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ACTIVITIES IN SILVER CITY
In the early days “Lecture
Course” were held in the Pulman Hall every winter. That consisted of
Lectures, Musical Groups, etc. being one evening entertainment per month
during the winter months. Silver City also had a 5 day Chautauqua each
summer for about 15 years.
Beginning in 1910 a Corn Show was held for a 2 or 3 day period in the fall
or early winter in the Pullman Hall. All kinds of vegetables and fruit,
canned and fresh, grains, foods and fancy work were displayed and judged.
These were also held over a period of years.
The Silver City Merchants held several Fall Festivals during the 1930s.
There were kings and queens, parades, and free entertainment each
afternoon and evening with all carnival
attractions, Floral Hall etc. The Volunteer Fire Dept. and American Legion
also sponsored one or two such celebrations.
THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SILVER CITY
The crowd estimated at 1500
people thronged the streets of Silver City Thursday May 27, 1954 to
celebrate the 75th anniversary of the town. The observance was sponsored
by the Silver City Fire Department.
In the Legion Hall was a display of many antiques from long-tailed baby
dresses to brass kettles. The ferris wheel, merry-go-round and fortune
tellers were among the carnival attractions.
Throngs of mounted riders, top carriages and buckboards, long-skirted
women and derby-hatted men gave Silver City an air of bustle and activity
which it had not experienenced for years. Many of the citizens
that participated are descendants of the first settlers.
Principal attraction of the afternoon was a parade which was scheduled for
2 p.m. but was delayed for 30 minutes as the parade committee, the parade,
and crowd waited by the Wabash freight which had been due since noon, to
go through. The parade crossed
and re-crossed the tracks because it had been routed so that it would
swing around one of the town’s residential blocks so that two local
citizens could get to see it. They were Mrs. Omer Adair, who has been
bedfast for 30 years, and Geo. Waltrip with failing eyesight.
Representing the town doctors were Art Burgoin and Harold Williams, who
kept darting in and out during the parade to minister to the need of the
onlooker with doses of peppermint candy tablets. Mrs. Alfred Miller
represented the town peddler. At the conclusion of the parade, a style
show was held at a main street platform.
Attics and trunks had been thoroughly searched for this event and the
result was a remarkable collection of shawls, hats, gowns and shoes dating
back to 1863. Some of the accessory items were 100 years old.
Rain cut short the carnival festivities on main street and also interfered
with the celebration on the second day.
They had an old fashioned barn dance at the fire house with a home talent
orchestra, consisting of Willa Pullman, Earl Taylor, Gene Williams, Ona
Lee Miller and Dick Hunt.
The celebration ended up with the Alumni Association Banquet followed by a
dance, also the Memorial Day Service.
SILVER CITY CENTENNIAL 1979
Silver City held an elaborate
celebration for their Centennial year over the Labor Day holidays, Sept.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Labor Day was picked as some 20 years the City held an
annual Labor Day Celebration, and the Centennial is reviving the
tradition.
Plans for the Celebration started the year before, with Edna Bolte acting
as Centennial
Superintendent; but it wasn’t until March of 1979 that things really got
into the swing-of-it.
Fund raising for the celebration, headed by Jan Fisher and Ed Marshall
started with a raffle for groceries, selling bonnets and buttons, a
chemical can smash, main money-maker the minting of Bronze and Silver
Centennial Coins. Individual organizations also raised funds; a Centennial
Plate and Church Plate by the Methodist Church Women; A Community Birthday
Calendar by the S.C. Slick Chicks; Centennial Cookbook by Ida Black; A
Historical Quilt and Lamp by Legion Auxiliary; and a Shotgun and Groceries
by the American Legion. Finance Chairman was Joe Kruse.
Starting July 4th, for 2 months, the Committee put into effect the “3-B
Law” (Beard, Bonnet, or Button). The area men were to grow a beard or wear
a “Shave Permit” Button and the ladies to wear a bonnet, apron, or
Centennial Button while off of their own premises in town, or be fined 25
cents a day by the Centennial Marshal Everett Simmons. The first fine was
paid by Ormand Schoening.
Silver Citizens had a permanent Gazebo built in the Centennial Park, which
had been established the year before. The Gazebo is a replica of the one
Silver City had 100 years ago. It was dedicated by S.C. Mayor Jerry Jones
and was used extensively throughout the summer and celebration days for
concerts by the Centennial Band, made up of musical
minded local and area residents. Also in the park located on main street
is a flag pole near the Gazebo, which hosts the American and Iowa flags.
Most of the 350 residents of Silver City and many from the surrounding
area worked together to beautify the town and put on a big celebration.
The old jail was restored, stores were painted, fresh signs placed in
front of each establishment, vacant lots cleared off, a banner of “S.C.
Centennial Days” placed across Main Street, and decorations put in place
by Program Coordinator Rolland Franke and Decorating Chairman Marcia
Steffenson. Much of the Art work was done by Julie Jones and Patricia
McMullen, with Publicity by Lenora Stogdill.
Throughout the summer, many hours of preparation went into the production
of the fabulous pageant “Good Old Daze” which featured the 4-act play
“River Boat Rogue”. Bill Rowe directed the play with parts played by Rex
Burgoin, as Captain Billy; Mark Hamilton as Ned the First Mate; Jan
Schnoor as Caroline, the Captain’s daughter; Tim Barnes as Four Flush
Folsom the Villain; Brenda Lewis as Estralita the Villainess; Jim Maloney
as Prof. Von Mallard; Lenora Stogdill and Dorothy Techau as the Hooker
Sisters; Bill Mass as Col. Sourmash; Leslie Speck as the opera singer
Madam Mazola; Fred Techau as Parson Goodbody; Connie McVay as Mrs.
Goodbody; Rita Maloney as a Indian Princess; Gretchen Speck and Sandra May
the Parsons daughters; Jimmy Techau,
Matt McVay, Shari Wenninghoff, and Laura Lewis as children aboard ship;
Mike McVay, Dan Schoening, Jeff Techau, Deiwyne Franke, and Jeff Kruse as
Deck Hands, Lisa Stogdill as the Waitress; Narrator Jim Goos; Susan Miller
and Lisa Stogdill as Card Girls; and pianist Cindy McCollester and Ann
Kruse. The Centennial Commission paid $250 for the rights to the play
which was adapted for the S.C. Centennial. It was about the S.C. Queen
Riverboat which was racing the Nishnabotna, but being undermined by a
dastardly Villain and Villainess.
The Pageant under the direction of Rita Maloney, also hosted a Chorus
Line, directed by Lisa Plumb. It included Suzanne Burgoin, Bonnie Decker,
Mary Ann Barger, Gloria Burgoin, Cindy McCollester, Luella Franke, Judy
Goos, Kathy Schoening, Irene Rowe, Pam Godfroy, Diane Hoffman and Cheryl
Gough. The mens chorus line included Bill Hunt, Bill Burgoin, Delbert
McVay, Jim Boyer, Bob Fisher, Gary Selecta, Dave Godfroy, Bert McCollester,
Harold Skerritt, and Jack May. It also featured the Prattler Bros. and
Sisters, Jan Fisher, Sharon McNutt, Jim Goos, Bill Burgoin, Judy Goos,
Kathy Schoening, Bob Fisher, Gary McNutt, with Fred Techau on the Guitar.
Short skits were presented by
Jim Goos, Bill Burgoin, Jeff Kruse, Rolland and Luella Franke, and Jim
Skahill presented the Whistlers Hat Dance and the Pith Cutter. Centennial
Taffy was sold to the audience by Candy Girls Teresa Boyer, Becky Miller,
Lisa Stogdill and Susan Miller. The Centennial Band under the direction of
Kate Christensen also played before and after the play. Silver City
Centennial Band: Kate Christensen, Bernice Darnold, Bonnie Decker, Luella
Franke, Lois Malone, Jim Maloney, Paul Black, Mike McMullen, Rita Maloney,
Wilma Menschel, Ona Lee Miller, Vera Mills, Kristie Murdock, Sharon
McNutt, Kenny Ord, Mable Reason, Beth Roberts, Donna Schoening, Everett
Simmons, Eva Speck and Anna
Techau. The 2 showings of the pageant on Sunday and Tuesday hosted more
than 800 people.
The celebration festivities of Sat. Sept 1st opened with a Grand Parade
which was attended by 1,000 spectators viewing over one mile long parade
of antique vehicles, floats, bands, etc. Don Burgoin, parade chairman, had
the oldest S.C. Citizens, Grace Johnson and Ed Kruse, crowned the Parade
King and Queen. Many of the antique vehicles were parked following the
parade for closer viewing.
It was followed by an address by Rep. Harbor and a Coin Auction
auctioneered by Ernie Bloomer at the Gazebo. The Mule Jump directed by
Bernard Bryant, took place at the same time by the elevator.
The afternoon Talent Show had 41 participants in the unjudged Variety Acts
which was conducted by Mary May and emceed by K.M.A.’s Mac Donald. Alicia
Mikesell, Opal Clowers, Jennifer Mikesell, Maxine Techau, Ona Lee Miller,
Tracy Click, Debbie Waller, Jennifer and Benjamin Perkins, Cindy Decker,
Don Techau, Dick Hunt, Sean Fisher, Starr Fisher, Trisha Reinert, Terry
Ross, Beth and Tim Barnes, Ester Rhee, Wendy Murdock, Chris Fisher, Angela
Stortenbecker, Cindy McCollester, Mark Hamilton, Ami and Jennifer Burgoin,
Diane Hoffman, Becky Miller, Jann Schnoor, Lisa and Linda Boyer, Stacy and
Kelli Burgoin, Sandra May, Malvern Swing Choir, Leslie and Gretchen
Speck, Ann Kruse, Jeff Kruse, Lynn Maddocks, Joanna Hamilton, Donna Sommer,
Tracy Tornquist, Robin Lincoln, Sandra and Mary May, Brenda Peak, Scott
McMullen, Ty Benton, Jack May, Sarah McMutt, John McNutt, Trudy Perry,
John Fryzek and Valerie Colzin, Rich Mikesell.
A Frog Jump followed where you could bring your own or rent a frog from
the chairmen, Dennis Miller and Jim Boyer.
Concluding Saturday events was a dance sponsored by the American Legion
with music by “Country.” Sunday, Sept. 2nd, morning events started with a
pancake breakfast, a flea market and an 11 o’clock all denominational
Community Church Service, with a
family basket dinner.
On Sunday afternoon: Style Show presented by Dorothy Techau and Lucille
Ord featured mostly original 100 year old clothing with a finale outfit of
every ten years. Models for the show were Alene Ord, Marcia Steffenson,
Susan Schultz, Lisa Stogdill, Lenora Stogdill, Rhonda Schultz, Shari
Wenninghoff, Sharah McNutt, Kathy Schoening, Susan Wilkins, Nancy Tasto,
Julia Flack, Sharon Ord, Starr Fisher, Theresa McMullen, Dorothy Techau,
and was narrated by Jan Fisher.
The Style Show was followed by Family Day Games directed by Rex Burgoin
and Loretta Ramsey. They had a Water Fight with Fire Dept., a Tug-of-War
Contest, Husband Calling, Egg Carrying, Shoe Kick, Penny Drop, Obstacle
Driving Course. Children Games were Sack Race, 3 legged race, and piggy
back ride.
Monday began with a 7 mile run directed by Rev. Robert Hamilton and there
were numerous entries.
Other Monday events included a Black Powder Shoot conducted by Chuck
Copperston, a Pistol Class and also a Rifle Class. There were 50 entries
in the children's Parade. A Spelling Bee was directed by the Library
Staff.
The Mini-Tractor Pull, directed by Cliff Boyer and Richard Cool, included
1000 lb. Stock Garden Tractors, 1050 lb. Modified Garden Tractors, 1550
lb. 1750 lb. and 1900 lb. Mini-Rods, 4200 lb. 2 wheel drive pickup, and
5000 lb. 2 wheel drive pickup.
The Micro-Mini Tractor Pull was conducted by Roger Young and judged by
Chuck Kruse.
A Barbecue sponsored by the Mills County State Bank and Kiersch Welding
was well attended by 1200 people. Throughout the barbecue, drawings were
held. There were 34 drawings in all for a variety of merchandise, starting
with a microwave oven donated by Coop Farm Service.
The Beard Judging Contest was also held during the Barbecue, with the
winner of the longest beard to Bob Fisher; fullest, tie between Richard
Roenfeld, and Jack May; best goatee, Lyle Sell; and most personality
change, Cliff Boyer and Chuck Stevens.
A Square Dance on Main Street concluded the activities in the evening.
Throughout the entire three day celebration there were Carnival Stands,
Kiddie Rides, Picture Taking, Bingo, a Dunk Tank, A First Aid Station,
Antique display, Food Stands by the Eastern Star Ladies and by the Senior
Citizens. There was Horse Show Pitching conducted by Clyde Shook.
Another entertaining activity which continued throughout the three days
was Arts and Craft Center, where displays and craftsmen in action showed
or sold their arts and wares. Participating were Eva Speck with quilting
and rope making; Kate Hunt with dried flowers and sachets; Connie and
Bernice Darnold with crocheting; Fred Biermann with welding copper and
brass; Linda Burgoin with toll painting; Suzanne Burgoin with silk
flowers; Elsie Taylor with spinning and slides of weaving; Helen Sanders
and Mary Louise Frye with handmade articles; 4-H member displays; Rodney
Miller with Antiques; Margaret Mintle with Quilting; hand made Wind Chimes
by Mr. Hansen; China Dolls by Hazel Holden; with Ruth Miller in charge.
TIME CAPSULE BURYING CEREMONY AND DEDICATION
Also for the Centennial year a
Time Capsule and Burying Ceremony and Dedication was held Oct. 7th, 1979.
The capsule, a silver painted milk can, was placed in its cement vault in
front of the flag pole in the Centennial Park.
The new Gazebo served as the bandstand for the Centennial Band which
played numerous songs as well as a sing-a-long. The bridge leading to it
served as the speakers platform where Mayor Gerald Jones introduced
various organization leaders, each placing a token in the capsule, and the
Time Capsule Chairman Dorothy Teachau, who prepared the
items for burial.
Among the items placed in the capsule are newspapers from the surrounding
area, the
Centennial rubber stamp, Bronze Centennial coins, the die from the Silver
Commemorative Coin, Souvenir Buttons, Wooden Nickels, Coins of today and
the Susan B. Anthony Dollar, Bumper Sticker, Souvenir Tickets, a Bonnet,
Derby, Centennial
Programs, Pageant show script, list of business building and churches, a
1979 Community Calendar, numerous pictures of the Centennial and
throughout the year a Centennial Cookbook, Photostats, membership cards,
local bank checks, cigars, bubble gum, the program from the time capsule
dedication, and pictures of the Time Capsule Ceremony.
The capsule was closed, sealed with ten inches of concrete, and a
temporary plaque placed on it, which will be replaced with a permanent
stone marker until its opening in 100 years, 2079.
To conclude the Centennial Year a Masquerade Dance, including a Haunted
House in the Basement, was held at the S.C. Gym on Halloween.
As a follow-up to the Centennial, and to continue town improvement,
entertainment, and progress, a COPE Committee (Community Organization for
Planned Entertainment) was set up by the Town Council. Members of the
board are Chairman and Merchants’
Representative, Jim Goos, Vice Chairman and Council Representative Dick
Hoffman; Treasurer and Mayor’s Representative Janet Jones; Secretary and
Organizations.' Representative Jan Fisher; City Exployee--Rex Burgoin.
Under 20-Ron Stogdill; over 40-Irene Childs; and at large-Rolland Franke.
The town is a little quieter now and getting back to its normal everyday
life after the hustle and bustle of the fabulous Centennial Celebration.
That's Silver City, which now sports a new Gazebo as a result of the
festivities, and is looking forward to rejuvenating the town gym, that it
may possibly be used for the dual purpose of Gymnasium and Auditorium. |
