The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-05

people were bestirring themselves
and homes and places of business
were taking on the patriotic emblems
of the lday. Among the most notice
able decorations were the elaborate
strings of banners shown in Madison
Avenue Square by Holt & Hight and
the flag decorations at the Bethany
Baptist Church edifice. At the Pa
rochial School buildings banners were
used from the flag pole and an
anchor emblematic of hope outlined
with flags was placed in the green,
signifying Christian education and
safety of country. In front of the
Rectory of the Catholic Church was
a cross of flags signifying Faith. It
would be impossible to detail all the
beautiful decorations which the citi-
zens of the town assumed for this
glorious occasion, the first Fourth of
July celebration in Skowhegan for
eighteen years. Members of Simon
Peters Post of the American Legion
were on guard duty in uniform and
added real true touch of patriotism
to the occasion. Everywhere the air
resounded with popping firecrackers
and the noisy demonstrations for
which young America has long been
famous. Band concerts opened the
program with the Citizens Band of
Skowhegan playing from the Russell
Street stand and Drew's Band of Wat
erville furnishing the music on NUM-
cipal Green.
While the bands were playing gay
,1; IN fr;f nf
multitudes they were entertaining,
Water street from Simpsons corner
to the Railroad crossing was throng-
ed with thousands of people who wit
messed a wonderful program of road
sports. The different classes were
filled with some of the towns best
athletes and never were events of
this kind watched with keener inter-
est than on this occasion. The day
seemed made for the occasion, the
clouds through which the sun occa-
sionally shimmered provided suitable
shade and the temperature was com
Portable. When the sports were
concluded the Citizens Band of Skow-
hogan marched thru the street to the
iunctQre of Madison avenue and some
115 boys and girls from Camp Modin
with their leaders took their station
where the sports had ended. They
were a splendid looking group and
their appearance was most creditable.
They marched thru Water street sing
ing camp songs followed by the men
of Simon Peters Post in uniform to
the place of parade formation near
Fountain Square at the juncture of
Bush street.
Promptly at II o'clock the parade
started and what can we say Of it
only that Skowhegan did herself
proud. The long calvacade was
headed by Frank r. Madden as mar
shall, Immediately followed by a
platoon of police. Before and behind
automobiles bearing the men of the
Grand Army were Boy Scouts and
then the Towne Memorial Band of
Madison. Directly in their wake
came Elliott Spear as Uncle Sam
supported on either side by Boy
Scouts and typifying Uncle Sam and
Young America. A splendid group
of children followed from Our Lady
of Lourdes Catholic School, wearing
sashes and Liberty caps. Then came
the children of the Park School bear
flags and wearing hats and bonnets
and blue sashes and the Garfield
school children as Red Cross nurses
and little soldiers, the Junior Red
Cross being much in evidence. The
childrens part of the parade ended
with the big group of youngsters
+ from Camp Modin in their camp cos
tunes.
Drew's Band of Watervlle was es-
cort for the knights of Pythias with
Captain F. c. Dunlap as marshall.
This order was splendidly represent
cd, the members wearing emblemat-
ical blue and white caps of their
organization. Then came the Can
tons, some of them riding in automo-
biles, but many walking, the glitter
ing gold of their uniforms and purple
plumcs adding much to the long pro-
Cession. The Knights of Columbus
represented the third secret order in
the parade with Hartland Band as es-
corts. They were designated by the
insignia of their order worn armlet
1dSlllOi uc 6OlulcTly Dtdil lHS VI
the World War, veterans was much in
evidence as they marched by in the
parade preceding the steaming soup
guns, the like of which had never be-
fore been seen in Somerset County,
with white coated chefs, and watt
ing delicious odors to the hungry
spectators. The Boman Hardware
float was marvel of beauty in bright
colored trappings and evergreen. Sew
eral young ladies in attractive dresses
added to the beauty of this feature of
the parade. The Business and Pro-
fessional Women had a white float
made attractive with gay garnish-
ings. but the prettiest part of this
feature was the many pretty young
business women of Skowhegan who
were seated beneath it's canopy. Many
cars followed including the Peoples
Garage, the Ira A. Norton clothing
house. Steward & Smiley with their
wares. Days store with its rubes.
patriotic Red Cross float. the Delco
Electric Company and LaFond's Dry
Goods Store. in white and yellow and
containing handsome ladies who scat