The Lamar register., 1922-05-24
LAMAR'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Old Timers Will Enjoy the Extracts
Below Taken From The Lamar
Register of May %, 1887.

birth of Lamar there are left only
few dozen who were here to help In
the biggest celebration ever held of
the city's birthday Lamar from moth
ing but = prospect on May "a, 1886,
grew to a lusty boisterous baby of
1900 people just one year later and
passed the two thousand mark before
the winter set in. There followed two
long years of drouth with the organi-
zation of Prowers county and location
of county seat as the only reviving
features outside of the slow develop
ment of the irrigation industry. The
section outside of irrigation went back
to cattle range and Lamar dropped in
the winter of 1890 to a village of
five hundred. For conditions in 1887
and the enthusiasm Of the people at
that time the following description Of
the first celebration taken from our
files will give a good idea:
Tuesday morning came in a perfect
May day, bright, clear ard warm, with
out even n breeze to mar the anticipat-
ed pleasure of the day. Early, La
mar was astir to renew the work be-
gan the day before of decorating the
city until by 10 o'clock the house tops
were n waving mass of flags, bunt-
ing, streamers, Chinese lanterns and
all that goes to show the patriotic
spirit of our people. Main and Olive
streets and Railroad Avenue were lin
ed with decorations and there was
hardly a residence IN town but what
from the house top floated the stars
and stripes. Flags were in the hands
Of men, women and children; they
were worn in the hats, pinned on coats
and for sashes, wagons, carriages End
horses were covered with small flags
and even the freiehters loaded for
neighborirg towns pulled out Of the
city with flags on their horses. It
was the most universal. complete de-
coration Of a city ever seen in the
west.
Here follows a column Of more of
descriptions of the decorations among
which we notice the following firms
who are either here or are still well
known:
C. C. Huddleston e. Welch, hard
ware; w. J. Johnston, dry goods; |. l..
Maxwell, dry goods; Burger hotel; c.
B. Thoman, land office; Fred Lee, con-
fectionery; d. f. Cooper & C. C. Good
ale, law office; J. K. Doughty & Nor
ris, law office; Register office; Sparks
office; U. S. Land Office.
Chief Marshal Charlie Ross and
Capt. B;llow had charge Of the parade.
Promptly at 10 o'clock starting from
the corner of Main and Olive the pro-
cession marched north along Main to
the grove in the order as named be-
low:
Lamar Cornet Band.
2.-Ferguson's Southern Stage,
drawn by four horses with the City
Council.
3.-Base Ball Club in suits.
4.-Leader printing office on a float
decorated and in operation.
5.-Western Home wagon drawn by
four horses with their orchestra and
canvas paintings on the sides of the
wagon.
6.-M. H. Thomas wagon covered
with canvas and stone masons work
laying foundation.
Wilson Packer & Co., contract
ors, float with carpenters at work.
8.-Jehn Hess wagon representing
wholesale beer house.
9.-Spivey & Holmes Bros. six horse
team and float carrying agricultural
implements, stoves and groceries.
Hanging from the sides were canvas
paintings Of Western scenes.
1O.-Stock Exchange wagon carry
ing large canvas paintings on each
side showing their restaurant and bar
11.-Joe Everett's float drawn by
four horses carrying Maud Harvey IS
the Goddess of Liberty and Gertie
Stokes as the May Queen. From the
sides Of the wagon were canvas paint
ings showing the Pioneer Paint Shop
L. s1t- 30 Il