Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19
AGENCY MECCA
FOR THOUSANDS
. OF old FRIENDS
Annual Homecoming Picnic
One of the Largest Held
in That Community
GOOD PROGRAM is
ENJOYED BY ALL
Old Days Reviewed in Talks
During Afternoon; Many
Pioneers Are Present

Agency was the scene of great
deal of activity and the mecca for hum
dreds Of people from out Of town Wed
nesday when the seventh annual home
coming picnic was held in Whipple's
grove northeast of Agency Beginning
early in the morning visitors began
to pour into the town, coming on the
trains, in carriages and in autos. the
influx lasting until the early part Of
the afternoon. A large number of
people brought we'll filled baskets and
partook of a good old fashioned picnic
dinner in the grove, some even. eating
supper in this manner. .,>
A conservative estimate would place
the number of pleasure seekers in at
tendance at the event between 1000
and 5000. It was considered by al
most everyone as the most successful
celebration of its kind ever held. An
unusually interesting program was
carried out, the contests went off with
out hitch, and not single accident
or mishap during the day was report
ed. The entrance to the grounds and
the speakers platform was tastefully
decorated in orange and black, and
these colors predominated in the dec.
orations Of the stands and dresses Of
some Of the younger crowd. The
horses and teams were taken care Of
on one side of the grove and the auto
mobiles we're parked in the opposite
part of the woods,
The platform from which the pro-
gram Of the afternoon was given was
erected in beautiful spot beneath a
cluster Of trees which tended to give
sylvan effect to /the scene. Five
orange and black pennants were
strung at the rear Of the elevation
reading 1915, Home Sweet Home,
1916" W. H. Reynolds, of Agency,
acted as chairman of the day. The
program in the morning consisted of
selection by the Mailn Line band of
Agency and song, Long, Long Ago"
by the Agency mixed chorus.
The afternoons entertainment start
ed at 1870 O'Clock with music by the
band and Memories Sweet Refrain"
sung by the mixed chorus. Rev. M. D..
Cox. pastor Of the Agency M. E..
church welcomed the visitors to
Agency In a short talk in which he
extended to them the hospitality Of
the town. The chairman then called
on Rev. j. c. Kendrick, of Ottumwa,
for a speech. The well known Ottum-
wan responded with talk full of in
terest to those present He began by
telling of how the United States pur-
chased strip Of land along the Mis-
sissippi including what is now Wapello
county, for $4,000 to be paid each
year for thirty years, besides few
minor considerations, and then ex-
pressed bis pleasure at again being
able to attend the Agency homecoming.
Ezra Carey responded to Rev. Mr..
Cox's address of welcome with talk
in which he expressed delight at the
thriving condition Of the present
Agency paying tribute to the COM
munity spirit of the, town and express
ed the appreciation of the old resi-
dents Of Agency for the privilege of
once again meeting each other and
renewing old friendships.
A recitation, Grown Up by Mas.
ter Parks, of Agency. given in dro1l
sort Of way, scored quite hit with
his listeners. The children's chorus,
singing, Swinging in the Old Apple
! Tree" did very we'll and presented
a picturesque appearance in their
white attire as they stood upon the
stage. Little Miss Irene Creath, OF
Agency, gave hlf@Sous recitation
on 1.-TWO Little Kittens" in a clever
manner and was loudly applauded
An instrumental quartet by members
Of the band furnished number which
was we'll received, this being followed
by "My Old Cottage Home sung by
the chorus with the solo work done
by Miss Ernestine Rourk, Of Agency
| Former Resident Talks. .. .
Rev c. B. Hankins, Of Morning Sun
a resident of Agency fourteen years
ago, was the speaker of the afternoon
Mr.. Hankins is an orator of no little
ability and the message which he SEN
out to those gathered round was fur
Their strengthened and emphasized b,
the forceful and fluent manner il
which he gave utterance to hi
Thoughts. The chief idea which h
laid stress upon was the value ant
importance of the right kind of
home for the rearing of young Amer
lean man and womanhood He state,
that the United States stands out a
the Mt Blanc of the world, towering
above other countries not only il
wealth and liberty, but also in it
healthy and Christian home life. H
asserted that the home Of every pei
son should be such that none woul
be ashamed to acknowledge their be
ginning, but instead should be gla
to return to the place from whenc
they sprung just as the former res
dents of Agency are reioiced at re
turning to their former habitats ono
each year.
He said that every person should a.
ways bring back with him on occs
sions such as the Homecoming, purit
of ideals as typifled in ones own Life