Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-06-17
RAIN RUINS PARADE
DURING CONVENTION
PRIZES WILL BE.
SHARED BY ALL.
Disappointed Visiting Fire
men Leave City Early AS
Rains Continue

A torrential downpour which
started only a few minutes before
the Northwestern Ohio Volunteer
Firemen's Association convention
parade was due to get underway
at two o'clock Wednesday after
noon and continued for several
hours, ruined the colorful parade
spectacle.
Mother Nature and the Weather
Man WED for honors Wednesday
to see who could cause the most
havoc to convention plans or
cause more discomfort for the To-
cal firemen and the visitors. 1t
was almost a tie contest.
The rain fell almost constantly
until nearly IL p. M, but occa-
sionally dwindled to a drizzle only
to burst forth in renewed
downpour as soon as pedestrians
attempted to see the sights. Dur
ing the evening the Gooding
Carnival operated despite the
rain but most of the visitors had
all ready returned to their homes,
unsatisfed in their desires to
have a good time.
Despite the downpour, fire
trucks, chief cars, several ruined
floats and other vehicles toured
through the city in lieu of the
scheduled parade.
Bands and drill teams could not
parade as the rain would have
ruined uniforms and instruments
before they could have marched a
half-block. Discouraged. the mu-
sicians and marchers had to re-
turn home without the opportunity
to display their talents.
For once there was too much
water for the firemen-too much
for the colorful uniformed musi-
clans and the paper-mache floats.
Scheduled to start at two o'clock
the parade was postponed until
three as the rainfall continued.
Thousands of citizens and visi-
tors, caught in the business dis
trict and along the parade route
without rain apparel, rushed to
the nearest porches, garages or
autos to escape being drenched.
Most of the musicians and mar
chers were able to reach the safe
ty of their buses before the rains
came, but others sought refuge in
the school house and other build
ings.
Oldest fireman at the convention
was Jacob Saylor, 80, who has
been a member of the Sherwood
fire department for over 60 years.
Mr.. Saylor was 80 years, seven
months and six days of age We'd
nesday, but he was mighty proud
of his enviable record and his fire.
mans uniform. Although he had
attended conventions in other cit
les years ago, the local conven-
tion was the first he Rad attended
in recent years. ,.....
At noon Wednesday Mayor Carl
Becker and local councilmen en-
tertained at fish dinner in the
Lake House hotel for visiting fire
chiefs and mayors. Among those
present were Mayor Harold Whit
comb, Fremont; Mayor Robert
Bolte, Oak Harbor; Mayor Jack
Boysen, Genoa, and numerous fire
chiefs.
Port Clinton's business district
and roads leading to the city were
resplendent with welcome ban
ners and flags recently purchased
by business men through Ralph
Forster of the P. C. Chamber of
Commerce. Fortunately the ban
ners and flags seemed rainproof
and evidently weren't harmed by
the water.
Numerous civic and social
groups had refreshment stands in
the business district. Included
were the Child Study Club, Ma
jorettes, Beta Sigma Phi sorority
and Beta Sigma Phi Exemplary
Chapter, Music Mothers, Cub
Scouts, E. U. B. Church ladies,
and the 142Sth Engineer Tread
way Bridge Company.
Win Prizes
John Jensen, Gypsum, a local
barber, was holder Of the win
ming ticket for the new Dodge
auctioned off by the Port Clinton
Fire Department.
Winners of prizes offered by
the 142Sth Engineer Treadway
Bridge Company included Mrs.
Ralph Corbin, Harrison street,
television set; C. C. Davis, Port
Clinton, radio; John Stroh, Erie
township, Mixmaster.
All officers of the association
were reelected at the meeting in
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