Legion Fall Festival

  THE ICONIC FALL FESTIVAL
By Kit Zinser

This headline brought much pleasure for many years to this little berg. The American Legion had a need to build a permanent location.  A festival seemed the perfect opportunity to raise funds.  During the year, the Legion did much for kids in town: an Easter egg hunt, Christmas candy canes, and a visit with Santa, as well as Halloween activities. The Legion was not secretive about how they would use funds.  A festival that would entertain hundreds, if not thousands, was slated for Labor Day weekend.  The gem of our city would be the center of the gala - our town square.

Now, before we get into the nuts and bolts of the legendary festival, one homemade item made a lot of kids really happy year after year. It is important to note that one little boy who was unafraid of hard work sat in the basement of Marshall’s and skewered hot dogs on a pointed stick.  Call them what you will, these delights were dubbed Pup in a Tent and sold for 25 cents at the festival. The pup was dipped in a thick batter and fried to a golden brown.  Slathered with mustard, it puts any corn dog to shame. Everyone loved the Pup!  However, some minds were changed during the careening, whirling Octopus carnival ride. But, the festival itself was iconic.

Much committee work went into the planning and execution.  Names like Brunnemeyer, Slonneger, Roehm, Johnston, Stormer, Bradle, Brown, Wagner, Holland, Willhardt, Sullivan, Hess, Marshall, Portscheller, Habecker, Herbst, Essig, Orth, Esser, Bozarth, Sweitzer, and Keil solidified the potential success.  Everyone pitched in for the “gala, three days of entertainment and fun.”  The prize highlighting the first festival was “a Studebaker automobile ensuring a big crowd from all over the territory.” Each year, another car, another model, was offered as the final prize.  One year, Shelby Smith, who had his own airfield 1 ¼ miles out North Main, along with sponsor Washington Jewelry, dropped a nationally known watch from an airplane.  After testing its durability, the watch was awarded to a lucky winner. 

The city and merchants were all in.  The square was “sold” to merchants, and each storefront purchased the sidewalk for concessions or displays.  Streets were roped off, and traffic was diverted up Wood Street (take a left at Napa) to W. Jefferson and then East to Pine and back to Walnut.  The local constabulary suggested leaving your cars at home and walking up to the square.

The Legion arranged for entertainment. Local dance bands performed. Some were street dances, and others were held inside the city building.  Free concerts with the city municipal band, high school band, and a large industrial band were slated.   Washington had a municipal band which was supported with city dollars.  Caterpillar and LeTourneau Westinghouse were considered industrial bands made up of employees. Later on, there was some confusion and dissension regarding the appearance of industrial bands coming from our own municipal group.  This was cleared without rancor, and the shows went on!  The Legion sought speakers of national prominence, local singers and dancers for talent shows, carnival rides, and food concessions like barbecue, cotton candy, popcorn, beer, and Pups in a Tent. A parade was part of the three-day festival.

The square was blocked off from noon on Saturday until the Monday evening finale.  No one complained, and kids were easily able to walk to the square and join in the fun.  Programs each year were printed with businesses from all over sponsoring the event.  The Legion had done its homework and footwork!

An example of the weekend follows: “Program will officially open Saturday afternoon with a concert by the Washington Municipal Band from 12:30 to 2:30 followed by a local talent show which featured entertainment and prizes for the best singers and dancers.  Saturday evening will have the Legion Band kicking off the program at 7:00 o’clock.  The WMBD Juvenile Theater Group will put on a show at 8:00 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, the Six Foot Four Quartette will be featured at 1:00 p.m., and the Breakfast Time Frolics group from WLS in Chicago follow from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Supper Time Frolics will appear from 8 to 9 p.m.  The Washington Band will have a second show on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and perform again on Monday morning.  The Prairie Ramblers will be onstage from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by a speaker for the celebration:  W.P. Kienskens of Chicago.  The Shrine Chanters will appear Monday evening, followed by the Prairie Ramblers and the big drawing for the Studebaker automobile”.  Well-known acts appeared throughout the years, finding Washington residents a very appreciative and receptive audience.  Dave Snell said the Legion is sparing no expense in scheduling the finest talent.  Senator Everett Dirksen spoke in 1947 when the Ford was given away. The Legion promised no “gyp” concessions, and the Legion would operate all concessions except for lunch stands and rides.  All dollars will go to the Legion Building Fund.  That year brought 10,000 people to town, and 1949 brought 25,000 attendees.  In the 1950’s, hobby and antique shows were added.  No charge was made for displays, but if you sold items, a charge of $1.00 a day would be assessed.

For 11 years, the Fall Festival was a highlight in the nucleus of town.  In 1957, a yellow mimeographed card made its way around the city asking citizens to call councilmen and protest the location of the 1958 Fall Festival.  A person wishing to remain anonymous (but reported in the newspaper as a reliable and responsible source) was “against the element of gambling and the character of people employed by the carnival outlets as well as blockage of the square and the potential fire hazard.  “The fall festival accomplishes nothing at great cost to the city.” Asked if he would approve of it in another location, his response was: “If it retains the present character, I do not approve of it at all.”  Other businessmen were interviewed, with some supporting the Legion and others stating they were lucky to break even and should just donate $25.00 to the Legion.  Another said he lost $800.00 on that weekend, stating he had five children at home alone on the Route 24 detour.  Another said, “If they want it on the square, they should have it.”  The newspaper editor summed up: “If the Fall Festival is going to be city-wide incorporating all civic and service clubs, then we can support a location on public property.  If the Fall Festival develops into a fund raising project, then it should be held on private property or adequate compensation given for the use of public property.”

The city council was to vote on the square Fall Festival location on October 1.  The anonymous person promised to file an injunction with the state over the closing of Route 24 if approved.  The Legion responded to the gentleman on all points, and the council vote was 7 to 1 (Coy Martin dissenting) to use the square as next year’s location.  The Legion was told they should pay for extra police, maintenance of barricades, and additional insurance costs.  The Legion said they would look at another location and moved to their home location, west of town, on Business 24.  A change was in the wind…

Somewhere in early 1984, Don McCullough was reminiscing with the owner of I. Zinser Tea Room about past Fall Festivals.  The Downtown Merchants met at the tea room for weekly sessions, and the topic was broached.  Most of the merchants were enthusiastic about a revived Festival.  The information was taken to the City with ideas that included a pet parade, children’s art show, antique display and sale, foot race, food concessions, talent show, community-wide church service, breakfast in Lindy’s parking lot, Precious Moments look-alike contest.

The first event was small, with the Northeast portion of the square roped off. Buggy rides, a fresh produce sale from local farms, and apple pot holders, caramel apples, and popcorn balls made by Historical Society members offered a perfect afternoon’s entertainment.  The Apple Festival gained momentum.  The following year, expansion took place with more activities and a bit more of the square roped off.  (It was not enough to interfere with local businesses, but attendees spent their money freely and fairly.) 

The Chamber took over, and business owners wanted to promote Washington as a neighborly place.  Good Neighbor Days resulted and worked from 1985 to 1998. A festival back with a bang!  In 1999, the name changed again, linking to the Washington affiliation, and a Cherry Festival seemed more appropriate. There was something for everyone.  Bake contests with a cherry theme, grilling with cherries, a chili cook-off with cherries as the main ingredient, the requisite carnival rides, bands, performers, and a beer tent with cherry-flavored drinks! 

In 2013, Washington experienced the storm of the century. With that tragedy and the resulting goodwill of neighbors from all over the country, the name reverted to Good Neighbor Days.

We have seen many successes in this town due to the efforts of a multitude of dedicated residents.  Washington has always had a very enthusiastic audience!