Evening star., 1924-05-03
10000 WITNESS
\ BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Only 40 Per Cent, However, of
100000 Apple Trees Are
in Bloom.
WEATHER Is DRAWBACK
Parade One of Features on Win
chester Program.
speeIal Dispatch TO The star.

special Dispatch 10 iDe otar.
WINCHESTER. Va, May 3.-Win-
chesters first annual apple blossom
festival was held today with no more
than 40 per cent OF the blossoms out,
due to cool and partly cloudy weather
that has prevailed for the past week.
The general committee hoped against
hope that no less than 100000 trees
in the commercial orchards of Fred
erick County would be in full bloom
by sunrise this morning, but all their
wishings were unable TO raise the
thermometer above 70 degrees.
State pathologists stationed at a
field laboratory here stated early in
the week that five hours of contin-
uous sunshine with a temperature of
rs degrees would bring out the bios
SONS of all late varieties, but the de-
sired sunshine and temperature were
not forthcoming and the 10000 visit
ors who focked to Winchester to see
4 million apple trees in full bloom
had to content themselves with a
view of the earlier varieties.
Town Gayiy Decorated.
In spite of natures failure to re-
spond, as hoped and expected, the
more committees under Director Cen
eral w. A. Ryan, carried out res
tival program, the like OF which, II
was declared, had never been at
tempted in the Shenandoah valley.
All downtown streets OF the town
were gayly decorated with real and
imitation apple blossoms; streamers
and festoons of green, pink and
white, the official colors, covered the
fronts of business buildings and sim
-, ,,-ff = y 10 20
and Stripes, were used on private
residences.
There were six divisions in the
parade, each of which was headed by
n local or visiting band. w. Spotts-
wood White was grand marshal, and
his two main aides were Miss Hilda
O'Leary and Mrs. Amos Shryock.
There were more than seventy We
floats entered by Industrial, business
and other Establishments, u number
OF them coming from the thirteen Viz
Einia and West Virginia counties rep
resented in the Shenandoah Valley,
Inc, the new organization that is
broadcasting the Virginia Valleys at
fractions with view Of attracting
Tourists. More than 100 private auto
mobiles competed for prizes offered
for the most artistically decorated
cars.
Crowned 'sQueen Shenandoah"
Miss Elizabeth Steck, lovely young
daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. John NJ
Steck, was crowned Queen Shenan-
doah by Richard Fl. Gray. who acted
as King Pomo. Princesses were as
follows: Winchester, Miss Katharine
Barnett; Frederick, Miss Elizabeth
Smith; jefferson, Miss Florence Nor
gan: Augusta. Miss Virginia Lewis
Davidson; Clarke. Miss Virginia
Hardesty; Rockbridge, Miss Corinne
Bell; Shenandoah, Miss Bobbie Bruce
Donaldson; Rockingham. Miss Lucille
Hopkins. Heralds were Kenneth Rob-
inson and Harry Byrd. jr. Train
bearers wee Misses Ethel and Retha
Cooper. James r. Du Shane was court
Jester. The coronation ceremonies
took place on the Handley School
grounds, with an immense throng
present. Tonight Queen Shenandoah
and her court will be special guests
at q festival ball
President Coolidge was represented
by Secretary of War Weeks, who
brought party of nine, and were
guests of DR.. and Mrs. Robert NJ.
Glass. High officials of the Pennsyl-
v2nia and Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road came on special cars. Many
1uncheons and dinner parties were
given. mammoth fireworks pro-
gram will be carried out tonight on
the Handley School grounds.