The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 5, 1906

Even Tired of Turkey

An Incident of the Day After Thanksgiving.

A butcher tells the following story as an incident happening the day after Thanksgiving:

“Sir,” said an unhappy individual, walking into his shop, “please lead me to some delicate dish – something that’s easy to eat, something on the other side of the house from turkey, cranberries and oyster dressing. If we eat today it’s only because it’s custom. I don’t believe anyone’s hungry at our house. We fed turkey to the family, the cat, the dog and the bird. I suppose we’ll have turkey hash today and turkey pie tomorrow. The ‘Review of Reviews,’ I call it. Show me something to break the monotony.” The butcher finally fixed him out with  some kind of meat as far from turkey as possible. He says the incident is an old and happens a good many times after Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 5, 1903

The Laboring Man Will Have His Day

Fort Dodge Will have a Big Celebration on Monday, Labor Day.

The Unions are at the Head

To Have Charge of Celebration and Expect to Have a Big Day.

Not only the workingmen, but the city in general, will celebrate on Labor Day, Monday. In the atfernoon (sic) business will be at a standstill, all of the Central avenue business houses having agreed to close from 12 until 5 in the afternoon. The furniture and hardware dealers will not open up after 12, and the lumber yards will remained closed during the entire day. Appointed as a committee by the labor unions of the city, L.E. Hurlbut called on all of the merchants this morning and found them glad and willing to sign the above agreement.

Being a legal holiday the saloons and banks will be closed and short hours will be in effect at the postoffice as follows: The general delivery will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The carriers will make a business delivery at 8 a.m. and the usual forenoon residence delivery and deliver mail at their windows from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Business collections will be made at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Nearly all the factories and shops in the city will shut down.

There will be no issue of the Messenger.

Everything indicates that Monday will be a day of great festivities for the labor unions. The elaborate program arranged by the trades and labor assembly will be carried out to the letter. The celebration will begin at 10 o’clock in the morning with a grand labor parade. Several thousand union men will march, and prizes will be offered for the best appearing local union. Hundreds of union men from surrounding towns will also be in the city, the railroads having made special rates to and from Fort Dodge.

All of the exercises will be held at the park and race track. A feature of the morning will be the address by M.F. Healy. The ball game between Fort Dodge and Waterloo in the afternoon will start at 3 o’clock. The diamond willl (sic) be on the race track in front of the grand stand. The judges stand and fence have been removed and the grounds put into first class condition. Music by two bands and the Oleson orchestra and a dance will also be among the attractions. the time in the afternoon will be well taken up with the various athletic contests scheduled. Liberal prizes have been offered to the winners of all the events. The day promises to be one long remembered by the union men of Fort Dodge and vicinity.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 1, 1906

Will Not Observe Labor Day

Monday will be a Quiet Day in the City – No Celebration is Planned.

Stores Will Remain Open

The Banks and Post-offices Will Keep the Customary Holiday Hours, but the Other Business Houses Will Remain Open all Day.

Labor Day will be a quiet one in the city. Outside of a few picnics, all family affairs, and a large number who are planning to take advantage of the excursion to Waterloo, the day will not be unlike the others of the week. All of the business houses will remain open until the customary hour of closing and there will be absolutely no demonstrations of a public nature inside of the city limits.

The post-office will remain open from 7:00 until 10:00 o’clock in the morning and from 5:00 until 6:00 o’clock in the evening. There will be one residence and one business mail delivery, while the carrier’s windows will be open from 5:00 until 6:00 o’clock p.m. for those caring to take advantage of the opportunity to get their mail before Tuesday morning.

The banks of the city will remain closed all day, while the barber shops will close for the dat at 11 o’clock a.m. A large number of the local barbers are going to respond to the invitation of the Waterloo barbars’ union and take part in te (sic) demonstrations there Monday.

If the weather will permit there will be a number of picnics and fishing parties on the banks of the Des Moines river in the vicinity of Fort Dodge. A number of the golf club are preparing to spend the day on the links, southeast of the city. No regular tournaments have been planned, but a number will play for records.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 6, 1904

Jolly Peanutters Enjoy 4th

Celebrated National Holiday at Their Camp

Horse Racing Was One of the Features That Attracted Interest Thrilling Events.

The members of the Jolly Peanut club spent the Fourth at their camping grounds celebrating in their own peculiar and original way. A few friends were invited out, mostly relatives of the club members, and all turned in for a good time. Dinner was served in the most approved manner of campers. However, the sports were the features of the day. The main event was a two mile horse race. Five horses were entered. Each animal, bestrode by a pair of young women, was away at the crack of a pistol, the fair riders hanging for dear life to every available projection. At the end of the first quarter the horses were all in a bunch – eating grass by the side of the road, and the young ladies who had started in the race, were scattered promiscously (sic) along the way from start to finish, dropping off here and there as the horses stopped to nip at the flies or snatch a bite of grass from the roadside. The race, from a spectacular point of view, was grand in the extreme and by far discounted any bounding rope act or ariel (sic) performance ever seen in the city.

One of the young ladies was awarded the race on the grounds of her graceful appearance on the horse and from the fact that she got a good hold of her steed’s mane and succeeded in clinging to the animal for almost half a mile.

After the race the young ladies and their friends spent the afternoon in the usual manner of Fourth of July celebrations. Many crackers, great and small were exploded and in the evening real fire works were brought out and a fine display given.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 5, 1904

Little Boy Badly Burned on Fourth

Clothing Caught on Fire From Matches in Pocket Lights Fire Crackers

Prompt Action Taken to Save

Prompt Action by Two Brothers Alone Saved The Little Chap From Losing His Life – Rolled Him on The Ground and Put Out the Fire.

Little Herman Duerner, aged nine years, while on his way from his home on Prospect Hill to attend the German Evangelical picnic north of the city. was badly burned yesterday and but for the prompt action of his two brothers would undoubtedly been fatally injured.

The three brothers were making their way along to the picnic grounds with a good supply of firecrackers and matches. They had reached a point at Fifth avenue north and Twelfth street when the matches in the hip pocket of the boy, Herman, were in some manner  ignited, setting off a bunch of firecrackers at the same time. The little fellow’s trousers caught the flame at once and from there the blaze spread to his waist. The brothers of the terrified lad threw him promptly on the ground and by rolling him over and over on the grass and slapping at the blaze with their hands, soon had put the fire out.

Before this could be done, however, the boy had been very seriously burned on the hip and when the clothes were removed from the injury it was found a place several inches across, had been literally cooked. The boy was taken to his  home where he later received medical attendance. The injury is a very serious one, but it is thought beyond a large scar which must of necessity result, there will be no permanent bad effects.

The brothers of the injured boy, to whom without doubt, the saving of his life is due, are aged about six and twelve, respectively. In their prompt action in effecting his rescue, they showed coolness and judgment that would have done credit to far older heads.They are William and Karl Duerner.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 5, 1904

Little Doing in Fort Dodge on 4th

A Quiet Day Spent in the City Monday – Many People Going Out of Town.

German Picnic a Big Success

Twenty-five Hundred People Attend the Annual Outing Held at Oleson Park – Many People Go To Eagle Grove and Lehigh.

Fourth of July has come and gone; the instruments of torture to the ear drum have had their sway; the anxious parent is glad the day is past and that little Willie is spared for at least another Fourth; little Willie is sorry but he had a good time while it lasted.

There were a number of features that marked the Fourth this year. One of them was that there was a general exodus to surounding (sic) towns and places of amusement and the other was the comparatively few casualties as the result of the celebration with powder and punk. Fort Dodge passed a quiet, happy Fourth at home and its people abroad, from all reports, succeeded in having a good time.

The celebrations at Eagle Grove and Lehigh baseball games at Boone and the German Lutheran picnic at Oleson park, divided up the army of pleasure seekers. Eagle Grove drew several hundred people and a large delegation went down to Lehigh. The loyal fans went down to Boone and saw the White Sox go down to defeat, while 2,500 members of the German Lutheran church and their friends enjoyed th e day under the sylvan shades of Oleson park.

Quiet in the City.

When it is said that the Fourth was a quiet day in Fort Dodge it is not meant that there ws an absence of noise. On the contrary there was much doing in that line. There was a big contrast between yesterday and the same day a year ago however. On that day there were hundreds of visitors here for the big celebration and the usual excitement attending a large number of people was increased by the accident which befell the young woman, Clara Rasmussen, whose fatal attempt to perform the “slide for life” act from the northwest corner of the court house probably had much to do toward having no celebration this year. Few people came to Fort Dodge for the Fourth this year while many left the city and for this reason the day was uneventful.

In the way of making noise, there was plenty of it. The cannon and firecaracker started early in the morning and boomed until long after dark. The street cars furnished a source of amusement to many people. Placing torpedoes n the tracks, sometimes for a whole block or more, evidently was greatly enjoyed, since it was repeated many time. Taking everything into consideration, there was probably as much spent for fireworks this year as in years past.

Eagle Grove and Lehigh.

The morning train on the Great Western carried a big crowd of Fort Dodgers to Eagle Grove and the train at 12:20 caried (sic) others. It was a tired and sleepy looking party that arrived home at 8 o’clock this morning, five hours late. Many of the visitors had remained in Eagle Grove, expecting to come home on the Minneapolis flyer, which arrives here at 3:11 a.m. A wreck near Clarion, however, delayed the train and the excursionists did not arrive until 8 o’clock.

Aside from numbers Fort Dodge was well represented at the Eagle Grove celebration by the presence of the Fifty-sixth regimental band and the speaker of the day, M.F. Healy. Mr. Healy delivered the Fourth of (sic) address at the opera house at 11:30. His speech was a scholarly effort along a line that touched all who heard it. The speaker was well received and the frequent interruptions by applause was evidence of the appreciation of the audience.

At Lehigh the baseball game between Lehigh and the East Fort Dodge teams was one of the big featuers. There were other features characteristic of the Fourth of July, including a display of fireworks in the evening.

Picnicers (sic) Are Numerous.

Numerous smal (sic) picnic parties were to be found in every direction. The heavy rain of Sunday night spoiled many plans, but nevertheless there were no few who braved the possibility of encountering wet ground. Among the other picnics was the German Evangelical picnic up the river.

Germans Have a Good Time.

The members of the German Lutheran church who attended the annual picinc (sic) enjoyed themselves immensely. The German picnic was the only big event of the day in Fort Dodge and it was a success in every particular. The weather of the day before, which threatened the success of picnics and excursions, promised no better for the big outing at Oleson park, but the day dawned smiling and the sun coming to the aid of the picnicers (sic) did much to make the day the success it proved to be. About twenty-five hundred people attended. The pupils of the German Lutheran school went out tot he park in the morning. Accompanied by the Juvenile band they left the school in a body and proceeded to Central avenue where they boarded street cars for the park.

Besides the athletic features which made up the afternoon’s program, the temporary bowling alley afforded a means of enjoyment.

The Prize Winners.

The following events took place and were won by those persons names below.

100 yard dasy – Won by Ernest Zuerrer; Fred Knigge, second.

Fat ladies race – Won by Mrs. Amanda Craft; Mrs. Fritag, second.

Fat man’s race – Won by E. Peschau; Fred Willie, second.

Sweet sixteen race – Won by Freda Trost. Amanda Schwabbauer, second.

Sack race – Won by W. Sperry, George Adams, second.

Married ladies’ race – Won by Mrs. Paashke; Mrs. Phillip Miller second, Mrs. Henry Hueners, third.

Tug of war – Won by Herman Willie and team; second by Willie Stahlbock and team.

Misses’ race – Won by Miss Olga Pashke; Miss Helen Cramer, second; Miss Emma Dahlin, third.

Wheel barrow race – Won by George Habenicht; Henry Hein, second.

Broad jump – Won by Herman Kolbe; Oscar Gunther, second; William Sternitzke, third.

Ladies’ whelbarrow (sic) – Won by Clara Proeschold; Anna Becker, second.

Lifting fifteen pound weight – Won by C.J. Engels, lifting weight sixty-nine times; Chris Hohn, second, forty-six times.

Ladies throwing at doll rack – Won by Mrs. Harry Robb; Mrs. F.C. Ellis second; Mrs. August Knigge, third.

Bowling contest – First prize won by Henry Koeper, score 217; second, Chris Trost, 205; third Paul Schwaubbaur, 195; four William Kehm 188.

Ladies bowling – First prize won by Mrs. Kelso, 129; second, Mrs. Philips, 98, third, Miss Amelia Kein, 78; fourth, Christina 74.

In the early days of Fort Dodge, the newspapers started out as weeklies. They progressed to six days a week, but didn’t publish on certain holidays: New Year’s Day, July 4 and Christmas, for instance.

For Sundays, I can pick another year and post an article for that day. For other holidays, such as Labor Day, I can do the same. But since The Messenger was the only paper in Fort Dodge that survived since 1917 and it didn’t start going to seven days a week until the 1980s, there is no getting around that restriction.

I had considered running an article about the Fourth that had published the next day, but decided not to start that precedent.

Therefore, enjoy your Fourth of July. And for your reading pleasure, the source of the day’s importance:

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 30, 1905

People Beautify Cemetery Grounds

Everything is Well Kept

Despite The Fact That Memorial Day Exercises were Held at the Armory Many People Went To The Cemetery.

Early this morning in honor of the soldier dead, the town was all a-glitter with the red and the white and the blue of the stars and stripes. Nearly all of the residence districts as well as the business portion of the town scintillated with the bright colors that represent the nation’s glory.

The dawn broke clear and bright – it seemed in honor of the day – and the cool breeze made conditions ideal for the memorial services. Nature herself was in sympathy and furnished flowers in lavish quantities for decorative purposes.

For the past week or ten days there has been a steady procession of people to and from the cemeteries, where they have been engaged in beautifying resting places of their loved ones. Oakland is today a bower of bright beauty. There is scarce a grave in the whole cemetery that is not heaped with flowers.

In spite of the fact that the exercises were held in the Armory instead of at the cemetery, the city of the dead was filled with crowds of people from early in the forenoon till late evening. The departed ones were not forgotten. Flowering shrubs and beautiful foliage trees were planted on the mounds and decorative pieces of all sorts were erected.

The work of the care takers at the cemetery this spring has been unusually well done and everything in perfect shape. There are no dead branches or fallen leaves on the turf, and the grass is as thick and firm as a carpet. The improvements that have been made in this line are noticeable and there is not much left to desire in the way of beautifying the place.

A large number of new monuments have been installed this spring and these too, add much to the general beauty of the place. The two cities of the dead – the Catholic and Oakland, were never in better condition than they are this spring, the wet weather of the past two or three years has put the trees and sod in the most excellent condition.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 29, 1906

Observance of Memorial Day

Day Will Be Observed Here Tomorrow With Fitting Ceremonies

Stores Close in Afternoon

Parade Through the Street – Music by Band – Speech, Reading and Music At the Cemetery – Program in Full Given.

Memorial day, May 30, which comes tomorrow, will be observed in Fort Dodge in the usual fitting manner. The G.A.R., W.R.C. and similar societies have taken great pains in preparing a program worthy of the hearing of all.

Nearly all of the stores of the city will close in the afternoon. The morning will be attended with the usual business transaction. At the post office the genera; deliver will be open from 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. The carriers will make a business delivery at 8 a.m. and at 11 a.m. and theusual forenoon residence delivery. Carrier windows open from 5 to 6 p.m. Business collections will be made at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Most of the offices and similar places of business will be closed. The Messenger will issue its daily publication as usual. The Chronicle will suspend. Following is the official program of the day in full:

Program for Memorial Day.

Marshal, Asa Wrenn.
President, M. Mitchell.
Speaker, H.W. Stowe.
Fort Donelson post will meet at G.A.R. hall at 9 a.m. and procession will move at 10 o’clock to the following order.
Martial band.
Carriages with president, speaker, Rev. Carroll, and Miss Minnie Oard.
C0. G. I.N.G.
Fort Donelson post G.A.R.
Sons of Veterans
W.R.C. in carriages.

Program at Cemetery

Call to order by M. Mitchell.
Music by band.
Prayer by Rev. Carroll.
Reading roll of honor by adjutant. Assemblage will rise and uncover during the reading.
Reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address by Miss Minnie Oard.
Memorial address by H.W. Stowe.
Music by the band.
Benediction by Rev. Carroll.
The G.A.R. post will reassemble at the First M.E. church and will march back to the post room.

The railway freight offices of the city will be closed during memorial day.

(Editor’s note: G.A.R. is Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Union soldiers. I do not know what I.N.G. and W.R.C. mean.)