The big event of August 1911 for promotion of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade and the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad was held at Scheib’s Grove near Springville [now Spring Glen], Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The story of the event is told here in articles from several area newspapers – articles which advertised the event as well as an article that reported on the results.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 3 August 1911:
BIG FARMERS’ PICNIC TO BE HELD AT
Scheib’s Grove Near Springville [Spring Glen].
Lykens Valley, Saturday August 5th, 1911
By the Lykens Valley BOARD OF TRADE
Preparations are being made for what promises to be the biggest Picnic ever held in this section of the state, on next Saturday, August 5th, 1911.
Since the organization of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade one year ago many new features have been introduced to bring together the farmers and the business men for the purpose of developing the many resources of this remarkable valley, and to call the attention of the outside world to its fertility and desirability as a home.
The rapid construction of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad through Lykens Valley has served to bring about the “Awakening of Lykens Valley,” all of which has been brought about by the energetic efforts of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade, and its friends. The officers of the Board of Trade are Joseph F. Romberger, President; J. Irwin Miller, Vice President; T. S. Klinger, Secretary; and Valentine W. Quigley, Treasurer.
The special committee in charge of the Farmers’ Picnic is as follows: Dr. W. T. Phillipy; J. Irwin Miller; Dr. F. P. Barnd; Charles Salada; Harry Smith; Robert H. Sexton.
This committee has a force of men preparing the grounds for the monster gatherings, and promises that everything will be done to make it an enjoyable occasion.
ARMY RATIONS SERVED
A unique feature of the Picnic will be the serving of Army Rations for those who do not bring their lunch. Refreshments consisting of coffee, soft drinks, watermelon, ice cream, etc., can also be secured on the grounds.
Many amusements, such as a Merry-go-round, “nigger babies,”* and various other innocent fun-making features will be provided. [*Note: A licorice candy in the shape of a small person, thus called in the U.S. until the late 1980s, when the name was changed to “licorice babies,” to avoid ingraining in young children that use of the “n” word was acceptable].
MUSIC
Six brass bands have accepted the invitation of the Committee, and more are expected to discourse music on the grounds.
The picnic will last from early morning until late at night.
The following tentative program has been adopted:
10:30 a.m. Band Concert, in which all the bands will take place.
1:30 p.m. Public Meting. Speaking by Orators of the day.
3:30 p.m. Meeting of Lykens Building and Loan Association.
4:00 p.m. Meeting of Lykens Valley Board of Trade.
7:30 p.m. Big evening meeting.
Among those who will speak are: Dr. Thomas Forsyth Hunt, Dean of the State Agricultural College; Mr. L. T. Lighty; Hon. A. L. Martin; Mr. Finley Acker; Mr. John A. Koppelman; and many others.
It is proposed to make this picnic an annual affair for Lykens Valley.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 August 1911:
LYKENS VALLEY FARMERS PICNIC
Prominent Philadelphians Will Be Present; Bands Will Play
Preparations are being made for what promises to be the biggest picnic ever held in this section of the State on Saturday. The affiar will be held at Scheib’s Grove, near here, and will be under the direction of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade.
Since the organization of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade over one year ago many features have been introduced to bring together the farmers and the business men for the purpose of developing the many resources of this remarkable valley and to call the attention of the outside world to its fertility and desirability as a home.
The rapid construction of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad through the Lykens Valley has served to bring about the “awakening of Lykens Valley,” together with the energetic efforts of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade and its freiends. The officers of the Board of Trade are: Joseph F. Romberger, president; J. Irwin Miller, vice-president; T. S. Klinger, secretary; and Valentine W. Quigel, treasurer.
The special committee in charge of the picnic is as follows:
Dr. W. T. Phillipy, chairman; J. Irwin Miller; Dr. F. P. Barnd; Charles Saladay; Harry Smith and Robert H. Sexton.
This committee has a force of men preparing the grounds for the monster gathering and promises that everything will be done to make it an enjoyable occasion.
Army Rations Served
A unique feature of the picnic will be the serving of army rations for those who do not bring their luch. Refreshments consisting of coffee, soft drinks, watermelon, ide cream, etc., can also be secured on the grounds.
Many amusements such as merry-go-round, “nigger babies”* [see above] and various other fun-making features will be provided.
Music in Abundance
Six brass bands have accepted invitations and more are expected to discourse music on the grounds….
[The article was completed with the same “tenative program” as presented in the Elizabethville Echo, including the names of those expected to speak].
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From the Harrisburg Patriot, 1 August 1911:
CONCERT BY SIX BANDS AT PICNIC
Lykens Valley Will Turn Out Strong at Scheib’s Grove Outing
PROMINENT SPEAKERS
Special Dispatch to The Patriot
Springville, Pennsylvania, 31 July [1911] — A concert by six massed bands will be only one of a score of features provided for the pig picnic in Sheib’s Grove, near here, Saturday, under the auspices of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade.
Thy outing comes as a sort of jubilee over the remarkable development of this fertile country during the last year through the construction of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad from Millersburg to Ashland, the organization of many boom associations and the establishment of development farms. Thousands of persons are expected in the grove.
There will be no end of entertainment, and it stars almost with the break of day. Dr. W. T. Phillipy, J. Irwin Miller, Dr. F. P. Barnd, Charles Salady, Harry Smith and Robert H. Sexton, composing the committee on arrangements, have a big force of men on the grounds making them shipshape for Saturday.
Army Rations
One feature of the day will be the issuing of army rations to those who do not bring their lunch. More than that, refreshments may be had on the grounds. There will be amusements to please all ages.
From early morning somebody will be on hand to welcome the arriving delegations. The formal program starts at 10:30 o’clock in the morning, when the six bands will be massed under one leadership and play a concert program. In addition, the bands will play separately during the day and there will be music all day long.
Afternoon Meeting
A public meeting will be held at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon, when visiting orators will speak. A meeting of the Lykens Valley Building and Loan Association will be held at 2:30 o’clock, and at 4 o’clock the Board of Trade will meet.
The big evening meeting will be called to order at 7:30 o’clock. Dr. Thomas Forsyth Hunt, dean of the State Agricultural College, Pennsylvania State; L. T. Lighty; A. L. Martin, deputy secretary of agriculture; Finley Acker, of Philadelphia; John A. Keppelman; and others will make addresses.
It is proposed that the picnic in Scheib’s Grove will be an annual outing.
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From the Harrisburg Patriot, 7 August 1911:
5,000 PERSONS AT BIG VALLEY PICNIC
Scheib’s Grove Outing Attracts Many From Fertile Lykens Country
RAILROAD PROGRESS
Special Dispatch to The Patriot
Gratz, 6 August [1911] — Fully 5,000 people turned out at Scheib’s Grove, a short distance east of here, on Saturday afternoon and made the Farmers’ Picnic, the greatest gathering of people ever held in the history of the Lykens Valley. It was splendid proof of the intense interest that has been aroused in the Valley through the development of the territory incidental to the construction of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad from Millersburg to Ashland.
From early in the morning until as late as midnight, the grove was crowded with people not only to picnic, but to attend the monthly meeting of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade and learn of the big developments that are being pushed forward with much energy. In addition to the meting of the Board of Trade, there were band concerts, merry-go-round and various other amusements.
Six Bands in Concert
A concert of six massed bands started the program at 10:30 o’clock in the morning, and the first public meeting was held at 1:30 in the afternoon. At 3:30 o’clock there was a meeting of the Lykens Valley Building and Loan Association, at 4 o’clock a meeting of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade, followed by another public meeting at 7:30 o’clock in the evening. Among the speakers were Dr. Thomas Forsyth Hunt, dean of the State Agricultural College; A. L. Martin, director of Farmers’ institutes; Finley Acker and W. E. Harrington, officials of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad; L. T. Lighty and John A. Keppelman.
Many of the visitors to this section inspected the scene of the railroad operations, which have just been started at Gratz, with a view of extending the grading to Berrysburg and getting the road ready for the rails. It is the intention to have the line between Millersburg and Gratz ready by the middle of October, when the Gratz Fair will be held. Owing to the fact that the grading at this point is not heavy, the roadbed will be ready for the rails within a short time.
Committees in Charge
The committee in charge of the picnic was composed of W. T. Phillipy, chairman; J. Irwin Miller; Dr. E. P. Barnd; Charles Salady; Harry Smith; and Robert H. Sexton.
At the meeting of the Lykens Valley Building and Loan Association plans were furthered for the beginning of active work about the first of September, about which time, it is expected, the charter will be granted. General routine business was transacted at the meeting of the meeting of the board of managers of the Board of Trade.
So well pleased with the result of the picnic are the residents of the Valley that it is proposed to make this an annual affair for the residents of this territory.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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