1958 CENTENNIAL

 

Across the Fence

 

By Arvord Abernethy

 

This display at the bank made many of us think on how badly we need a building for a permanent museum. Many of the articles on display are practically unknown to us today; what will they be to the next generation unless we preserve them? Think about it.

 

We thought that the parade was great and it set a gala mood. Mary and I thought that the miniature vehicles in the parade were all cute. We got a big kick out of the miniature covered wagon with the child riding inside and the “miniature” pioneer lady carrying her “child” walking behind. Her costume and all were so pioneerish. I doubt if many pioneers that settled Hamilton County used the same kind of horsepower that this wagon used.

 

Bert Schrank, Dr. Cy Cathey and I were talking after the gospel singing about the movies of the Centennial in 1958. Many people made some movies of the Centennial so we were wondering if we might get them all together and edit them and then splice them all together. Then the film could be deposited in the library or museum for posterity. In 2058 they will look very odd, yet interesting to the people. That is, if a projector could be found that would project such films.

 

I hope the people who came to see the Centennial movies I presented were not too disappointed. The film is amateurish, but did show enough to let one know a little about what did take place at that great celebration. I’ll try to do a better job at our B-Centennial.

 

Again, may I express my deep appreciation for the fine cooperation I got from all the churches and groups in working up the Gospel Singing? I thought that the singing was greatly appreciated by the large audience. A special thanks to Dick Smith for working so faithfully with the sound system.

 

The same thing that makes the Dove Festival so good is the same thing that made our Centennial Celebration in 1958 so outstanding. It is homegrown and born of a spirit of togetherness. And that spirit continued until it was all over. Before I got away Sunday night after the gospel singing a good size group had all the chairs loaded into pickups, all the trash had been picked up, and even the electric cables to the stands had been taken up. No one had loaded up the army tank and moved it. There is a lot of work that goes on hat many do not see; just ask June McClung, Bill Snell and others about it.