Courtesy of Matagorda County Museum

GRAND PAGEANT WAS A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS

BIG CELEBRATION BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF PERSONS TO TOWN AND ALL PAID HOMAGE TO OUR CITY—DAY WAS IDEAL WHILE ENJOYMENT REIGNED SUPREME

Wednesday, April 21^st, 1915, will go down in the history of Bay City as the very best day of days, the most successful and enjoyable one ever experienced by our public-spirited and wide-awake citizenship.

From the blowing of the first whistle of the special train which brought in that splendid crowd of 500 good people from Palacios to the “ringing down of the curtain” late last night, the entire day was a signal success, so much so that visitors and townspeople vied with one another in passing their favorable judgment on the occasion and what it meant for Bay City.

Early in the day, which was delightful from every viewpoint, the crowds began to gather and to mingle with the throngs of the city.

At about 9 o’clock the special train bearing the Palacios Marine Band and no less than 500 people from that beautiful little city and Blessing and Markham, arrived in the city. Immediately upon landing on Bay City soil the band formed for parade and marched to the city hall to the time and tune of as splendid music as was ever heard in the city. Those boys were dressed in new spring uniforms of white duck and created a most favorable comment by all who saw them.

Ten o’clock found the great pageant of decorated floats and vehicles forming on Avenue G for the matchless parade which was to have taken place at 11 o’clock, but which was delayed to await the arrival of the special train from Victoria, El Campo and Wharton. And on which was the El Campo band, which is considered one of Texas topnotchers in the way of musical organizations.

After the arrival of the train the parade was formed, the line of march being fully one-half mile long and consisting of the grandest galaxy of stars in the way of decorated floats and vehicles ever seen in the Mid-Coast of Texas.

The Tribune will make no attempt to mention the exact order of parade, except to say that it was headed by the Fire Department, the Bay City Municipal Band and the mayor and the city council.

The grand marshal of the day was John A. Crawford with the following aides: Floyd Lewis, J. D. Moore, Doc Arnold, John R. Reynolds, Seth Taylor, Sheriff Bert Carr and City Marshal J. A. McNeal.

These gentlemen formed the parade south on Avenue G from The Tribune building and at 11:30 Mr. Crawford executed his order to march.

“Texas Under Six Flags” was represented by six automobiles and then came the “Rainbow,” a galaxy of seven beautiful and exquisitely decorated autos. After these the parade in general was formed.

From The Tribune building the parade wended its way east to Avenue H, thence north to the corner of LeTulle Mercantile Company’s store, thence west to the First National Bank corner, thence south to the Matagorda Pharmacy, thence west to the Grand Opera House, thence south along Avenue F., turning into Fourth Street to Avenue G and preceeding as before, except that in the march west on Seventh Street it passed to the Bay City Bank and Trust Co. and from there south to the judge’s stand in the bank grandstand where the floats were judged and prized awarded.

The judges were, Judge W. C. Carpenter, chairman; T. H. Castleton and E. L. Scott, of the Elscott Farms.

The prizes awarded were as follows: “Texas Under Six Flags,” Badouh Brothers, “The Rainbow,” the pink car of D. K. Poole. Individual auto, the red car of Miss Roberta Capps and occupied by the Bay City Basket Ball Club.

In the contest for floats the LeTulle Mercantile Company won first prize and in the vehicles the Bay City Greenhouse, R. D. Baker, won.

In awarding the prizes the judges were hard-tasked to make the decision, especially insofar as the “Rainbow” was concerned and wish to make public the following announcement:

“In awarding the first honors in the Rainbow section of the parade the judges found themselves confronted by a galaxy of stars. The decision was a matter of tossing a coin. The prize might well have been awarded to any car. As was each losing contestant may well feel honored by being so closely in harmony with the superb completeness of the winner.”

Floats and Occupants.

The W. O. W. float, a beautiful exemplification of that order’s work and intent, was of purple and green. It was occupied by Misses Lida Reddin, Carrie Frederic, Lizzie Reddin, Beulah Loeschner, Annie Bell Dodd, Anna Mol, and the goat “Pauline.”

The Price Lumber Company’s float was decorated in the National colors and carried advertisements of its business.

Speaker Sisk stressed the Magnolia coffee with a splendid arrangement of special designs and paper magnolias.

Moore & Reynolds were represented by a very tastily decorated automobile conveying “The Goddess of Liberty” and six little girls. These were Mrs. (Dr.) Davis, as the goddess, Florence May Roberts, Melba Collins, Ida Mae Carr, Martha Langham, Annie Louise Plagermann.

The Bay City Greenhouse vehicle, a prize winner, conveyed a miniature greenhouse surrounded with a lawn set of Bermuda grass and flowers. In addition to the flower a very pretty effect in green decorations with an embellishment of pampas grass plumes was observed.

Chas. Hermon was represented by a neat little cart advertising his paints and wall papers.

The Singer Sewing Machine Co. occupied a neatly arranged single wagon with sewing machine operated by Miss Ethel Sisk. It was decorated in National colors.

The Paris Smith Drug Co. was done in white, a pleasing effect on automobile, and conveying four little girls all dressed in white, Kathlyn Taulby, Janie Munroe, Ralemo Langham and Francie Tate.

P. G. Huston’s was an advertising scheme in columns carried by boys, done in different colors and stressing the Rexall Company.

The Bay City Auto & Sales Company car was splendidly decorated and occupied by Mrs. Theo Dienst, Misses Annie Lee Cox and Eloise Gillette. The car was done in National colors and streamers.

P. G. Secrest made a very credible showing by way of an advertisement for his business. In fact, his flat was very unique and created considerable comment. For the lack of a better description we will say it was a horseless, gasless, steamless portable machine.

But that brings us to the Bay City Business College float, which was very nicely arranged to represent that school. This float was occupied by Miss Laura Johnson and Miss Annetta Fleury.

Mrs. Ruse, the florist, displayed good taste in decoration of her automobile to represent the business to which she is turning time and attention. The car was done white and green and was occupied by Alberta Schweer, Mildred Swick, Lucille Harralson, Paulin Ruse, Catherine Ruse.

The J. W. Gaines car, decorated in green, made quite a pleasing showing. It was occupied by Marion and Lucille Gaines and Annie Lou Gartrell.

The Alamo Lumber Company presented a replica of the Alamo and a stack of lumber and the company, Robert Baker and Miss Stell Sutherland representing the “company.”

The Matagorda Pharmacy denoted “purity” in its make-up, the automobile being literally covered in pure white. This was a beautiful float. It was occupied by Marguerite Byars, Martha Moore, Irby Smith, Lucille Jones, Willie D. Brown.

T. J. Clark, who places Clark’s Celebrated Home-Roasted Coffee ahead of all his many specialties, had his float done in National colors and the float mounted with a huge coffee pot. The effect produced was significant and the whole placed the firm and its products well before the people.

The “Carter-Car,” Cliff’s we mean, was dressed in white and blue morning glories. It was one of the “Rainbow” division and was most exquisitely and tastily decorated. It was occupied by Misses Lois Moore, Ruth Keller, Mary Buell, Adelle Moore, Shirley Carter.

Carter Car

The prize winner in the “Rainbow” division, the D. K. Poole car, was a shower of pink roses literally, and decorated by some very artistic hands. It was occupied by Misses Grace Pierce and Norianne Gardner, of Palacios, Mrs. George R. Burke and Miss Kathryn Poole.

Rainbow blue as the color design of the Misses Hawkins’ car and it was one of the seven beautiful ones in the “Rainbow” division. The flowers were made on the order of roses. This car was occupied by Mrs. Michael Murphy, Misses Marguerite Hamilton and Jo Sargent of Matagorda and Misses Meta and Janie Hawkins. The ladies were dressed in colors corresponding with the car’s decorations.

“Tangle-Wylde,” the ranch home of Col. and Mrs. Holt, was represented by a boat with a labyrinth of roses. It was very pretty and occupied by Misses Nell and Louise Mayfield, Julia Austin, Ed. Castleton and Claude Hamill.

The C. G. Hamill car, a pleasing effect of huge sunflowers and done in yellow, was one of the most striking in the parade. It was occupied by Misses Carrie Boney, Mabel Sweeney, Yeta Wigdosky, Josephine McCullough.

The Magnolia Petroleum Co. was done in huge magnolias and was very pretty. The car was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Stowers.

Suffrage also came in for its advertisement, the car being decorated in black and yellow by Mrs. W. D. Wilson. It was occupied by Masters Eugene Joseph Wilson, Nicholas Vogelsang Gartrell and James Magill and little Miss Helen Louise Wilson.

The enterprising firm of Schuster & Ryon in depicting the merchandise carried by them used a color scheme of red and white with splendid effect. This car was occupied by Misses Pauline Ruse, Leona Green and Louise Poole.

The basket ball car of Miss Roberta Capps, one of the prize winners, was indeed a very beautiful execution. The car was in solid red, the wheels gilded and the canopy carrying a huge bunch of red carnations. The basket ball players were dressed in red. They were Misses Lydia Middlebrook, Mildred Walker, Mary Terese Moore, Jane Ninde, Ida Yeager, Katherine Linn and Eva Anderson.

Bitsy Moore and Miss Lottie Mae Cox rode in a cute little Shetland pony cart which was designed to represent a Japanese jin-ricksha.

Badouh Bros.’ production of Mexico in “Texas Under Six Flags” was the prize winner in this division and it was indeed a very handsome and attractive car. It was occupied by Senor Edwardo McKelvy, Senor Francisco Thompson, Senora Anita M. Badouh, Senora L. H. Williams, and Senoritas Rose and Hazel. Estuvo muy Hermosa esta carga.

The Durham Tobacco Co. was represented.

“Safety First,” by Messrs. Wells and Roach of the Bay City Insurance Agency, was a splendid get up and depicted considerable taste on the part of these gentlemen.

George Sutherland drove an auto done in the National colors which was very attractive.

The Carter Grain Co. was advertised with a handsomely arranged float showing the article of feed carried by them.

The Economy Grocery Store was well represented in a very attractive float done in National colors.

Dugan’s blacksmith shop was a good representation and attracted attention and many favorable comments.

E. W. Giles, local manager for Swift, had a splendidly arranged float on which was carried the many articles of that famous company.

The Texas Star Flour Mills had a splendid float and busied itself in the distribution of sample sacks of flour.

The W. C. T. U. was represented by the water wagon which was done in white and commandeered by Mrs. E. K. McMahon and Miss Eula Sims.

Wm. Cash represented his company, the South Texas Abstract Co., with a neatly decorated buggy.

Velva Syrup Co. was also represented as well as the Pierce-Fordyce Oil Company.

Harrison Bros. market was represented by the meat and cart well decorated.

B. E. Norvell drove a pretty black and yellow car which was occupied by Misses Laflin, Foote and Gloria Norvell.

[paper torn]…Miss Elizabeth Klein, Marguerite and Bettie Kilbride, Master Roy Ramsey and “Bessie Ball.”

The Magnolia Petroleum Co., in addition to Mr. Stowers’ auto, was represented by a well-arranged float.

The Bay City Lumber Co. was presented as Bay City’s oldest lumber yard with a display of lumber, sash, doors, etc.

The LeTulle Mercantile Co’s. float won the first prize in the list of commercial floats. It was a handsomely arranged affair and was occupied by Miss Opal Boney, Thelma Moore and Miss Corinne Perry.

The Moore-Sims Grocery Co., stressing the merits of Chase & Sanborn’s celebrated coffee was a well gotten up float. It was occupied by a bevy of little girls and boys.

Simon Brothers had a beautiful car all done in red and occupied by Savannah Hawkins, Catherine Klein, Marian Thompson, Barnes Lathrop, A. McMahan and Glen Moore.

In “Texas Under Six Flags” the B. E. Norvell car represented Spain. It was a very pretty one and was occupied by Misses Helen Parker, Lucille Magill, Peareson Keller and M. Landrum, Harry W. Ninde and little Mary Ninde.

The Lewis Laundry was well represented by a delivery wagon attractively decorated in the National colors.

One of the prettiest cars of the parade was the one given over to Chief Hugh B. Eidman. This car was decorated very handsomely in complete yellow and was occupied by Misses Eunice Baker, Katherine Moore, Frieda Klein and Charlotte Jones, all of whom were dressed in harmony with the car’s decorations.

Notes on the Celebration.

The “movies were well patronized.

It seemed everybody went to the races.

The parade—wasn’t it just simply grand?

Harry Rich did…[paper torn]

Pretty much the entire countryside of Matagorda County turned out to the celebration.

It was the best behaved crowd we ever saw, nothing occurring to mar the tranquility of the day.

Mayor Klein remarked last night: “Hasn’t this day been great.” The statement was exclamatory.

The detailed write-up today of the celebration will be supplemented tomorrow by additional matter.

By 9 o’clock the city was already well filled with visitors, the Palacios contingent coming 500 strong.

As music-makers the El Campo band was few equals and no superiors anywhere. Their music was simply lovely.

Barring slight and unimportant, as well as unavoidable, delays the program was executed without any serious hitch.

It was a thoroughly good humored crowd. There was no jostling, no crowding, no rudeness, not strife. Apparently, everybody kept sweet.

Matagorda was represented by between 150 and 200 visitors, the train shortly after noon bringing in two coaches well laden with passengers.

Palacios has an abundant cause to feel proud of her band of 35 members, 32 of whom were here yesterday. And it is a fine looking body of men, too.

Who says Bay City is lacking in civic pride? Those who have been so uncharitable as to make such a statement will now have to take it back.

The celebrants escaped the oppressive heat and the discomforts of any sort of raw weather, the weather conditions being of the happy medium sort. In fact, it was simply an ideal day.

It being difficult to estimate the size of a crowd, the estimate vary as to the number of visitors, ranging all the way from 2000 to 5000. A conservative estimate, The Tribune thinks, would place the number at about 2500.

The piccolo playing by Editor D. L. Stump, a member of the Palacios Marine Band…[paper town]

The Matagorda County Tribune, April 23, 1915

[NOTE: Unfortunately the next issue of the paper did not survive and is not available. The article most likely first appeared in The Daily Tribune, but those issues have been lost to time.]