1925 Centennial
Washington, Illinois Celebrates 100th Year of Its First Settlement
By Marilee Barger
(Reproduced from a 1925 issue of the Peoria Daily Journal)
A community chorus of 100 voices, organized especially for the occasion, an original pageant and several other plays with local casts, a big barbecue, several hundred dollars in prizes, ball games, political speakers, a beautiful parade, hundreds of interesting relics of pioneer days, all interspersed with band music and the usual carnival spirit of holiday celebration, were the high spots in the Washington centennial, August 11, 12, and 13.
All Washington was in gala array. Every lawn was close clipped and clean, the flowers in Washington gardens were, as usual, the gayest and brightest to be seen in many a small city, flags and colors decorated the streets, a merry-go-round blared forth the latest jazz music from one side of the square, and throng of people strayed up and down the streets and in and out of the shops, pausing before the brightly polished windows to view the quaint old hoop skirts, bedspreads, Paisley shawls, copper warming pans, salve pots, candle molds, want-nots, rope beds, cradles, carpet bags, spinning wheels, and pewter utensils there displayed.
Practically every minute of the day was occupied with some form of entertainment or amusement. A very full program, beginning on Tuesday evening, with a pageant in honor of Washington’s oldest teacher, and lasting through Wednesday and Thursday, proved an efficient management back of the centennial.
6,000 in Crowd
Six thousand persons, it is estimated, were present at the program on the last night of the centennial, the biggest crowd ever assembled in Washington. Four thousand attended the Kiwanis plays the night previous, a record-breaking crowd at that time.
The centennial celebrated the arrival of a little band of pioneers from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the site of the present city of Washington in the year 1825. Most of these settlers stayed a short time and then pressed on to Fort Clark, across the river, now Peoria. William Holland and his family remained and built a cabin.
There were 22 children in the Holland family, so that Washington, to begin with, had a population of 24 persons. The home of Asa Danforth now stands on the site of the Holland cabin. Among the relics displayed at the centennial were the cradle in which all the Holland babies were put to sleep, and a primitive rake, used by William Holland in his farming.
A float representing the prairie schooner arrival of the pioneers from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, which was part of the parade, won second award among the floats. The schooner was pulled by a yoke of seven imported for the occasion from Metamora, and driven by their owner Fred Baker, who still uses them in his farm work.
Prize Awards
The first prize float was the work of the Ministerial Association and was called “The Little Brown Church in the Wildwood.” It was a replica of one of Washington’s early churches, of brown paper cardboard, mounted on an auto truck.
The third prize was won by the Hopewell Grange float, on which Ceres, in the person of Miss Florence Pohlman; Pomona, represented by Miss Irene Snell, and Flora, represented by Miss Hermina Essig, were enthroned among corn sheaves, and other indication of bountiful harvests. The Grange male quartet, stationed behind the thrones of the three girls, sang during the parade.
Other beautiful floats arranged by industries and mercantile establishments of Washington were included in the parade, and there were many private automobiles, beautifully and colorfully decorated.
Prizes for the best decorated windows in the downtown district, all of which displayed old relics, were awarded the Presbyterian Church display in the Wilson Grocery company store, first; one window of Renfer’s department store, second, and the window of Miller’s Footwear shop, third.
The Merchant’s Association awards, in which $25 was given to six Washington organizations for stimulating the most trade in the two months previous to the centennial were given as follows: First-$400-Washington Boy Scouts; Second-$200-Methodist Sunday School; Third-$100-Lutheran Aid Society; Fourth-$75-Mennonite Church; Fifth-$50-Evengelical Church; Sixth-$50-Christian Church.
These prizes were awarded to the organizations bringing in the most tickets issued with each 50-cent cash sale and each dollar paid on account in Washington stores.
Able Committees
Features of the entertainment of the three days of program were a four-act pageant in honor of Miss Mary Italin, primary teacher in the Washington school for 40 years, speeches by Henry Rathbone of Chicago and Senator H. Kessinger, ball games between Washington and Eureka, and Washington and Morton, band concerts by the Myers’ band of Washington, plays put on by the Kiwanis Club, “Come Out Of The Kitchen” by the Washington Dramatic Club, a barbecue at noon Wednesday, and music by the community chorus. Entertainment and speeches were presented in an improvised outdoor theater at the school commons, where a stage and bleachers were erected. Stunts for the children, including games and races, climbing the greased pole, riding the greased pig, etc., were held at the baseball park.
Programs were in charge of Mayor George Rinkenberger, and committees composed of the following: F.E. Land, general chairman, F.R. Rice, Guy Wright, Frank Nutty, Sam Crabtree, Shelby Birkett, John White, Ed Habecker, Dr. O.P. Bennett, John Hagenstoz, Joe Stormer, George Willhardt.
“Everyone has worked together splendidly to make the centennial a success” said the mayor. “In many small cities there are various factions and cliques who make it difficult to undertake such an enterprise as this, but Washington was 100 percent enthusiastic and energetic on this proposition.”
The program in full is as follows:
TUESDAY
7:00 PM: Myers’ band on the square
8:00 PM: Mary Italin Pageant in four episodes
WEDNESDAY
11:00 AM: Merchants’ award, $825
12:00 noon: Barbecue
12:30 PM: Myers’ band at barbecue
1:30 PM: Music. Address by Henry Rathbone of Chicago
3:30 PM: Ball game, Washington vs Eureka
6:45 PM: Band concert on the square
7:30 PM: Band concert at pavilion
8:00 PM: Community chorus prelude
8:30 PM: Kiwanis plays. Acts interspersed by Myers’ band.
THURSDAY
10:00 AM: Fun and frolic
1:00 PM: Parade
2:00 PM: Music: Address by Senator H. Kessinger
3:30 PM: Ball game, Washington vs Morton
6:45 PM: Band concert on square
7:30 PM: Band concert at pavilion
8:00 Community chorus prelude
8:30 PM “Come Out of the Kitchen” Acts interspersed by Myers’ band.