Laurel outlook., 1950-06-28
thousands ATTEND Kids Day
Despite Badly Leaking Sky
Miss Beatrice Siemsen AS Miss Bridger Wins
Title Of Sweetheart; Charles Wood, Maria
Kelly Reign AS King, Queen At New Pool

Approximately Is years ago the
first attempt to raise funds for q
swimming pool in Laurel was
made; Saturday saw the culmina-
ton of the efforts of the inter-
vening years when Laurel declared
a holiday and entertained kids from
throughout the surrounding region
and neighboring towns in order to
celebrate the opening of its new
pool. Complete with King, Queen,
and Sweetheart, the celebration
included games, contests, a parade,
a movie star, a radio broadcast,
and speeches by officials.
King Charles Wood and Queen
Maria Kelly, both of whom were
crowned by "Uncle Mac" Murray
Mcbride in ceremonies held in the
Royal theater June l., reigned
over the days events. The signal
honor reserved for them was that
of being the first to enter the new
pool after the ribbon barring the
way had been cut by Mayor Peter
Thomson, in whose honor the park
in which the pool is situated had
been named.
Second only to the King and
Queen, was the sweetheart chosen
from a field of eight contestants.
The title was awarded to Beatrice
Siemsen, miss Bridger," by three
judges, John Kenney of st. Paul,
Dick Jensen of Seattle, and Carl
Richard, Troy, Ohio. Miss Siemsen
is an 18-year-old member of the
class of 80 from the Bridger high
school. Her title-winning qualifi-
cations r green eyes, light brown
hair, a 34-inch bust, a 24-inch
and 35-inch hips, all of
which are packed into a 64-inch
frame that weighs only 115 pounds.
The first events of the FULFILLED
day were held in Thomson park
where games and contests took
place between 9 and II a. m. After
the games, which included gag
races, a pie eating contest, and
activities, the kids lined
up on Fifth avenue to form the
Dig parade. A V. F. w. color guard
and the Laurel high school band
ed the parade. Following the band
the float bearing the reign
ng pair, and they in turn were
followed by kids on gaily decorated
bicycles, wagons and tricycles. 1t
vas during this parade that the .
first saw the contestants /
or the title of Sweetheart, the I
candidates riding on con-
,ertibles spaced at intervals '
throughout the length of the pa
'ade.
In spite of the inclement weather I
which hampered the celebration, a I
number of people turned out ,
or the day. Although no accur- ,
tie estimate of the number of peo- I
lie who participated in the festivi- ,
les is available, the generally ,
accepted guess is that between :
1000 and 10000 people watched I
he parade. 4
When the parade reached the :
.randstand in Thomson park the !
ids found the V. F. w. ready to -,
them a lunch of hot-dogs, .
.op, and ice cream. The members :,
f the serving committee report =;
hat they served $500 children in
5 minutes. ,
Following the lunch, the kids ,
ere entertained by "Uncle Mac" +,
no presented his radio show from !
front of the grandstand, and by =
lonte Hale of movie fame. These !,
roceedings occupied the time I'M =
J., at the appointed hour, Mayor !
homson officially opened the pool .
, the King and Queen, and the =
of the Sweetheart con- .
.stants took place in the pool =
rea. /;
The committee in charge of .
ids day thanks all those whose =