River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-06-12
The Big River Picnic
AZ Glen Park

One of the rare things of this
world, which people enjoy most is
the meeting of old friends, as last
week when Mrs. Frank Bliss, ST.,
came with her daughters, Mrs. Rob.
ert Dawson and Mrs. Harry Gren.
bois, to visit her sons, Messrs. Fred
and Frank Bliss, her daughters-in
law sent out invitations to all her
old friends and neighbors to meet
in Glen Park for reunion and pic
mic May 3lst.
II proved an ideal day and her
friends to the number of one hun
dred and fifty accepted the invita-
ton.
The long tables in Glen Lodge
were soon laid with every good
thing and beautifully decorated
with vases of spring flowers, and at
every plate there were wild violets.
The guest of honor sat at table
in the center, surrounded by near
friends.
After the dinner, Rev. James
Black, of Baldwin, as POSTMASTER,
gave talk on The People of Big
River-how they left the old home
in North Ireland to seek home for
the future. How in turn their chill
dren had left that neighborhood to
seek future in some other state or
place, while good many had gone
to their long home, so that there
were very few of the old neighbors
left, But the influence of those old
Scotch Presbyterians was not lost
but scattered to build up other
Christian communities. He called
on Mrs. C. w. Fuller, who respond
ed to the toast, 1.-The Old Big River
School" She recalled the old
school house with it's wooden
benches and little square of black.
board. How there had to three sit
at one desk. But all were anxious
to learn, and none were mischevious
or rude. The spelling school was
one of the annual entertainments
looked forward to with pleasure.
Next, Mr.. Gilbert Ewart responded
to the toast, THE Rise and Fall of
the Big River Church." Telling
how they started to worship in the
school house, then decided they
must have a church. How Mr.
John Dawson, Mr.. Thomas D.
Morrow, Mr.. Bliss, himself, and
others hauled the lumber from Dan
Davis saw mill on the Eau Gale.
After it was completed Rev. Harvey
Baldwin came to be their pastor.
He related many happy incidents in
the pastorates of Baldwin, Ward
and Black, but now on account OF
its members moving away and many
dying, the church was closed. But
he felt as if it was loss to the
community to have it SO.
Then Mrs. Thomas Martin was
asked to say few words. She said
she was very thankful for the in
huence of the church on her family
when they were young, and of the
pleasant memories of the gather.
ings in the old church.
Then with many joke and story
Mr.. Black called on Rev. William J
Gray and he responded in a like
happy manner, giving his right tc
be included in the Big River re.
union. Rev. D. B. Spencer, as g
specially invited guest, then com.
pared the days of his childhood tc
the times now. Then the sons
stayed on the old homestead, OF
near it, so that whole neighbor
noooS were related. NOW IL is quite
different; the young people go west
or somewhere away from the ole
home to begin their life work. Fol
himself and wife he had found thai
the home feeling and congenia
spirits were so strong in River Fall:
that they had come back to max,
their permanent home. From II,
applause that followed we hope h,
felt his welcome was sincere.
Then the POSTMASTER said, tn,
next speaker had full message t.
give, and when ever he had a bis
Job on hand he always gave it to
women to do. So he called on Mrs