Plans for 4th of July Celebration in Monroe, N.C., June 24, 1919

From the Monroe Journal, June 24, 1919

Soldiers Parade Will Not Be Held July Fourth. . . Soldiers o 81^st Division Will Not Have Arrived by Fourth and It Would Be Unfair to Parade Without Them. . . Nov. 11^th Will be Soldier’s Day

At a meeting of the Fourth of July committee in the Chamber of Commerce rooms Saturday afternoon it was decided that on account of the fact that Union County men who served with the 81^st—Wild Cat—division will not arrive in time for the Fourth that the military feature for that occasion should be abandoned and a Soldiers Day celebration held later.

The committee issued the following statement:

The committee in charge of the Fourth of July Celebration has been very much disappointed to find that the men of the 81^st Division, which contains virtually one-fifth of the soldiers who left Union county, will be unable to be present on this occasion, it has been, therefore, decided that it would be unfair to them to have the parade of returned soldiers without them. In view of the fact, the committee has reluctantly decided that the military feature of the celebration should be omitted. The committee hopes, however, that every soldier will be present during the day wearing his uniform.

It is proposed, when all the soldiers have returned, to arrange a special “Soldier’s Day.” It has been suggested that Nov. 11^th be set apart for that day and that it be known hereafter as Soldier’s Day.

However, with the abandonment of the military feature of the day it is still hoped to make it the most rousing celebration which Monroe has ever staged.

At the meeting Saturday the prizes to be offered for the best floats and other features were again revised and several features added. Following is the official prize list as decided upon.

Floats

Fraternal, First, $25; Second, $15.

Manufacturing, First, $20; Second, $10.

City of Monroe, First, $10.

Chamber of Commerce, First, $10.

Good Roads, First, $20.

Patriotic, First, $15; Second, $10.

School, First, $15; Second, $5.

Poultry, First, $10; Second, $5.

Farm, First, $15; Second, one bag of top dressing, valued at $10, donated by the Southern Cotton Oil Co.

Live Stock, First, one bag of top dressing, valued at $10, donated by C.M. Redfern, representing the Navassa Guano Co.

Best Decorated

Truck, First, $10; Second, $5.

Automobile, First, $10; Second, $5.

Carriage, First, $10; Second, $5.

Pony Buggy, First, $5; Second, $3.

Bicycle, First, $5; Second, $3.

Store front, including show window, First, $15; Second, $10.

Best

Clown, First, $10; Second, $5.

Devil, First, $5.

Pair of mules in parade, one bag of top dressing, valued at $10, donated by the Southern Cotton Oil Co.

Pair of horses in parade, one bag of top dressing, valued at $10, donated by C.M. Redfern, representing the Navassa Guano Co.

Mule colt, under 2 years old, in parade, First, $5; Second, $2.50.

Horse colt, under 2 years of age, in parade, First, $5; Second, $2.50.

Best looking mounted police or constable in the county, First, $5; Second, $2.50.

Mr. A.W. McCall, jeweler, will give a $25 solid gold cameo brooch to the prettiest woman, under 25 years of age, in the parade.

Races

“Centipede” First, $5; Second, $2.50.

Wheelbarrow, First $2; Second, $1.

Potato, First, $2.50.

Foot, First, $3; Second, $2.

Shoe Shuffle, First $2.

W.O. Lemmond will stage an Old Fiddlers’ Convention on the courthouse square.

The following information concerning the celebration is also of interest:

Marshals

G.B. Caldwell, Chief; H.H. Wilson, Assistant.

Buford Township—T.P. Starnes, Clyde Lathan, Thos. E. Williams, B.W. Laney, Clyde Griffin.

Goose Creek—W.H. Pressley, Fernando D. Helms, Oscar Clontz, T.L. Blackman, Jeff A. Sell.

Jackson Township—J.L. Rodman, A.A. Haigler, Olin Niven, J.A. Starnes, John Billue.

Lane’s Creek—Howard Morgan, F.M. Smith, T.L. Baker.

Marshville Township—W.O. Harrell, W.G. Hearon, B.G. Hallman, M.O. Bowman, T.C. Collins.

Monroe Township—R.B. Redwine Jr., J.C. Maynor, Joel Griffin, Earl Griffith, Paul Griffith.

New Salem Township—Hoyle W. Simpson, R.L. Smith, P.P. Purser, C.W. Simpson, H.W. Staton.

Sandy Ridge Township—Price Howey, Irwin Simpson, Richard Hudson, Sam Redwine, M.C. Reid.

Vance Township—James Smith, J.L. Yonts Jr., Z.A. Pressley, T.W. Stinson, J.Q. Squires.

Officers

R.A. Morrow, Chariman

R.B. Redwine, Vice-Chairman

T.L. Riddle, Secretary

G.B. Caldwell, Treasurer

Managers

T.P. Dillon, General Manager

Floats—J.M. Morrow Jr., F.H. Dillon

Decoration of store fronts and windows—Mrs. W.C. Crowell.

Decoration of Automobiles and Trucks—Mrs. John C. Sikes.

Decoration of Vehicles—Miss Hannah Blair.

Regalias—Miss Beatrice Fairley.

Judges—J.W. Laney

Band—Major Hugh Hinde

Fireworks—J.H. Beckley

Livestock—R.C. Griffin

Soft Drinks—W.J. Trull

Fiddler’s Conventin—W.O. Lemmond

Races and Games—J.O. Fulenwider

Airplanes—C.B. Adams, R.G. Laney, T.L. Crowell

Information—J.G. Rogers

Committee—R.A. Morrow, R.B. Redwine, T.L. Riddle, G.B. Caldwell, T.P. Dillon, W.B. Love, W.O. Lemmond, J.C. Sikes, T.C. Eubanks, C.J. Braswell, Carl Wolfe, M.L. Baker, L.E. Huggins, R.L. McWhirter, A.H. McLarty, T.J.W. Broom, Geo. W. Smith Sr., J.N. Price, D.W. Austin.