bridge across the river was literally
loaded down with thousands of visi-
tors from every section OF the state
who had gone TO Palatka to help the
eitizenry ia welcoming the new rail
road into It's already large list of COM
mercial industries. along which is pos
eibly the largest manufacturing plant
Ia the country for making cypress
products
In the evening a ball was rendered
che guests by the ladies OF the city at
the Putnam House. and from the
time the orchestra opened the first
number until Home Sweet Home"
tho large parlors were crowded to
their capacity. the ladies of the city
seeming 20 take as great interest as
the gentlemen In the matter of seeing
that every guest enjoyed every min
ate Of the stay in the pretty Gem
city
a. ten o'clock the spacious dining
rooms were thrown open and Presi-
dent Rentz and his guests were in
sited 20 a banquet prepared by the
side awake Board OF Trade. Hon.
II A. Davis. mayor OF palatka. and
ono of the leading spirits of the city
IN everything that tends TO the up
building 81 The community. was toast
mastcr. and the manner in which he
handled The entire program was proof
sufficient 20 those present that no
mistake bad been made by the Board
of Trade 10 their selection of the man
For thC occasion
The following menu was served
during the evening. and was printed
IN the shape OF a coupon ticket is
sued rs the Ocaia Northern Railroad
Company, with each coupon repre-