The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-07
New Fargo Which ARISE ]
From Ashes, Celebrating
Progress Made Since, ,
Great Civic Parade in Which All the Varied Enterprises Had
Part, Feature Of the Day
Hosts From Duluh, Whe Are Concluding Tour Of the State
WerelHere to Head Procession
AT r. M, One Fifth Of Century Ago, Disastrous Con-
i flagraton Started Which Laid Fargo IN Ashes

The big civic parade, which Is in
charge of the commercial club and
the civic committee, Us on this after
noon and 1t is one that everybody In
the entire city and state should have
seen. When it was ascertained that
the Duluth, Mimi, Boosters, headed by
Frank x. Gravel, chief of the Stone-
Ordeal Wells wholesale house of
Duluth, would arrive here shortly after
3 o'clock, it was decided to postpone
the parade for about an hour, so the
Duluth boys with their great band
could head the procession and by wire
they were caught this morning and de-
cided to accept the honor, and the Du-
luth band and the company of men
are heading the line of march under
the n1arshalship of Captain Grafton,
who is a past master in that line of
work.
There are scores of floats in the line
and many Of them are indeed beautiful
and represent great deal of expense.
In addition to the Shriners of Fargo
and other places, including those from
Duluth. the following floats are in the
line: Jobbers' union; Manufacturers
association; Fargo Builders & Trad
ers; the Town Criers' club; the Auto
mobile club; the implement dealers;
the automobile dealers; the real estate
dealers: Fargo lodge of Elks; the Sad
AAG SluDS Inc fAIllSuESG OF hL0e2 sNlaSCa-
heesss the Improved Order of Redrnen
from Fargo and Moorhead: the Ladies
of the Maccabees; Agricultural college
with the grand band of the cadets the
Fargo college: Fred Johnson, the dec
orator, and several others, including
Co. B, which did so much good as
guards twenty years ago.
The fire department. was also con-
spicuous on the streets and there was
plenty to see. The parade started at
or north OF the Great Northern depot
and attracted a great deal of attention
all along the line.
Trifle Late in Starting.
Owing to the fact that the Duluth,
Mimi. Boosters were expected to head
the great civic parade Of today the
demonstration was late in getting
started. 1t had been announced that
the procession would move as near
8 o'clock as possible, but it was nearly
one hour later than that, but the peo-
pie were well rewarded for their pa
tienca in waiting, for the lineup was
a magnificent one and there were
many, different branches of business
represented therein s
This was the closing event of the
week of big meetings and spectacular
professions and the pageant today was
one that will be long remembered very
pleasantly.
1t will be remembered by the older
readers of The Forum that in years
gone by June7 was greatly celebrated
by demonstration that was known
far and near as the fire festival So
great was this gathering and SO mag
nificent was the procession which al
ways formed part of the celebration
that 1t came to be known not only all
over the United States but even in the
old world. 1t was written UP and In
many cases was pictured in the news
papers and magazines.
1t attracted more attention than
anything else because 1t was the cele-
bration of a great disaster which be-
fell Fargo on June z, 1893. 1t was such
an uncommon thing to celebrate a dis
aster by parades and feasting that 1t
was one Of the principal reasons that
1t attracted more attention than many
another more pretentious ceremony.
Magazines all over this country sent
their best artists here to make pictures
OF the great occasion and there was
many a comment on the uniqueness
of the occasion.
Cause of the First Celebration.
1t was 2:10 In the afternoon Of this
day twenty years ago that the fire de-
partment was summoned out to fight
the great fire which had Its origin
from a small blaze In what was known
as the Gem restaurant which stood on