Watermelon to Raspberries

From Watermelon to Raspberries

by

Martin E. Nass

Watermelon Days originated in Webster City in 1909. It was conceived by the Commercial League and the Modern Woodman Lodge as a festival to bring citizens to the community. The event was held on October 5^th starting at 10 o'clock and was held at the "old fairgrounds." This is the location of the current fairgrounds. The Freeman account promised hitching accommodations, ample food, sanitary conditions, and free watermelon. It is probable that sanitary conditions consisted of several outhouses around the grounds.

The event started with a parade through the business district. Amusements and a band were in charge of Arch Foster. In the afternoon, a program was held where I. J. Sayers, local attorney, gave the address. A ball game was played between two teams, the fats and the leans. Nine fat men and nine lean men contested for the prize of a box of pure Havana cigars.

Then the field was open for many contests for the citizens. They included a foot race, a married women's foot race, a girl's foot race, a boy's foot race, and a sack race. The winner of the races all received prizes from the various merchants. The boy's foot race winner won a pair of Brown's Spring Ice Skates, which were manufactured in Webster City. The Royal Neighbors held a nail-driving contest. The hop, step and jump contest winner was awarded a fine new shirt. Second prize was a sack of popcorn. Pole vaulting, wood chopping, an egg race, a three-legged race and a cracker eating contest rounded out the events. The Webster City Brass Band provided the music. The public was offered a "rattling good time."

In 1910, the event started with a total of 57 floats on parade. This year automobile and motor cycles were added to the parade. A good-sized "calithumian" divison furnished a touch of comedy that kept everyone smiling. The crowds grew from the previous year.

The 1911 Watermelon Day celebration was very special with the attendance of President Taft. It was held on September 28^th. The day started with a ball game between Ellsworth and Webster City, a parade that wound through the business district and ended in the Twin Parks. A band concert was scheduled for 11 o'clock and at 12 Noon the Commercial League met President Taft's train. The president gave an address at 12:10 p.m. from a newly constructed platform at West Twin Park. This platform was specially constructed to safely hold the President, who weighed about 350 pounds. After the address, a picnic dinner and free watermelon made up the menu. Two boxcars of Muscatine melons were provided. The afternoon featured a complete vaudeville act, a circus program, a ball game between Lehigh and Webster City. At 4:00 p.m. there was a balloon ascension followed by another vaudeville performance. The evening concluded with another balloon ascension followed by fireworks. The Armory theater featured a special free moving picture show entitled "The Squaw Man." The president was attended on the trip by his personal physician, Dr. Rhodes and his stenographer, W. W. Mischler. Three secret service men also accompanied him to provide protection. They were R. L. Servis, James Sloan, and Joseph Murphy.

A very large picture of Pres. Taft addressing the crowd on that Watermelon Day was presented to City Hall by R. G. Remley. It hangs there today as a reminder of that presidential visit.

The 1912 Watermelon Day started once more with a morning parade at 10:30 a.m. The Ellsworth band led the parade, followed by the various speakers who rode in carriages; then came the business men's floats. Next after the floats were single drivers of horses, double drivers of horses, decorated farm wagons, the Webster City band, a fat couple, a person in a hard times outfit, the tallest man, the shortest man, boys on bicycles, boys and girls on ponies, the largest family in a wagon, the largest family in a car, the family whose car was driven the greatest distance, decorated autos. The parade started at 2^nd and Prospect Streets and the event was again held at the Twin Parks.

The final Watermelon Day celebration was held on September 10, 1913. In addition to the regular parade, ball games and band concerts, the "finest open air exhibitions that ever have come to Webster City" were provided. This exhibition was held at the intersection of Second Street and Willson Avenue. It consisted of six special acts. First on the program were the Original Bernards, who put on a high wire balancing act. This was followed by "The Great Floyd" who performed high wire walking. O'Dole followed with a high ladder act. He worked without assistance. The Aerial Utts, the electrical vaudeville troupe put on a gymnastic feat. Leonzo, a comedy juggler, was the final performer for the day. The exhibitions were held three times that day, once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once more in the evening. The picture that accompanies this article is of the Bernard's. The photo was donated by Verner and Mabelle Raska. The Watermelon Days were not held in the years following, as was determined by reading the Hamilton Freeman. It appears to have run its course. These community events require a great deal of volunteer help to stage them. The costs of providing the entertainment and free watermelon must also have been a factor.

By 1915 the Commercial Club was replaced by the Chamber of Commerce. This group decided to start another fall activity to bring people into town. It was called "Iowa Week" and was scheduled for the last week of September or the first week of October. A feature of this event was the display in the various business windows, items that were manufactured or grown in Iowa. How long this event continued is unknown.

There were probably various smaller fall celebrations during the ensuing years. After the Illinois Central Depot was moved to Wilson Brewer Park, commonly called Bonebright Park, another fall activity was conducted by the Hamilton County Historical Society. It was called Jubilee Days, and featured at various times, a parade, demonstrations on rail splitting, home remedies, arm wrestling, nail driving, children's races, egg tosses, and other similar activities. A large cast iron pot was used to cook Mulligan Stew for the crowd. Mr. and Mrs. Chester Carlson made kettle corn in a large pot, that was given to the public. The various buildings were open for viewing, and the Hamilton Heritage Hunters demonstrated genealogy. This event was held each fall for many years, but it too ended.

The current celebration is the Raspberry Festival, which is held each summer at the 7-B Ranch. It provides for Dragon Boat races, music, pancake breakfast, and performances under a tent. Again, many volunteers are needed to provide this family-friendly activity.