The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-05-19
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin

marked her one hundredth anniver-
sary. In Hagerstown there were
concerts and speeches and an elabor-
ate parade, or procession as they
called them in those days. That
was, of course, in the year 1876, on
July the Fourth, just seventy three
years ago, when William S. Swartz
was Mayor of Hagerstown.
On this occasion the town was
well decorated, with profuse use
of bunting, and flags of all the ma
tons. Two large platforms had
been erected, one in the southwest
corner of the Square, and one at the
Court House The one at the Square
was used the previous evening July
81 by the school of Joseph Upde-
graft. From this brilliantly festoon-
ed platform, lighted with Chinese
lanterns and covered with Amer
lean Flags, the schools musical de-
partment rendered a concert, led by
Prof. Mentzer. There were also
orations, recitations, and songs, which
lasted till after ten o'clock. This
was attended by large concourse
of citizens.
Then, at midnight, everyone was
awakened (if any had gone to sleep,
which is doubtfuD by the ringing
of all the bells in Hagerstown, to-
gether with the whistles, including
the steam whistle of the Agricul-
tural Works of West Washington
st. And no doubt there were those
whose patriotism ran in the same line
as that of at least one of Maugans-
ville's citizens today who celebrates
by digging out the twelve-guage and
blasting away at the neighbors'
garages.
But eventually morning came, and
with it, the real celebrations. This
was the great procession, made up
of an extensive mixture of Public
officials, celebrities, and representa-
tives of local industries. First in
the parade was Chief Marshal R.
c. Thornburg, with his aides, M. M,
Gruber, H. A. McComas, Oliver
Ridenour, DR.. ]. Mop. Scott, and l..
Delamarter.
Next was Heyser's Silver Cornet
Band. Following this was. an omni-
bus containing the following thir-
teen oldest citizens, representing
the thirteen original States of the
Union: Frederick Humrickhouse,
Samuel, Newman, Samuel Ridenour,
B. Costenbeder, D. Zeller, w. v.
Heard, Frederick Fechtig, Geo Girls
singer, Michael Friese, William Mil
Ter, George Hayes, Charles Martin
and Ellie Mobley.
Next came choir of young ladies,
representing the thirty-eight States
Tin 1870, dressed in white, red, and
blue, and seated on a platform drawn
by six horses.
Then came the Judges of the Cir
cult Courts: Hon. R. H. Alvey, Hon.
D. Weisel, Hon. William Motter, and
Hon. George French, in a carriage.
And in the next carriage was the
orator, and reader of the Declaration
q of independence. Then in more
carriages, were the Judges of the Or
phans' Court, the president and mem
bers of the Board of County Commits
sioners, and the Mayor and Coun-
cilmen.
Then on foot came the Army of the
Republic-Reno Post.
Following this was a Parrot
Cum" mounted and differed and
manned by Lieut.. S. Martin, DR..
Crowther, George Kline and Will
liam Crissinger. All told, the gentle
men fired this gun over one hun
dred times on that day in Hagers-
town-thirteen rounds at sunrise.
once for each of the original States:
tAA1l eight IOU1lOS dL once
for each of the then existing States:
and continuous round of firing, at
the rate of four to the minute, as
the sun was setting, fired from Can
non Hill, east of town.
Following the cannon in the pa
rade, were Boys and Girls Reading
Associations, Winters Band, and a
group of Boys in Red, White and
Blue.
Next came the Western Enterprise
Fire Company, Sin full force, dress
ed in uniforms, red shirts, engine
caparisoned and decorated, drawn
by four grays, and truck decorated
with a picture of Washington"
Next was field-piece on wheels
that had been made at the Mount
AETNA Furnace. two years before the
Declaration of Independence, and
which no doubt had helped to win
that independence. This was UNI
der tho oora 0f To,1+ w. CD