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St. Thomas' Church Picnic

St. Thomas' Church Picnic image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
July
Year
1897
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Two celebrations of the F ourth of July by the citiz8ns of one town in one year is rather a quer state of things, bnt snoh was practioally the case in Ann Arbor this year. While Satnrday, Jnly 3, was the big public celebratiou, Monday, July 5, was the private individoal's celebration, the stores were pretty generally closed and the raerchants, clerks and artisaus took a holiday. A large proportion oí them wended their way by train, bicycle or horse and carriage to Whitruore Lake, where the people of St. Thomas' parish, Ann Arbor, had made arrangements for a mammoth picnic, with program of musio and speeches, winding up 'with a balloon ascensión. The picnio was very largely attended and the pleasure of the day was in nowise spoiled by the heavy shower of rain which feil between 11 and 12 o'olock shortly after the arrival of the train which left Ann Arbor at 10:10 standard. A fine dinner was spread by the good people of the parish uf St. Thomas', Ann Arbor, assisted by those of St. Patrick's chnrch, Northfieid, who together with their indomitable pastor Rev. Jj. P. Goldrick, did yeoman service in contributing to the success of the day. The dinner was well patronized and so it shonld be as the price, 25 cents, was small enongh for even a bootblaok to indulge in a good square numl Shortly after 3 p. m. Rev. L. P. Goldrick, who had been pressed into servioe as toastmaster by Fr. Kelly, mounted the platform and called the assemblage to order. He made a brief opening address which was both patrioric and hnmorous, and rhen called on Becker's Military Band, of Ann Arbor, to play tbe national air "Hail Columbia. ' Mayor Charles E. Hiscock was not present and Hon. F. J. McDonaldJ of Toledo, orator of the day and an ola WaRhtenaw oounty boy, to speak on "The Day We Celébrate." The gentleman delighted nis hearers with an eloquent and at times impassioned speech f uil of fire and patriotism and ■was loudly applauded for his fine effort at its close. A solo, by Frank Mclntyre "I Live for Thee," was exceedingly well snng. He was aocompanied on the piano by Miss Nellie Brown, who did a like servioe for Mr. Kelly and Miss Caspary. Henry Conlin, of Webster, was tbe nest speaker and the subject of his talk was "Our boys" Henry did himself prond and in the conrse of his remarks managed to weave in two or tbree good jokes on Fr. Goldriok, but that gentleman got back at him wben he next got on his feet and obarged bim witb having been the means some time ago of giving the epizootio to all the horses in Northfleld. The crowd was intensely amused at each good craok tbat was given and gave each man his sbare of applanse. Joseph Kelly, of Ann Arbor, gave a fine baritone solo "Let All Obey, " and was followed by a soprano solo from Miss Franoes Caspary, whose voice is hardly strong enough fur out door singing. Fr. Kelly then severally thanked the parties who had done so much to make the picnic a snccess and retired in favor of James E. Harkins. Jim has always been a favorito with a Whitmore Lake andienoe and he had evidently lost none of his popularity Monday. Acoompanied on the piano by Mrs. Harkins he first sang "My girl'sahigb bom lady. " He was enthnsiastioallly encored and sang "Theie'll be a hot time in the old town tonight. " Again he was encored and he responded with "Sweet Rosy O'Grady. " This brooght the program to a close and the people dispersed nntil it was time for the balloon to go op. The time set for the balloon ascensión was 6 o'clock but it was just about ? wfaen it rose fiom the earth with Qeorge B. Rooney hanging to it by-a bar. He did not use a parachute and dropped to the ground with the balloon about half a mile from where he went np makingavery pretty ascensión. The first train then started for Ann Arbor and from that time until after midnight the train ran to and from bringing home the large number of people wbo bad got ont to the lake. During the day a baseball game was played between the Ann Arbor Browns and the Atlantis, of Ypsilanti, which resultad in favor of the

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News