Our 1936 Centennial Celebration

Organ Prelude, “Ein Feste Burg“………. William Faulkes

Centennial Chorus, “Old Hundred”
Invocation and Scripture reading……………….Rev. J. C. Kluesner

Prayer………………………………………….. Rev. A. J. Holl, D. D.

Word of Welcome……………………………....Mayor E. E. Katterheinrich

Centennial Chorus, “How Blest Are They”…….Tschaikowsky

In Memoriam—A tribute to our citizens who have passed away during the past century.

Address………………………………………....Rev. L. W. Stolte, D. D.

Hymn No. 23, “Morning”………………………Francis Scott Key

Address…………………………………………Rev. Edwin J. Rodeheffer

Centennial Chorus, “Beautiful Saviour”……….F. Melium Christinsen

Address…………………………………………Rev. A. J. Holl, D. D.

Remarks on subsequent programs……………...E. E. Katterheinrich

Closing Hymn No. 608…………………………Henry C. McCook

Benediction……………………………………..Rev. O. B. Moor, D. D.

Centennial Chorus, Seven Fold Amen………….Stainer

Postlude, “Grand Chorus”………………………Guilmant

Viola Haberkamp, organist

THE EVENING LEADER

August 7, 1936

ATTICS RANSACKED TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR OLD-FASHIONED DRESS PARADE AND PAGEANT AT NEW KNOXVILLE CENTENNIAL

Order of March is Given for Tonight’s Parade Which Will Bring to Successful Conclusion
Four Days Celebration of 100th Anniversary

Ten thousand persons are estimated to have been in New Knoxville last evening to witness the rural pageant and the old-fashioned dress parade, to visit the antiques exhibit and to take in the various amusements.  They were there to assist in celebrating the 100th anniversary of New Knoxville, and joined with its citizens in a fitting commemoration of the birthday.

Attics had been ransacked for old clothing and the costumes worn last night were the wearing apparel of men and women who lived fifty to one hundred years ago.  It was a great time.  Fortunately the weather was cool, so that those who were obliged to wear the multiple petticoats and the voluminous skirts of years ago were in not too great agony.  Their mothers and grandmothers wore the clothing regularly but today’s styles have reduced the quantity of clothing which must be worn on the street so that women are unaccustomed to wearing so many garments.

In the rural pageant a group of folks from New Knoxville and vicinity under the direction of Miss Adalma Henschen presented episodes of the community’s history beginning with its founding and continuing through the century to the present time.  The presentation was ably given and held the attention of the large audience for two hours.  The Little German Band from St. Marys played the musical accompaniment.

In the afternoon there was a contest between the Old Timers and the Modernites, two baseball teams which once flourished there.  The Modernites won 10 to 3.  Reports today indicate that rubbing alcohol and liniment were much in demand last night.

There will be hundreds of persons taking part in the big parade tonight.  The order of procession will be as follows:

SIDNEY DAILY NEWS

August 7, 1936

New Knoxville Centennial To Close Tonight With Big Parade; Sidney Band To Go

Pet Parade Wednesday Afternoon Brings Out Large Assortment.

MANY CLASSES OF ENTRIES ARE MADE

Prizes Awarded By Merchants of New Knoxville and Community.

New Knoxville streets were crowded Wednesday afternoon during the pet parade held in connection with the centennial celebration. There were many entries for the parade, boys and girls turning out with their pets for the contest.

The proud winners of the prizes were as follows:

Smallest Pet:  Marvin Deerhake, first prize given by Kattman Feed Store, St. Marys; Edith Schroer, second prize given by Andreoni Fruit Store, St. Marys.

Largest Pet:  Lewis Wierwille, first prize donated by First National Bank, Wapakoneta; Curtis Kruse, second prize given by B. J. Balster Hardware Store, St. Marys.

Best Performing Pet:  Billy Hoge, first prize given by First National Bank, Wapakoneta; Howard Wellman and Eldred Wellman, second prize given by Nagel Electric, St. Marys.

Funniest Dressed Pet:  Lloyd Katterheinrich, first prize given by City Loan and Savings Company, Wapakoneta; Eugene Howe, second prize given by Siewert Drug Store, St. Marys.

Unusual setup for boy and pet:  John Rodeheffer, first prize given by City Loan and Savings Co., Wapakoneta; Eldred Eschmeyer, second prize given by St. Marys Hardware Store.

Unusual setup for girl and pet:  Dorothy Niemeyer, first prize given by City Loan and Savings Co., Wapakoneta. Marilyn Hinze, second prize given by Uhlman Store, St. Marys.

Unusual setup for family and pet:  Kermit Warner and Grace Eversman, first prize given by City Loan and Savings Co., Wapakoneta; Stanley and Bernard Schroer, second prize given by Equity Store, St. Marys.

Variety of Individual Pets:  Haberkamp and Howe, first prize given by City Loan and Savings Company, Wapakoneta.  Ruth and Vernon Clausing, second prize given by Wright’s 5 and 10 Cent Store, Wapakoneta.

The cake baking contest at the town hall brought a variety of cakes, baked by the best cake-bakers in the community, and judges had difficulty in deciding the winners.  The prizes were awarded as follows:

Angel Food Cake Contest:  Mrs. Ernst Holtkamp, first prize, donated by Mel Laut, New Bremen; Mrs. William Warner, second prize, donated by D. Armstrong Co., St. Marys; Mrs. Harry Reno, third prize, donated by Kuenzel Mills, New Bremen.

Sponge Cake Contest:  Mrs. Julius Rehn, first prize, donated by Forey’s IGA Grocery, Wapakoneta and Ernst Foam Co.; Miss Frances Jung, second prize, donated by H. J. Heusch, St. Marys; Mrs Arthur Hoag, third prize, donated by Kuenzel Mills, New Bremen.

White Butter Cake:  Mrs. Walter Wellman, first prize, donated by Moser Jewelry Store, Wapak and Heberling Products, Charles Schultz Dealer, Wapak; Mrs. Aaron Kettler, second prize donated by Island Dress and Hat Shop, St. Marys; Mrs. Ernst Hehr, third prize, donated by Kuenzel Mills, New Bremen.

Devil’s Food Cake Contest:  Mrs. Walter B. Kuck, first prize, donated by Home Furniture, New Bremen; Mrs. Harry Rehn, second prize, donated by Crawford’s Leather Store, Wapakoneta; Ruth Lutterbeck, third prize, donated by Kuenzel Mills, New Bremen.

Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps To Participate In Final Feature

MANY SIDNEYITES TO GO TO VILLAGE

Parade Slated To Start At Seven O’/Clock; Line of March Given

The New Knoxville Centennial Celebration will close this Friday evening with the grand parade with many musical organizations participating including the city Band and the Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps of Troop 95 from Sidney.

Following the parade the Sidney Band will give a band concert, the Sidney Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps will play one selection and Norman Meranda will give an exhibition of baton twirling.

The Lima Legion Drum Corps will give an exhibition following which there will be a massed band concert followed by fireworks.

The program was slightly changed Wednesday night due to weather conditions.  The old fashioned dress parade scheduled for Wednesday night was postponed until Thursday night and held immediately after the pageant.  Despite the rainfall in the early evening the streets were thronged by persons eager to take part in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the village.

Friday night at 7 o’clock the big Centennial parade will bring the Centennial celebration to a very successful close.  The program of events has been very worthwhile and the response with which the celebration has met has been wholehearted.

The line of march for the parade Friday evening is as follows:  The parade will form on East, South and Mill streets and will move west on Spring street from the intersection of Mill and Spring streets at the corner of the Henry F. Henkener residence to the corner of Mrs. Alvina Holl residence, then south on St. Marys street to South street at W. B. Schroer residence then east on South St., to Main Street to the corner of the Wm. Meyers residence, then south on  Main street to the Hoge Lumber Company plant, counter-march on Main street to South street to East street corner of Ernst Peters residence, north on East street to Bremen street at Henry Opperman residence, then west on Bremen street to the intersection of Bremen and St. Marys street at L. C. Mahn residence and disband.

THE EVENING LEADER

August 8, 1936

New Knoxville Centennial Celebration Ends With Big Parade and Fireworks

PROCESSION OF FLOATS AND INDIVIDUALS WAS MORE THAN MILE LONG AND REQUIRED HOUR TO PASS THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS

Commission in Charge of Undertaking Can Well be Proud of Achievements During Four Day
Observance of 100th Anniversary.

The New Knoxville Centennial celebration is ended.  It has become history, which will be fondly remembered for years to come.  The Centennial commission may justly be proud of the result of their efforts at commemorating the 100th anniversary of the village founded in 1836 by James Lytle.

The celebration came to a grand conclusion Friday night with a mammoth parade in which neighboring communities joined with their sister village in the anniversary observance.  The procession was more than a mile long and required an hour to pass the spectators who lined the streets along which it passed.           

It was a spectacular parade and visitors marveled that a village the size of New Knoxville could stage such an elaborate event.  Although parking space for automobiles was limited within the city limits ample provisions had been made for parking the cars of the thousands who came there.  Fields at the corporation limits were thrown open to the automobiles, and motorists were assisted in parking their machines so that they could leave when they chose, and with little difficulty. 

For the first time in New Knoxville’s history a train passed through its streets.  In the first division of the parade, the 40 et 8 train proceeded through the town with its bell ringing and whistle blowing.  Legionnaires were aboard.

Heading the parade were grand marshal Ferd Wellman, the color bearers, the village council, the old fire equipment of 1886 and the new pumper of 1936.  The Legion and Legion Auxiliary and the Home Benefit association followed.  Then came the Dorcas society of the Evangelical-Reformed church with a float in yellow and white.

Division two was composed of the New Bremen, Minster, Lock Two and Wapakoneta delegations.  Led by New Bremen band in uniform, New Bremen civic organization marched in twos.  Each of the men wore a hat of red and gold and carried a stick in the same colors.  They made an imposing appearance.  New Bremen City and Meadow Gold were represented by attractive floats.  Gilberg and Hegemeier ambulance occupied by a doctor and nurse in uniform brought up the rear of the New Bremen section.  The Minster band in uniform and the Ladies Drill team, also in uniform, marched, conveying the good will of their community.  The Lock Two Grain and Milling company was represented by a float loaded with sacks of flour.

In division three were the float of the Peoples Saving Band and Kuhlman’s store, the Duhme market basket float, representativeas of the Lima Retail Merchants association and the Lima band in uniform, followed with floats representing Eversman Market, Meckstroth and Wellman dairy, Katterheinrich Brothers, Detjen Grain company, Wellman Nurseries, Eversman Oil company, Cities Service, Plymouth, Blue Ribbon Hatchery, Meckstroth Paint shop, Myers Pump and Norge electric refrigerator by New Knoxville Supply Company, 7-up, Hoge Lumber company (3 large logs whose average age was given as 225 years were labelled 3 pioneers), Feldwisch Decorating Company, Carl Schroer barber shop, Henkener’s service station, E. H. Katterheinrich, Auglaize Tile company, Meckstroth Auto Sales, all of New Knoxville.  Many of these floats were unusually striking, and undoubtedly required much time for preparation.  Favors were tossed to the spectators by occupants of some.

Walter Henkener and Lawrence Schroeder

The Sidney Dairy products followed.  Then came the St. Marys delegation, which had gone to new Knoxville in a caravan of automobiles which had extended more than a mile down the road.  St. Marys high school bands in uniforms was followed by the St. Marys city float conveying greetings to New Knoxville and symbolical of the good will which exists between the two towns.  Armstrong’s Shoe Store was represented with a float topped by a large shoe on which was the legend “Established in 1860.”  The Leader Printing Company’s float followed with evidence of the esteem held for New Knoxville and its citizenry.  Mrs. T. E. Reed and Ben Fledderjohann, the last named of Springfield, reminded folks of the days they taught school in the community.  Lawler’s Greenhouses was next and then came the St. Marys delegation of men, women and children glad to pay their respects to the village.  They wore caps and carried canes identifying them as delegates from St. Marys.

Division four was given over to the school children.  Led by the newly organized Sidney Boy Scouts drum and bugle corps, Superintendent R. W. Kuhlman, the teachers and children of New Knoxville schools gave a clever interpretation of essentials for healthy living, “Bathe Often,” “Clean Teeth,” “Sunshine,” “Exercise,” “Drink Milk,” “Eat Good Food,” “Sleep Long Hours.”  Girls wearing Japanese costumes in jinrikishas, the New Knoxville school bus, and the New Knoxville school float in scarlet and gray completed their section.  The Busy Hours, Brookside Loyal Stitchers and Cheery Sunbeams were the Girls 4-H clubs represented.  The Brookside Champs, boys 4-H club, ended this division.

The Wapakoneta Eagles drum and bugle corps and drill team led the fifth division which showed the progress made in farming and in transportation during the last century.  Pack horses, a covered wagon, sulky occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sudman, an old wagon owned by Herman Henry Hoelscher, carriage, buggy, the old-style Ford and the Ford V-8, an apple butter cart of 1886, Belgian horses, farm wagon, John Deere plow, tractor plow, roller, drag of 1875, the first corn planter (a child operating the planter while his father drove the horse), a new corn planter, Allis Chalmers tractor, livestock exhibited by E. W. Lammers & Son.  At this point the Lima Drum corps, originally scheduled for the head of the parade, marched.  The Corps had been unable to get through the traffic congestion in time to be in New Knoxville for the opening.

The Farm Bureau Co-operative company and the Producers Co-op stockyards were represented by several floats. Hirschfeld Bros. gravel truck and Martin Katter livestock truck were next.  There followed men carrying the old fashioned scythe and cradle.   An old wheat cutter and the new combine were demonstrated.  Clarence Schroer exhibited a tractor.  The Page Dairy company, H. W. Koch & sons, and Kuck’s Garage followed with floats.

The final division of the large parade was led by a boy dressed as Uncle Sam and sitting on a pony.  Bielefeld Hatchery float was next.  Then came a group dressed as Indians.  A tandem bicycle attracted attention as did the clowns without which no parade could be completed.  Staff Noble appeared on a trick donkey, providing amusement.  An old fashioned carriage, a sulky and school kids in various costumes were near the end of the procession.

The parade came to a close with the B. E. Cook float, bearing a message of thanks to the public for the patronage extended to him and Mrs. Cook in the store which they operated for years at New Knoxville.  The store, established in 1840, was only recently closed.

After the long procession there were band concerts by the Sidney and Lima bands and then a massed band concert thoroughly enjoyed by the immense crowd.  The evening came to a finale with a fireworks display in a field near the school house.  The fireworks were beautiful against the sky, partly clouded, and evoked the appreciative comments of those who stayed to witness them.

The centennial is over, but the memory will linger on.  To those who were responsible for its success The Leader extends its congratulations.  They did a remarkable work in accomplishing such a fine celebration.