Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book
Nichols - Our Town - 1984
NICHOLS DAY
Nichols Bicentennial Celebration – June 26, 1976
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 92-93
By Kathy ChownThe Nichols Bicentennial celebration will be held on Saturday, June 26, sponsored by the Apropos Federated Club.
The day’s festivities will begin with a parade at 12:30. Categories for the parade are motor, pets, bicycle and costume. A special bicentennial ribbon will be awarded. Entry blanks for the parade are available at the bank and the post office in Nichols. If you are unable to obtain an entry blank, send you name, age, address and which category you plan to enter to Kathy Chown , Nichols, Iowa 52766.
After the parade there will be outdoor activities such as horse shoes and sack races at the school. There will be informal entertainment in the gym which includes exhibits by various organizations in town, with a fashion show depicting the changing styles, old fashioned fiddle music and a square dance demonstration. A play will be presented by the 6th grade and much more.
A poster contest was held at school and all the posters will be on display with the winners to be announced the day of the celebration. All school children are welcome to bring any bicentennial project to be exhibited.
Bicentennial buttons are on sale in various locations in town or may be obtained from any member of Apropos.
The day’s activities will be concluded with an ice cream social at the Methodist church. This is sponsored by the United Methodist Church in Nichols. Serving will start at 6 p.m.
Nichols Day Committee The first Nichols Day was held to help celebrate the Bicentennial on 4 July 1976. It was organized by the Apropos Club. Some of the activities during the day were a parade, games for kids and a free dance for the public.
The following year it was decided to continue to have a Nichols Day celebration on the last Saturday in June.
All the clubs and organizations in the Nichols community were asked to have two of their members attend the meetings to make up the committee. A chairman and secretary-treasurer are elected each year to head the Committee.
After three years of having the free dance in one of Kile’s grain buildings, it was moved up town for a street dance. Other activities have been added to those planned for the original day. They include mixed slow-pitch tournaments, ping pong ball drop, cake walk, bed races, bingo, beer tent, dunking booth, big wheel races for kids and numerous food stands.
A six-mile Run for Fun marathon was started in 1979, and in 1982 an Arts and Crafts show, volleyball and horse shoe pitching were added.
A raffle is sponsored by the Nichols Day Committee to help pay for the dance band and advertising. The prize is awarded during the dance in the evening.
The Nichols Day celebration is held annually the last Saturday in June.
Officers Year Chairman Secretary Treasurer Grand Marshals of Parade 1976 Kathy Chown Carla Hillyer Apropos Club Bicentennial Parade, Apropos Club 1977 Nancy McGill Carla Hillyer Carla Hillyer 1978 Nancy Brendel Carla Hillyer Carla Hillyer Floyd and Edna Kirchner 1979 Nancy Brendel Carla Hillyer Carla Hillyer John and Helen Tatge 1980 Don Wildasin Melodi Mills Melodi Millls Mark and Peggy Smith 1981 Steve Salemink Judy Costas Judy Costas Bernie and Margaret Oostendorp 1982 Steve Salemink Judy Costas Judy Costas Clarence (Whitey) and Gladys Hillyer 1983 Steve Salemink Judy Costas Judy Costas Marie Kaalberg and Loretta Hahn 1984 Steve Salemink Judy Costas Mary Carter Charlene Nichols Hixon
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