Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-08-14
PARK DAY BIG SUCCESS
Business Houses Close and People
Enjoy Day i'm City Play
Ground.
Dung Ladies Tag Everybody and
Collect Two Hundred Dollars
for Support of Park.

weather was ideal, practically every
body joined in the spirit of the oc-
casion, and all were surprised and
delighted with what had been accom-
lplished in making the most beautiful
| ten acre park site in the middle
west so attractive and so beautiful
| in one season.
! Never since we have been in De-
in supporting a pubic proposition as
the City Park Day. Practically every
store, shop and factory in the city
closed at one O'Clock, so that the
proprietors and employees might join
in the first annual outing in the city
rark. At two o'clock the Decorah
Merchants Band appeared on Water
street, played a few selections ana
then marched to the park, where
they delighted the citizens with their
beautiful music throughout the after
noon and evening. Under the direc-
tion of Mr.. Carston Sperati the band
gave concert that called out hear
ty applause and much commentator.
| f1e shows the same wonderful talent
his father possesses, and promises to
tecome famous as a musical direc-
tor. A male quartette composed of
Messrs. Christopher, Hill, Adams and
Christopher also sang a selection
which received hearty encore. Sc
iections on the Victor completed a
musical program which added 70 tho
days enjoyment.
An indoor base ball game outdoors
between the Hook & Ladder
Company and Hose Company No.
/ was one of the real events OF the
day. 1t was hummer. A big crowd
witnessed it, and the star perform
Iances of some of the players were
worth going long way to see. OF
course, Joe Shima umpired. The
Hooks won, 16 to 15.
The children were amused with
games of various kinds, swings and
other entertainment, while the elder
ly people enjoyed strolling about the
park, looking over the plans for its
further development, and noting
with delight the many natural beau
ties of the place and the'magnificent
view from the crest of the Dugway.
The crowd probably numbered two
thousand people, the park being
crowded both in the afternoon and
in the evening. Many of the older
people were there in the afternoon
while many young folks came up in
the evening who had not been there
during the day. The park was light
ed with electricity and with Japanese
lanterns and presented beautiful
appearance at night as we'll as by
day.
The setting aside of Park Day as
Tag Day in Decorah made hit with
everybody. A dozen of the city's
most beautiful young ladies canvas
sed the business streets in the morn-
ing and the park in the afternoon
and tagged" everybody. The citi-
zens fell in with the spirit of the oc-
casion with zeal and the young la
dies, in charge of Mrs. Ray Algyer,
raised about 5000 in this manner.
Messrs. j. o. Groves and ID. H. Hill
in charge of one stand and III. NJ.
Cummings and w. B. Coup in charge
of another, sold refreshments, etc.,
for the benefit of the park fund.
At the supper hour the park was
dotted with families and groups eat
ing a picnic lunch, either on the
grass or from one of the numerous
small tables.
The picnic was in every way a
success and everybody who went to
the park was delighted with it, and
surprised that it had been made so
beautiful within a single year. II
will be remembered that about a
year ago this ten acre plat of ground
right in the city limits, adjoining
our best residence section, and over
looking one of the prettiest views to
be seen anywhere. was about to be
sold for COW pasture. Learning
of this fact, the three present mem
bers of the park commission secured
an agreement from the owner, Prof.
Updegraff, to sell part of 1t fol
lS1,800 and donate the remainder fol-
park purposes. and the offer was ac-
! cepted. These three men paid over
the $l,S00, and since then have rails
ed a considerable amount by private
subscription. The deed was made
direct to the city and the propert,
is owned by the city, forever to b'
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