Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 34, Number 177, Decatur, Adams County, 27 July 1936 — Page 1

D E C AT U R (Tenten n i

«EN-D\ Y Pi ogram A? 1 -’- -n<i-Mh

(XXIV. No. 177.

CENTENNIAL TO OPEN SUNDAY

Church Services lOpen Centennial I Sunday Morning ■olic Field Mass, Lutheran Hour And Union Protestant Services Mark Opening Os Centennial I Trulv cognizant of the deep religious feelings which Hale the daily lives of the citizens of Decatur and Adams Hv. particularly on the 100th anniversary of this com- ■ v 's founding. Decatur’s Centennial observance will opHth religious services never equaled in a city of this size. « Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the three lous services which will feature the first day of the ('.cull, Sunday, August 2. A Catholic military field mass will open (lie services, rch from the St. Mary's Catholic church to Niblick field, of the services, will be held at 10 a. m. The field mass,

will open at 10:30. SB Right Reverend John F. Noll, H of the Fort Wayne diocese, ■rliver the sermon. Mie of the mass will be sung 3 Morea seminary choir of ■ Dame university, under the of Rev. James W. ConH. C. S. C. H mass will be explained by is jev. Father Joachim Ryder, of the St. John's Catholic wi: of Fort Wayne. |jg Lutheran Hour B. <n churches of DecaAd vicinity will join in a LuthHi >ur service, opening at 2 P T» Rev. O. A. Geiseman, M. A., H pastor of the Grace Lutheran Mil of Oak Park, Illinois, will Hr the sermon. H Fort Wayne Lutheran ehor■ety. an organization of more ■ 100 voices, will present speKmsic during the service. The ■ is under the direction of Rev. ■ F. Miller, with Miss Helen Bert, soloist. ■tors of the various Lutheran ■lws of the community will ■1 during the service. Union Protestant ■>t,-siant churches of Decatur ■Adams county will join in a ■ vesper service at 4 p. m. ArBements for the service have ■ made by the Decatur and Ad■c.unty ministerial association*.

WELCOME I By A. R. HOLTHOUSE, Mayor of Decatur Decatur is overjoyed at the thought of entertaining returning sons daughters and thousands of visitors next week during the great ennial celebration. ■ 'Ar arrive at the point when we hope the realization of our dream ■ happy as the months of anticipation of the glorious event. ■hi addition to the thousands of invitations already extended by V and mouth, the bedecked streets, beautifully lighted midway and ■actively trimmed buildings, bespeak another welcoming note to land yours. I' 1 "' whole town is agog with the birthday spirit and its greatest ll'ini'ss will come when it has the opportunity to entertain you as Its. I An inspiring, as well as entertaining program has been arranged li’ou. Inspirlational in character. Idealistic in purpose, next Sunh services will be as thrilling and uplifting as they are spectacular I unique. Probably no demonstration of a community's sincerity I appreciation has ever before been exhibited under God's heaven. I II you join us we will be more than repaid for time and effort in paring a week's program, dedicated to the pioneer, their valiant fi*. indomitable will and perserverance in building for us> a town of I' I’ we speak with pride as a place we are happy to call home. r.dna Ferber, In her glorious presentation of the founding of IlTl' FWiron, with the never-to-be-forgotten Yancey Cravat, picturesque f stal wart pioneer, does in fiction what the Decatur Centennial celelll()n will do in reality. The colorful pageantry of the founding ot (atur and Adams County will be as absorbing as the Actinal ar ron and the pioneers of our community as picturesque and inspir--111 the reality of their rugged characters as Ferber’s Cravat. Once more we say welcome to Decatur’s epochal celebration.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

The sermon for the union service will Ibe delivered by the Rev. James McGinlay. D. D., pastor of the Central Baptist chun h of Leedon, Ontario, Canada. Homer Rodeheaver of Chicago and Winona Lake, will lead a congregational song service. Mr. Rodeheaver is internationally famous, having traveled for many years with the noted evangelist, the late BiUy Sunday. Special music during the entire service will be presented by the Berne choirs. o Committees To Meet Tonight AU members of the historical, hobbies and art committees for the Centennial celebration are requested to meet at the city hall tonight at 7:30 o’clock. Final plans for the exhibits will be made. o Spanish-American Vets Will Meet This Evening A special meeting of the Spanish American War veterans will be held this evening at 7:30 o’clock at the American Legion home. All veterans are requested to be present to assist in making plans for Centennial.

PAGEANT TO BE ! PRESENTED FOR THREE NIGHTS Historical Pageant To Be Given First Three Nights “A Century Marches By,” an historical pageant of 100 years in i Decatur and Adams county, will be the outstanding feature of Decatur's Centennial celebration next month. The pageant will be presented the first three nights of the observance, on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday August 2. 3. and 4. The production wi’l etart promptly at 8 o’clock each evening. Several hundred Decatur and Adl ams county residents will take I part in the pageant. 1 The production will open with I the arrival of “Miss Decatur,” por- ' trayed by Miss Frieda Scherer, who , was elected queen of the Centen- • nial by popular vote during the , i month of June, and her court of . honor. ■' Miss Decatur will welcome Miss . Columbia and the 48 states. i' Following this glamorous opening. will be many colorful episod- ' es, each depicting a chapter in the , history of the nation, peculiarly a- . dapted to 1) ec a t u r and Adams I county. Other episodes will show the , manner in which the Red Men J were conquered by the .whites and '| the manner in which the early I settlers lived. The' foundation of Decatur will I be depicted in another scene, show- ’ ‘ ing the meeting of Samuel Rugg with Thomas Johnson, and selec--1 tion of Decatur as the county seat of Adams county. Limberlost One of the most interesting epi- ’ sodes to be depicted in the pageant will be that of the Limberlost. While the Limberlost is known by [! name to millions of people through , | the literary efforts of the famous . novelist. Gene Stratton-Porter, the 1 (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) HERE IT IS! I- — I I The Centennial edition call- I | ed for ithe cooperation and extra, | efforts of every member of the I | organization from front office ! to composing room, and the I | Democrat is appreciative of I | the splendid response given. | j Wlirfle nothing was spared to I make the edition worthy of the | Centennial occasion, we are I | mindful of tlje limitation,? im- | posed by the necessity of pro- | • | dnction in a short time ajong | | with regular daily publication, | i and therefore ask your generi | ous indulgence for any inad- 1 | vertences of omission or commission. Regardless of any | | shortcomings it may Have, we i | are sure you will find it replete | with interest. | We Invite your attention to | | the excellent advertisements | of the, many fine business ajid | industrial firms of Decatur and | | surrounding territory. The | | publication of such a large edi- | | tion as this, with its 400 extra I | columns of composition and | | illustrations, is not a profitable | | one and is made financially | possible 'through the coopera- | I tion of the advertisers. | Appreciation is likewise ex | | pressed to the many persons | who contributed generously | and ably to the columns of this 1 newspaper. Many of these | articles are not only remark- J | ably interesting, but. because 1 lof the facts presented, will | long ibe treasured and will en- | rich the historical archives of | | the city and county. J

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, July 27, 1936.

Centennial President ft as. ■ Carl C. Pumphrey Carl C. Pumphrey, local jeweler, s president of the Decatur Centennial association. Mr. Pumphrey has devoted his entire time for many months to making the Centennial a success, organizing committees and making elaborate preparations for the week's celebration.

AUCTION SCHOOL OPENED TOOAY I ■ Reppert Auction School Opens Today With 32 Students Present Thirty-two students of the Rep-' - pert Auction school, which opened ■ its 32nd semi-annual term at the . school headquarters in Belmont ■ park at 10 o’clock this morning, i heard Col. Fred Reppert head of i the school, deliver the address of s welcome and detail final instructions concerning class work. Other addresses were made by > Co. Roy Johnson, Col. Guy Petit, Col. Earl Garlln, Rev. Harry Thomp-j son. and Co’. Roy Hiatt, instructors in the school. Following these talks and instructions the students opened their routine work, which they will continue during the three weeks term of the school. The honor or traveling the forth-i est to attend the school this year! went to C. W. Graham, of NomeJ Alaska who arrived over the week-‘ end. Second honors thus far went ■ to Glen Woodry, of Salem, Oregon. Other students are expected to arrive during the day and week. The school will take an active part in (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) O Mrs. Frances Kraner Dies Sunday Night Mrs Frances Kraner, 28, of near Geneva, died at the local hospital last night at 9:55 o’clock. Death wan caused by peritonitis. She was married to Gerald Kraner 11 yeans ago. She Is survived by the husband and the following children: Dick, Betty Jean. K ith, Mary and Thomas. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Macklin church near Bryani. Burial will be mad ■ in the Gravel Hill cemetery. Q WEATHER Unsettled, local thundershowers central and northeast tonight, and south portion Tuesday; cooler north tonight; somewhat cooler Tuesday, except extreme northwest.

First Articles For Centennial Exhibition First articles were brought in to the Central school building today for the Centennial celebration. Miss Barbara Krick has been employed to give the receipts. A watchman will be provided 24 hours of the day. The committees asked that all pictures, displays of hobbies and antiques of all kinds be brought to the building at once. The deadline is to be Friday evening as time muet be allowed to set up the exhibits. many of which must be put in store windows before the middle of the weekQuilts and shawls are to be brought to the school building from Monday morning until Tuesday noon. ADAMS COUNTY WOMAN KILLED Mrs. David Whitacre Fatally Injured At Huntington Mrs. David Whitacre, 41, lifelong resident of Jefferson township, was fatally injured in an automobile accident at the edge of the Huntington i limits Saturday night. Mrs. Whitacre was taken to the Huntington county hospital, where she died Sunday morning at 8:45 o'clock. She sustained severe head injuries, which paralyzed her entire left side. The auto driven by Mrs. Whitacre. who was alone, collided with one driven by George H. Geiser of Fort Wayne. Mr. Geiser and a son, Kenneth, escaped injury, while three others in the car were released from the hospital after treatment for minor injuries. Mrs. Whitacre, born Leah Foster, was married to David Whitache December 14. 1915. Surviving besides the husband are three daughters and two sons. Patricia, Roma. Wanda, DeVon and Othel, all at home. The father. John Foster, resides at LaPorte. A sister, Mrs. Delbert McClelland, Laporte; and two brothers. John of LaPorte and Noah of Michigan, also survive. Funeral services will be held at t: 30 p. m. Tuesday at the New Corydon Lutheran church. Burial will be made at Celina, Ohio.

City’s Greatest Celebration Opens Next Sunday; Will Run For Seven Consecutive Days Months Os Tireless Eflort By Decatur Citizens Will Be Culminated Sunday With Opening Os 100th Birthday Celebration Dt catur’s greatest celebration, the obsservance ol the 100th anniversary oi the Founding ot this prosperous little city, will open next Sunday morning. August 2. Opening on a note of deepest reverence, in appreciative gratitude for the kindnesses bestowed on the thriving community of Decatur and Adams county, the Centennial celebration will continue throughout seven glorious days. The opening of the Centennial observance will mark a climax lor those citizens ol I Decatur who have labored for many months, planning the program, raising the necessary funds and instilling their own limitless enthudasm in other persons, to make of the Centeil nial a’landmark, not only in the hisory of Decatur and Adams county but of the entire secti&n of this nation, of which the city and county are, geographically, but a small portion.

li'/l1 - One hundred years ago, in 1836, the town of Decatur and the county of Adams were founded. The unbounded courage of the pioneers, maun woman and child, who braved untold dangers and hardships to make their homes in the wilderness. has, in a large measure, been passed on to the men and women who, by dint of hours, weeks, and months of untiring effort, have made of the Centennial celebration, an observance which Will be etched deeply into the minds and hearts of all who witness. To those former residents of Decatur and Adams county, affectionately known as "Homecomers,” the observance will mean a renewal of old ties, an opportunity, once again, of shaking hands with friends of many years ago. a reminscence of old days in Decatur, and comparisons with present conditions. Religious Services Religious services, embracing' every Christian faith, have been 1 chosen as the appropriate opening for the Centennial. These will be ■ held at Niblick field, east of De- 1 catur. A Catholic military field mass will be the first of the three reli-, gious services. This service will' be started at 10 a. m. The sermon for the mass will be delivered by the Right Reverend John F. Noll, bishop of the Fort Wayne diocese. The Rev. Father Joseph J. Seimetz, pastor of the St. Mary's Catholic| church of Decatur, will be celebrant of the mass. Mupic of the mass will be sung by the famous Moreau Seminary choir of Notre Dame university. The 10 Lutheran churches of j Decatur and vicinity have combin-1 ed in arranging a Lutheran hour service at 2 p. m. The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. O. A. Geiseman. M. A., B. D.. pastor of the Grace Lutheran church at Oak Park, Illinois. The Fort Wayne Lutheran choral society will furnish special music during the service. The Decatur and Adams county ministerial associations have joined in preparing a union Protestant vesper service, to be held at 4 p. m. The Rev. James McGinlay, D. D., pastor of the Central Baptist church of London, Ontario, will deliver the sermon. Community singing will be led by Homer Rodeheaver, world renowned song leader, who traveled for many years with the late Billy Sunday. Special music will be furnished by the Berne choirs. Pageant The first presentation of the Centennial historical pageant. "A Century marches by,” will be presented at 8 p. m. Sunday. With hundreds of Adams county persons in the cast, the pageant will be the most elaborate, most colorful production ever staged in Decatur. Historical scenes, from long before the founding of Decatur, carrying on to the present day. will be presented in the many beautiful episodes of the pageant. Special Days The historical pageant will also

be preseTited on Monday and Tuesday nights, opening each night at 8 o’clock. Each day of the week -will be a special day. The midway will be formally opened at 7 p. m. Monday, with a short, but colorful parade. The Centennial executive committee has ruled that no concessions, rides, nor stands of any type maybe erected before midnight Sunday. So, promptly at 7 p. m. Monday, the lights wil Ibe flashed on. the bands will play, the paraders will march, and the big show will officially open. Tuesday will be "Homecomers" day. The Christian church. Second and Jefferson streets, will be the official assembly hall for former residents. Music and entertainment will be furished the ex-resi-dents, and specially conducted trips will be taken to places of interest in and about Decatur. Also on Tuesday will be Youth day. Paul Siple, Boy Scout chosen from thousands to accompany the Admiral Byrd expedition to the South Pole, will conduct the program, which will be held at the Legion Memorial park, starting at 1:45 p. m. Big Parade Wednesday’s feature will be the spectacular parade, with many beautiful floats and more than a score of bands in the line of march.

WELCOME By CARL C. PUMPHREY President of Centennial Association The Stage is set. The actors are ready. The curtain is waiting to rise — waiting to rise on the greatest show in the history of Decatur — our Centennial Celebration! And what a show its going to be! Seven exciting days — each day crammed with entertainment, with laughter, with eye-filling spectacles, with stirring music, with education and instruction. You need no ticket for admission to Decatur’s show — it’s free, all ready for you to come and enjoy. You — all of you — are invited — we bid you welcome to come to Decatur and help us celebrate our one hundredth birthday party. Those rugged pioneers who carved a little clearing out of the wilderness and called it “Decatur" — those early settlers who struggled against the forces of nature to bring civilization to a raw, young territory — we hope are looking down and smiling with approbation at the culmination of all their efforts. They had faith in the future — we hope this century old city has justified their faith. The work of the Centennial Committee is about over. For months a group of inspired, unselfish men and women have toiled tirelessly to bring this Centennial Celebration into being. They were given loyal, enthusiastic support by every citizen of Decatur. It has been hard but pleasant work. Lifelong friendships have been formed; valuable contacts have been made. A magnificent civic spirit has been engendered —a spirit that will be lasting, that will carry Decatur ever forward! As chairman of the Centennial Committee, I want to extend a greeting from all those grand men and women who worked with me to n>ake this celebration a success. With such united citizenry Decatur cannot help but be a great town. The show is set! You, the audience, are all invited. Come to Decatur — the city is yours — have the time of your lives —. we’ll be seeing you.

CENTENNIAL EDITION 56 Papes

Price Five Cents

The parade will be held at 8 o’clock. with a spectacular fireworks display, the most elaborate in the city’s history, scheduled for 10 o’clock. Thursday will be Fraternal day. All lodge organizations of Decatur have issued special invitations to brother and sister lodges within a radius of many miles to make Thursday the official Fraternal day of the Centennial. Local organizations will hold open house on Thursday, and concerts and parades by visiting organizations will feature the day. Governor To Attend Friday will be “Pioneers and Veterans Day.” sponsored by Adams post number 43 of the American Legion. Paul V. McNutt, governor of Indiana, and national commander of the American Legion in 1926. will deliver a dedicatory address at 3:30 p. m. Scores of Legion bands, fife and drum corps will be in Decatur on Friday to compete for prizes rivalling the total ever paid at a state convention of the organization. A gigantic Legion parade will be held at 8 p. m. Carnival Day Saturday, the closing day of the Centennial celebration, will be “Carnival" day. The last day will (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)