INDEPENDENCE DAY AT MCGRAWVILLE

Postcard view of Main Street, McGraw, N. Y. several years after the January fire of 1906.

McGrawville photos, year 1899, from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

Cortland Standard Semi-Weekly Edition, Tuesday, July 9, 1895.

AT MCGRAWVILLE.

A LARGE CROWD AND PLEASANT TIME.

Full Program Excellently Carried Out and Everyone Went Home Rejoicing.

   They celebrated at McGrawville yesterday and in a right royal good manner. Never before in the history of the “corset city” has there been such a large crowd within her borders, and it was a peaceable crowd from early to late. Visitors began to arrive in the little burg at early morning and then continued to come from the north, east, south and west until late in the afternoon, yes, late in the evening.

   It had been wisely planned by the committee in charge that the exercises should take place in various parts of the village, thus allowing the crowds of people to spread out on the various streets and at the same time find something going on for their amusement.

   The bicycle parade, composed of the ladies’ and gentlemen's bicycle clubs of McGrawville, took place at 9 o’clock in the forenoon and was witnessed with much enthusiasm. It was the first time the ladies had appeared in their new club suits made up from light brown material and consisting of short skirts, leggings and caps. They presented a fine appearance on their well managed wheels, and are deserving of especial mention.

   The ten-mile bicycle race at 10:15 o’clock was participated in by four of the McGrawville boys and prizes were awarded as follows: Allie Chapin, first prize, time 23:29; Floyd Randall, second, Arthur Benjamin third and Waldamer Kelley fourth.

   In the 200-yard slow bicycle race Master Bruce Johnson won the first prize.

   In the championship one mile bicycle race there were three starters, Allie Chapin winning first prize in 2:42.

   The first prize in the 100-yard foot race was won by Mr. Dell Carson of Freetown, Mr. N. Phillips of East Homer and Mr. Percy Babcock of Scott each coming in for the second prize.

   The general parade at 11:30 was formed at the corner of South and Clinton-sts. in the following order:

   McGrawville Brass Band.

   W. J. Buchanan Hose Co.

   Grand Army Veterans.

   Drum Corps.

   Sons of Veterans.

   Citizens.  

   The march continued through the principal streets of the village, ending at the G. A. R. camp ground on Academy-st., where pork and beans, army bread, etc., etc., were served to the hungry appreciative people who gave a liberal patronage.

   The exercises at the camp ground in the afternoon were listened to with marked attention by the large crowd present. On the speaker’s platform were comfortably seated a large number of McGrawville’s honored citizens backed up by the national Stars and Stripes faithfully held in the hands of a loyal veteran. Rev. N. S. Burd, of the Baptist church offered prayer, followed by reading of the Declaration of Independence by Prof. Geo. D. Bailey. Mr. C. B. Warren then introduced the speaker of the day.

   Mr. A. E. Seymour, who for over an hour enwrapped the attention of his hearers with emphatically the most interesting, instructive and touching Fourth of July oration ever given in McGrawville. None could more vividly appreciate his words than the faithful surviving soldiers who gallantly risked their lives for country’s sake in the dark days and years of the Rebellion, but with almost equal effect did the words of the speaker sink deep into the hearts of many loyal citizens present. Every one who heard the address spoke of it in the most enthusiastic commendation.

   The ball game at 3:30 between the City Sports of Cortland and the McGrawville boys was a source of much pleasure to a large gathering. The game resulted in a score of 23 to 29 in favor of the McGrawvilles with a half inning yet in their favor. Notwithstanding the large score, several fine plays well worthy of older and more scientific clubs were made by either side. The batting done by McGrawville’s heavy weight, Frank Dunbar, was simply immense. His two easy home run hits and one three-baser made him quite popular in the minds of those present. There was also some good hitting done by the Cortland boys, and each team had men in the field who knew how to “freeze” to the balls whenever they came within gun shot of them.

   In the evening the fire works were of an extraordinarily good display and could only have been appreciated to better advantage by the large crowd present had they been manipulated from a higher platform. The exhibition consisted in part of the following pieces: Signal maroon, prismatic lights, battery of Roman candles, colored star rockets, Manhattan beach rockets, floating star rockets, prize asteroid rockets, golden tourbillions, jack-in-the-box, nest of fiery cobras, battery, Roman candles, Manhattan beach Roman candles, 9 and 15 inch special shells, blazing sun, revolving wheel, flying pigeon, jet of jewels, huge golden fountain and exhibition pieces.

   On the whole, the people of McGrawville are worthy of much commendation for the efforts set forth in behalf of their guests. They fully demonstrated their ability to gather a multitude of people and then royally entertain them while they remained.

   Three cheers for McGrawville!

DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.

The Basketful all Went Off at One Time and Too Soon.

   Attorney D. W. Van Hoesen is said to have laid in a fine stock of fireworks for a pyrotechnic display at his island cottage Thursday night. He invited a number of Cortland friends and others in the vicinity to see the exhibition.

   At the appointed time the friends all went out in boats to observe the effect from over the water, the counselor alone being left on land to manipulate the fireworks. He set his basket of fireworks down at his feet and started a fine rocket. As he looked upward to see what the effect was to be, a spark shot out of the lower end of the rocket into the basket, and in a twinkling of an eye the whole thing was on fire and Roman candles, rockets, Greek fire, wheels and all kinds of fireworks went off every direction to the utter discomfiture of the attorney, who beat a hasty retreat.

   The exhibition was of short duration and the parties in the boats soon came back to land.

HE WASN’T A BURGLAR.

Only the Man of the House Come Back at a Late Hour.

   A well known business man of Cortland went to Ithaca on business July 4. His wife didn’t expect him to return that night, and so went to her mother’s to spend the night. But, business over, he concluded to come back and got here at about midnight. He entered the house by a back window that he could manipulate as his wife had the key, and prepared to retire. Suddenly he was arrested by feminine shouts and screams form an upper window. Another family occupied the upper part of the house. He listened: “Murder, fire, thieves” rang out upon the still midnight air. Throwing up the window just below the one from which the screams were coming he inquired what was the matter. “Oh Mr.—is that you? I thought it was a burglar,” came in relieved tones. “Oh, my heart, how does it go,” came down still further.

   The business man hastened to assure her that he was no burglar and thought it was time to go to bed, but there was a boardinghouse next door, and the wild alarm and the prospect of an exciting encounter with burglars had brought out a small army of young men, to say nothing of young women, who with frightened glances peeked through the shutters. Our friend hastened out to assure them that he was no burglar and that he was peaceably disposed, and that they had better go to bed and sleep off the effects of the previous night’s celebration.

   At length they went and so did our friend. But now whenever he meets any of his neighbors they kindly and solicitously inquire if he has any burglars at his house. He thinks he will never come home again ahead of time.

WHITE RATS FOR PETS.

   The Democrat says an Ithacan has a white rat. It is not necessary to go out of Cortland to find white rats. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Hubbard had twenty-one white rats which were tame and pets until recently. A few days ago Mrs. Hubbard decided to reduce the number and chloroformed eleven, so now there are only ten. They live chiefly in a little box in the kitchen, but have the run of the house. A favorite sleeping place of one of them is in Mrs. Hubbard’s bureau drawer. If ever she misses him she is sure to find him there curled up in one corner.

      

WORK ON THE ELECTRIC ROAD.

   The Cortland & Homer Traction Co. began setting poles for the McGrawville branch on Monday morning, and ties are being strung along at the same time. The Groton Bridge Co. have also erected staging for driving piles for the new bridge at the end of Elm-st., and promise to have the iron work of the bridge ready as soon as the piers are laid. Their pile-driving engine is also here. Meanwhile Landscape Gardener Totman is laying out pleasant paths through the new park.

Tully Lake Park Hotel.

BREVITIES.

   —About twenty-five Cortland people were at Lake Como Thursday.

   —Ear-piercing is going out of favor. Now a form of earring is made that clasps the lobe of the ear.

   —The new E., C. & N. car house is rapidly nearing completion. It is all ready for the metallic roof.

   —Two hundred fresh air children arrived at Freeville this morning from New York to stay for two months.

   —The Groton Bridge Co. have promised to deliver the new bridge over the Tioughnioga river for the Erie & Central N. Y. railroad by August 15.

   —A gum chewing girl of this village is said to have stolen a cyclometer from her brother’s bicycle to ascertain how far her jaw would travel in a week.

   —The first baby ever born in the Cortland hospital put in an appearance at 11 o’clock Saturday forenoon. It is a boy, and its parents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jenks of Cortland.

   —Over one thousand people by actual count were upon the grounds at Gillett’s park Thursday. Nearly all went there by private conveyance.

   —There are about sixty regular boarders at Tully Lake Park hotel now, and many transients are there every day. The hotel register contains the name of many Cortland people.

   —Mr. T. H. Wickwire has bought of Mrs. Elvira Hyde all that plot of land adjoining his own premises between Argyle Place and Frederick-ave., and will fit it up for a private park with tennis courts.

   —Five years ago, Mrs. Eli Stafford ran a sewing machine needle through the end of her left index finger. The needle broke, leaving a piece nearly one-half inch in length which has remained in the same place and has been very painful at times. Saturday the piece was removed by Dr. Angel.