Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-23
PIONEERS HOLD
WINTER PICNIC
Over Three Hundred of 0maha's Old
Residents Gather for Annual
Midwinter Celebration.
RECALL STORIES OF FRONTIER

! Association Of Nebraska Pioneers
had the time of their lives Tuesday.
There we're between 800 and $50 OF
them-men and women whose resi-
dence in Nebraska dates back from
thirty-five to more than fifty years.
Tc be a pioneer a residence of
/ thirty-five years in the state is re-
Quired, and consequently there we're
not many youngsters at the celebra-
tion.
The festivities incident to the
mid-winter picnic of the pioneers
started at 10 o'clock In the forenoon
and were concluded about in the
afternoon. During the six hours Il
was one continuous round of pleas
ure, with big eats from shortly after
neon until each and every appetite
was completely satisfied.
The pioneers held their rnid-winter pic
MO in the Masonic building. Sixteenth
street and Capitol avenue. having the
undisputed run OF the entire second
| AaNNAs AAAo NAh AbhA0 AONHA was hhtu rs
the dining room and the side rooms as
places where the men and women who
helped make early history gathered and
recounted incidents that occurred when
Nebraska was in its swaddling clothes
and Omaha was village far out on
the frontier.
Miller Furnishes Coffee.
The dinner was tOothsome and there
was an abundance and TO spare. II con-
sisted of hot meats, vegetables, sand
wiches. bread and butter. apple, mince
and pumpkin pies coffee and cake. With
the exception of tho coffee everything
was prepared by the women Of the asso-
| citation. The coffee was furnished by
Rome Miller. who has pledged himself
to donate coffee at all the functions held
by the pioneers. so long as he lives.
1t was a lap dinner, being served on
plates and by walters picked from the
sons and daughters OF the pioneers.
The function was under the direction of
Nose p. O'Brien, general chairman, who
called to his assistance as many persons
as he saw fit, and he saw fit to call
some thirty-five to serve on floor and
reception committees.
Old Picture of Omaha.
The rooms were neatly decorated for
the occasion. flags and tri-colored bunt-
ing being draped along the walls, over
the doors and from the chandliers The
wallis were hung with pictures, the faces
Of many of tho pioneers who have been
called to their long rest looking down
upon the comrades of years ago. Besides
these. there were pictures of pioneer
scenes in Nebraska, the old sod houses
and the bull trains going across the
plains. One picture that attracted ape
cial attention was a photograph of
Omaha. taken in 1851. formerly owned
by Ted Reipen. and by him presented to
the society
The photograph presented by Mr.. Rel
pen Is 1Sx38 inches and was apparently
taken from point not far from the
crest of the High School hill. The view
is to the southeast, and in the fore
ground appears a number of small resi-
dences. long since gone. Farther toward
the river, Douglas and Farnam streets
can be seen, but not recognizable by an
Omaha resident of more recent years,
There are no sky-scrapers or palatial
office buildings, but instead some rows
of squatty one and two-story frame
structures. The buildings on the streets
running east and west extend down close
to the Missouri river, that is seen in
the distance.
AS general chairman, after the din
ner was eaten. Mr.. O'Brisn extended the
address OF welcome and briefly outlined
some of the incidents connected with
the past Of Nebraska and Omaha. after
which he introduced John A. McCreary
who sang America" all joining in sing.
ing the choF1is
Mayor Makes Talk.
Mayor Dahlman made a short address
paying a splendid tribute to the pioneers
and the work they accomplished during
the period when the country around anC
about Omaha was inhabited by the In
dians and the buffalo roamed over tn,
hills and through the valleys back o.
the city
Mrs. Reese Barber sang a solo, afte
which AL sorenson read a paper dealinl
with Omaha and Nebraska during tn
territorial days. taking up many i'm
: portant events that have since occurred
Miss Amanda Tebbins sang a solo an
: was followed by d. II. Mercer. who spok
1 Of Nebraska, its growth and prosperity
Fred e. Hale sang. and then John N
. Tanner spoke OF Omaha and its develop
> ment since he had become a resident Q
4 | Douglas county.
Albert Hindinger sang silver Thread
Among the Cold" his little sister. Mis-
{ Lizzie. presiding at the piano and play
y ing the accompaniment.
T The Pioneers. with George w. winshi
leading and all members playing banJoi
produced some excellent music, all OF IN
vintage OF many years ago.
There were musical selections by Mr.
IDA Gibson Knight. after which jaime
Lindsay regaled the pioneers with q nun
Der of funny stories.
} The festivities Of the afternoon close
= with some old-time fiddiing George Ratl
c bun and w. F. Dunn handling the bow
d For an overture they played Turkey 1
the Straw" and for an encore. responde
= with God BE with You Until We Me-
I Again"
/ AS the meeting broke. everybod
h Joined in singing AUD Lang syns."
0 UNIV Tn pEMnUE nLNnnIIE