Fantastic Fair of Old

TEDFORD, CRAWFORD, HYATT, WEATHERFORD, STEVENSON, MCCALLOUGH, GLENDENING, BRODERICK, DUNCAN, PLYMOUTH, HAMILTON, MCREYNOLDS, HAWKINS, WILSON, SINCLAIR

Posted By: David W Sinclair (email)
Date: 3/2/2008 at 16:20:43

The Street Fair
The fall festival and carnival held at Lineville last Thursday, Friday and Saturday was altogether quite a success altho greatly handicapped the first two days by the weather which made all outdoor enjoyment impossible. The wind blew a gale on both days and clouds of dust filled the air on the streets from "jocund morn 'till dewy eve." Only a small crowd came on Thursday, Old Settlers Day, because of the mean condition of the weather and for the reason that most of the public interest centered in the street fair to follow on Friday and Saturday. The exercises on that day were held at the M. E. Church in the afternoon and the program as previously arranged and published being carried out. The large room was comfortably well filled by an appreciative audience. The address by Judge W. H. Tedford, of Corydon, was one of the best and most appropriate for such an occasion ever delivered here. The address was mainly devoted to comparison between the wonderful prosperity of the present with penury, hardships and privations of former days and many startling and surprising facts and figures were given by the speaker illustrating the growth and increase of wealth of Wayne and adjoining counties during the past 40 years. Judge Tedford is a favorite speaker with Lineville audiences and all present were greatly pleased with his address on this occasion.

The Crawford Quartette sang several excellent songs in their inimitable style which elicited loud applause. We take this occasion to say that there are few professional Quartets which excel the Crawfords in singing. Short speeches were delivered by Rev. Hyatt, Weatherford and Stevenson, Dr. McCallough and others, after which the audience was dismissed in a few remarks and the benediction by Dr. Glendening.
A much larger crowd was in attendance on Friday despite the disagreeable weather that continued and the show of farm stock and farm products was grand. Prof. Drennan, of the Iowa Agricultural College, was present and passed on all entries of farm products and stock. His address on Friday was a very instructive and interesting one, but outdoor speaking in the gale of wind prevailing was very difficult. Secretary Jesse Brodrick was so overwhelmed by the unexpected large number of entries and is unable to give the complete list of awards for publication this week but we are promised it for our next issue. The list of specials awarded on Friday are as follows:
Trio of chickens of any bred-Jas. H. Duncan, W. Plymouth R.
Special to same B. P. R.
Best corn-Geo. Hamilton; Christopher McReynolds, 2nd.
Oats-George Hamilton.
Potatoes-Christopher McReynolds.
Cake-Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins.
Sweet potatoes-R. A. Wilson
Specials
Prettiest baby under 1 year old-Mrs. Caz Bryan.
Prettiest baby $1.00 Brodrick's premium-Mrs. Waller, High Point.
Prettiest baby 50cts, I. P. Henry's premium-Mrs. Jno. Hammond.
Prettiest baby, T. F. King's premium, doll-Mrs. Orrin Sprague.
Lady's foot race, R. J. Phillips' premium, 2 lbs candy- Mrs. D. T. Sollenbarger and Mrs. Lena Pickett contestants, latter winning.
Oldest lady present, J. T. May's premium, $2.50 in merchandise-Mrs. Lucinda Butcher, 83.
Largest family of children, Dr. C. B. Calbreath's premium, $1.00-Wm. Sinclair, 15.
Gallon sorghum molasses, C. W. Elson's premium, 25cts-J. H. Duncan.

Saturday, Lineville Day, was all that could have been desired as to weather the boisterous wind having subsided into a gentler zephyr and typical October weather prevailed. No one could stay at home that day and a large crowd estimated at several thousand people was in town. Draft teams, single and double drivers and many of the special classes as well as the stock parade and the special premiums in draft, roadster, mule, Hereford, Shorthorn and Jersey cattle awarded, occupied most of the time on that day with the exception of the time taken for the Merchants and industrial parade between 1 and 2 as an interesting and entertaing spectacle. This parade was the crowning feature of the three days festival. About 45 floats and turnouts were in line. In addition many on foot carrying banners and a large company of M. W. A. in uniform made up a procession half a mile long led by the Cornet band it traversed the principal streets of Lineville and South Lineville and elicited the admiration and applause of the assembled thousands. Lineville and some of the neighboring towns have had parades of the kind, but nothing to compare with this in the elaborate make ups and decorations of the floats and turnouts. It would seem partial to mention a few when all were so good but as a whole it was a credit to the artistic tastes of Lineville business people.
Lineville Tribune
Lineville, Wayne Co. Iowa
October 22, 1908
Austin & Austin, Pubs.