THE CORRESPONDENTS' PICNIC - l932

GARBER, HOWELL, PETTICORD, RIDDLE, DURINE, LINDSEY, BAUGHMAN, HOUDESHELDT, SHAKESPEARE, ASH, DUFFIELD, COLLINS, BARLEAN, WEDDLE, REX, POUSH

Posted By: B.J. Whitsitt (email)
Date: 1/13/2002 at 21:21:52

Writers Had An Enjoyable Time At Their Picnic

Large Attendance With Big Dinner and a
Fine Program

It was a great day for the
Journal-Reporter correspondents last
Saturday. It was the day of the annual
newswriters' picnic at Harvey
Park and
everybody had a great time and all that they
could eat.

This was the third annual
correspondents' picnic and it was the
best yet. The weather was ideal, the park in
the finest of condition
and the time just
right for a most successful event.

A piano had been obtained from the W.A.
Alexander music store which
added very much to the success of the musical
part of the day's program.

By eleven o'clock the correspondents and
members of their families
began to arrive, and by noon they were nearly
all there and ready for
the fig feed.

Long tables were set end to end and the
delicious food placed in a
most appetizing array.

John F. Garber, who has served as
newswriter from his neighborhood
for more than 50 years, returned thanks as
the large number present
bowed
their heads. Long lines then formed about
the tables and the food was
served cafeteria style. And such a lot of
food with fried chicken,
meat salads
and many other delicious dishes that we
cannot remember just how to name
them. That feed was a real one and we did
not see any of those present
neglecting it in any way. Uncle Dudley of
Kobville was surely getting
his share, and we did not blame him a bit
because we sure got ours.

After the big dinner a most pleasing
program was presented under
the direction of Mrs. Clair Howell, chairman
of the program committee.
The
piano had been placed in the pergola and
improvised seats were arranged.

The invocation and address by John F.
Garber opened the program.
Mr. Garber told his hearers what constituted
a correspondent's duties
and he
also spoke of his experiences during his many
years of news writing. It
was a splendid talk and was greatly enjoyed.

Mrs. Glen Petticord entertained with a
most pleasing reading. Her
number was fine. Mary Riddle was next and
she delighted all with two
singing
and dancing numbers. Her sister, Miss
Durine, played for her. Roger
Lindsey sang two pleasing solos with Miss
Durine Riddle at the piano.

A talented bunch of young people,
Mildred Baughman, Berniece
Howell, and Ray Houdesheldt, with banjo,
violin and piano, were
enthusiastically
received.

WT.. Shakespeare of Evergreen gave a
very fine reading which all
enjoyed. Wilford Petticord sang in his usual
highly entertaining way
and S.M. Ash,
the Decatur correspondent, delivered a short
address. Mr. Ash is a most
interesting speaker.

Two songs were next presented by Mildred
Baughman, Berniece Howell,
Ray Houdesheldt, and Bill Petticord. They
were surely very greatly
enjoyed.

Leo Duffield (Uncle Dudley of Kobville)
came through with a poem
that he had composed touching upon the
activities of the correspondents
and the
Journal-Reporter. The poem was prepared in
his usual breezy,
interesting way and it is printed in full as
a part of this article.

The Crown male quartet composed of John
F. Garber, Frank W.
Garber, Willard Lewis and John Lewis, sang
two splendid songs and they
received
much applause.

Mr. Shakespeare of Evergreen had
prepared an original song
appropriate for the occasion which he sang
most capably. Mr.
Shakespeare has
allowed us to print the song and it follows
this article.

More good music by Miss Howell, Miss
Baughman and Mr. Houdesheldt
came on the program again at this time. They
were well received.

Bill Petticord sang one of his
inimitable songs which always make
a great hit, and then Frank J. Boies,
linotype operator, spoke to the
correspondents upon matters that news writers
should know and rules that
should be followed in preparing copy.

Miss Opal Collins, who had been ill for
many weeks and a patient
in a hospital, showed a large number of quilt
blocks that had been sent
to her by
friends during her illness. They were all
very pretty and Miss Collins
appreciated the kindness of everyone during
her long stay in the
hospital.

Officers for the ensuing year were
elected at a short business
session. Leo Duffield was chosen president,
John F. Garber vice
president, Mrs.
Idavee Crouse secretary, Mrs. Clair Howell
treasurer, Mrs. Glenn
Petticord program chairman, and Frank Garber
athletic chairman.

It was voted to hold the reunion in the
same park in 1933.

Among the correspondents attending the
picnic were two men who had
served many years as correspondents to the
local paper, Joe Barlean of
Orphan Ridge has written the news from his
locality for forty-nine
years. John F. Garber has sent the news from
the Crown neighborhood for
over fifty
years. mr. Garber holds the record for long
service with Mr. Barlean as
runnerup.

After the close of the program in the
pergola the athletic program
under the direction of Loe Duffield, athletic
chairman, was held and it
was great
fun. There were contests of many kinds,
races, pie eating contests in
which Uncle Dudley was one of the runnersup,
rolling pin throwing and
many other
interesting tests.

Following are the results of the
athletic contests:

Boys' race....Kincle Collins, 1st; Lee
Daniels, 2nd.

Young men's race.....Wilford Petticord,
1st; Ray Houdesheldt,
2nd.

Young ladies' race.....Mildred
Baughman, 1st; Meredith Weddle,
2nd.

Free for all race.....Wilford
Petticord, 1st; Leo Duffield, 2nd.

Ladies' slipper kick....Opal Collins,
1st; Fern Devore, 2nd.

Men's slipper kick.....Floyd Rex, 1st;
Wilford Petticord, 2nd.

Rolling pin contest.....Mrs. Louise
Duffield, 1st; Miss Berniece
Howell, 2nd.

Blindfold vigilante contest.....Miss
Berniece Howell, 1st; Mrs.
Marjory Shakespeare, 2nd.

Pie eating demonstration.....Wilford
Petticord, 1st; Floyd Rex,
2nd.

The following were registered at the
correspondents' picnic:

Mrs. Louise Duffield

Miss Gracie Garber

Paulyne Poush, Blockley

Margaret Poush, Blockley

Mrs. C.E. Poush, Blockley

C.E. Poush, Blockley

Joseph Shakespeare, Evergreen

Rose Shakespeare, Evergreen

Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Shakespeare of
Evergreen

Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Shakespeare of
Evergreen

Opal Collins

Mr. and Mrs. John Collins of Sand
Creek

June Collins

Mary Collins

John W. Collins

Kincle Collins

Edward Collins

Transcribed by Barbara Petticord Whitsitt, 13
Jan. 2002