Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-08-09
GREAT WEEK
OPENED
City in Holiday Attire Ready to
Entertain Her Greatest
Crowds.
LARGE GATHERING HEARS
OPENING PROGRAM
City's Welcome by Mayor Conovel
and Band Concert Inaugurate
Festivities of the Week.

Decorah and Winneshiek county,
with hospitable hands of greeting
extended, and with gladstone smiles
upon the face of every citizen, well
comes "back home hundreds and
thousands of former residents from
all over America, the people of all
north Iowa and southern Minnesota
in the greatest Homecoming Festival
and county fair in all her history.
The city bedecked as never before
in festive flags and bunting in
beautiful window decorations and
well kept yards and homes is ready
and anxious to do everything in its
power to make the visitors feel well
come and enjoy the festivities of the
week. An extensive and elaborate
program has been prepared for their
entertainment, no expense having
been spared to make it the greatest
event of the kind ever held in the
middle west.
As we go to press early Tuesday
morning the city is rapidly filing
with. thousands of people, coming
in by train and auto, and every in
dication points to such crowd each
day as the old town never saw be-
! fore.
The public festivities of the week
were formally opened last night at
the court house square. A great
concourse of citizens and former
residents gathered to listen to the
opening program. Prof. Sperati dir,
ecting the Merchants Band rendered
several pleasing numbers. Mayor +
w. Conover delivered an eloquent
+, and forceful address of welcome
which was cordially responded to by
Mr.. Jesse Gregg, of st. Paul, 9
well known former resident. Mrs
Helen Hjerleid Johnson sang
beautiful solo, and responded to. al
encore with Long, Long Ago." ac
companied by the band. Mrs. Ethe
Baker Waterman of Davenport alst
rendered a most delightful solo, anc
for her encore sang sweetly Home
Sweet Home" with band accompani
ment. Carston Sperati in piccolt
solos, Sigurd Steen and Miss Marie
Sperati in duet and Vittorio Sper
att in Zylophone solos added mucl
of enjoyment to the program.
was a fitting opening to a grea
weeks program.
! Today (Tuesday) is American
Legion day, and will long be remem
bered by all who have the good for
tune to participate. Our distinguish
ed guest is Col. Hanford McNidei
National Commander of the Amer
can Legion, and not less than twent
, five Posts of the Legion are eXpecte
to be here for the big event. Tn
9 Parade of All Nations will move a
ten o'clock, and promises to surpris
. and delight all who see it. Th
mounted guards, the famous oil
worlds champion Decorah Drui
Corps. the soldiers of the Amer
can Legion and the veterans of tn
g. A. R., the Merchants Band, civi
! societies, the Sangerferbund, cit
and county officials, fire department
! the |. o. o. F. band, about hume
red historical, educational, commel
: cial and industrial floats, and man
other interesting features will mar
monster parade such as the ole
est resident has never seen. :
eleven o'clock Col. McNider will d'
: liver an address, followed by ON
ner rendered him by the America
Legion officials. This afternoon e
ervbody will go to the fair, whel
tbe greatest array of attraction
omusements and exhibits ever see
@ at county fair are assembled.
q Secretary E. J. Curtin reports Il
k greatest array of race horses eV
seen in Northeastern Iowa, 70 hea