White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-07-09
HOLIDAY CROWD LARGEST
IN PROSSER'S HISTORY

ing, the greatest crowd IN the MS
tory of Prosser gathered there Mon
day to participate in the corner stone
laying of the new courthouse and
tine celebration that followed. Wis
itors were there from every part of
the county to enjoy day of rest
and recreation.
The corner stone laying ceremon-
les were carried out under the direc-
ton of the Masonic Lodge with
Walter F. Meier, Grand Master of
the Masonic Lodge in the state of
Washington, in charge. These cere-
monies were quite impressive. A
history of each town in the county,
carried by delegation of girls from
the respective towns, was at the
proper time placed in a receptacle
and Theoretically sealed in the cor
ner stone, The girls who carried
the White Bluffs history were: FL
len Anderson, Effie Mykol, Marg-
uerite Tromanhauser, Madeline Fer
guson, and Tommie O'Larey. These
girls were dressed in gowns of red,
white and blue bunting and the car
in which they rode in the parade
was decorated in the same coiors.
After the corner stone laying cere-
monies were over, an hour or more
was taken for lunch. Picnic parties
gathered on the lawns and in the
shade of the trees on the grounds
of all the public buildings in Pros
Ser but by far the greatest number
were to be found in the City Park,
which is wonderful one for town
the size of Prosser. Coffee, sugar
and cream were served free on the
81 ounds and ice cream and soft
drinks were sold at practically cost,
the concessions at the Park being
In the hands of the Prosser Com
munity Club. A spirit of hospitality
and friendliness pervaded the air and
every effort was made by the county
seat felix's to provide for the comfort
OF the visitors.
The entire advertised program was
carried out with two exceptions. The
two steeple jacks who were sched-
uled to perform on the flag pole at
the Park, failed to arrive and the
development of engine trouble in the
commercial airplane incapacitated it
for service during the day.
A temporary platform was erected
in front OF the grandstand at the Park,
from Which Andrew Brown opened
the speaking program with an address
Of welcome. The patriotic address of
the day was delivered by Walter F.
Meier, Grand Master of the Masonic
Lodge, who was followed by Albert S.
Goss, master Of the state grange. The
platform program was concluded by
a clever song and dance number by
Richard Lawrence of Prosser and Sam
Whittemore of Spokane.
At 2:30 the. platform was removed
and the grounds in front of the
grandstand cleared for the baseball
game between White Bluffs Hanford
and Benton City, and the kitty ball
games that followed. The combin-
aticn of Benton City, Prosser, Sun
nyside and Yakima players made an
exceptionally stong ball team and
they outclassed the team from this
valley. The final score was is to g.
The kitty ball games that followed
were exciting and provided enter
tainment for the crowd until about
1880, when sham battle was staged
by the National Guard. For those
unfamiliar with warfare, this sham
battle was as near the real thing as
most of them will ever care to see
The Guardsmen taking part were
dressed in their regular army uni
ferns and with rifles, machine guns,
smoke screen and even tear gas, and
the "Big Berthas" exploding, FORUM
ately up in the air instead Of on the
ground, with deafening intonadons,
made realistic battle picture.
After the smoke had cleared away
about g o'clock came the fireworks.
These were exceptionally fine and
up to date and lasted for nearly an
hour.
The big street dance, with the
White Bluffs Band furnishing the
music, was started down town at
about 9 o'clock and lasted until near
ly l o'clock. Two full blocks were
rcped off for the dance and even
that much space was crowded with
dancers.
The White Bluffs Band, from the
time they played America" at the
the laying Of the corner stone until
night when the last dance was over,
furnished much Of the music of the
day. They were helped out by a
gaily uniformed clown band from
Sunnyside that made big hit with
the kids, a large number following
them around from place to place all
day long.
Altogether it was a fine day and
it was happy crowd that wend.d
its tired way homeward during the
night.