Marceline Jubilee

EVENTS THAT WILL BE CONTINUOUS DURING THE JUBILEE June 29 – July 4. Jubilee House – at corner of Howell and Kansas Avenue. Decorated with antiques in the manner of a house of 1888. Nike Missile – at the corner of Howell and Kansas Avenue. Modern technology at its most destructive force. Agriculture Display – in Disney Park. Exhibits of 4-H and Extension Club projects that have been done during the past year. Needlework, woodcraft, food preparation, etc. Sonny Myers Carnival – in Ripley Park in downtown Marceline. One of the best Carnivals in the Middle-West. Seven big rides and many concessions to attract all ages. Store Window Displays – Store windows of the merchants in Marceline are decorated with many outstanding antiques and period pieces. Steam Threshing Machine – near the Agriculture Exhibit in Disney Park. Authentic Stage Coach – rides are available in a real Stage Coach at the North end of the Ripley Park Lake. “CYRUS K. HOLIDAY” – One of the original Santa Fe trains will be on display July 3-4 on the Eastern edge of Ripley Park. This train is one of the finest examples of the early steam trains in existence. Daily Program for the Marceline Diamond JubileeSaturday – June 29 9:00am – Judging at the Agriculture Exhibit. 11:00am – Smorgasbord at Father McCartan Memorial School. 2:00pm – The Grand Parade. 4:00pm – or immediately after the parade – Drill exhibition by the Richards-Gebauer Drill Team. 4:30pm – Sky-diving Exhibition at Disney Park. 8:00pm – Show Boat Production at Disney Park Amphitheatre “HERE COMES THE SHOW BOAT”Musical Comedy With Singers, Dancers, and a Cast of players who perform“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”Presented forThe Diamond Jubileeunder the direction of Mrs. Fleeta Rodgers Piano: Mrs. Jane Miller Banjo: Tully Reed Clarinet: Kim Cavanah Comet: Stephen Fruin CAST OF CHARACTERS: The Captain, an imposing man – Bill Stonger Little Eva, overly coy and sweet – Kaye Johnson Topsy, “a little debble” – Sondra Lake Uncle Tom, a kindly darky – Bruce Hood Ophelia, a disapproving spinster – Darlene Fruin St. Clair, Eva’s father, a Southern Gentleman – Dr. L. O. Adamson Simon Degree, a typical villain – Kenneth Dall Marks, a fast talking lawyer – Bill Long Gumpton Cute, a “hick from the sticks” – Wilbur Ralston Emmeline, a pretty quadroon girl – Julie Pennick Adolph, a teen-age slave – Terry McGinnis Property Girls, Stephanie Powell and Peggy Belt.Also included are Chorus, Angels, Flora Dora Girls and Square Dancers ACT I – Specialties: Flora Dora Girls (Dance Revue) to “California Here I Come.” Judy Hood, Raylene Penderson, Molly Miller, Patty Burch, Dana Embree, Lynn Tillotson. Comet Solo – Steve Fruin Novelty Number “Here Comes Miss Hannah” with Doris and Ralph Cavanah ACT II – Specialties: Piano Solo – Doug Rioth Clarinet Solo – Kim Cavanah Piano Trio – Bruce Hoskins, Mike Wrenn, and Mitch Wrenn Mixed Quartet – Darlene Fruin, Sondra Johnson, Glynn Maxwell, and James Adair Sunday – June 30 Morning – Jubilee Church Services in all the churches of Marceline. Noon – Old Fashioned Basket Dinners in some of the Churches. 2:30pm – Band Concert, Marceline High School Band, under direction of Mr. S. E. Kirschner. 3:00pm – Re-dedication Ceremony at Disney Park. Introduction of distinguished guests. Featured speaker – Mr. Lawrence Schneider, Director of Division of Commerce and Industrial Development; Harry Porter, Master of Ceremonies 4:30pm – Sky-diving Exhibition at Disney Park. 4:30-7:00pm – Ham Plate Dinner, sponsored by the Helping Hands Class of the Methodist Church. 8:00pm – Ozark Opry at the Disney Park Amphitheatre. The famous TV group from the Missouri Ozarks will present a stage show of fun and frolic. Monday – July 1 2:30pm – Greased Pig Race and Hog Calling Contest at the Agriculture Exhibit in Disney Park. 4:30pm – Bathing Beauty Pageant in Ripley Park. This will be the preliminary contest. 8:00pm – Jubilee Pageant—”A Tale of One City.” Part I – The Magic City – 1888-1913 We find that from the very start Marceline has held a Fourth of July celebration and one of these celebrations is the subject of the first big scene, the hustle and bustle of a carnival, the vendors, booths and people enjoying themselves. The different elements in town, the railroaders, miners, the gamblers all gave us a colorful past as seen in the Saturday night fights, “Jack the Hugger” the infamous Woman in Black, and the oft-occurring, re-occurring weekly fires, and the white caps episodes. In the final scene, Ripley Park is seen with the ladies and gentlemen of the era strolling about enjoying its beauty and the Miss Jubilee finalists are announced to the spectators. Narrators: Paul Coram, Rev. Kenneth Kelley, Lois Schneeflock, and Audrey Walsworth. Tuesday – July 2 3:30pm – Baby Contest at Ripley Park. Prizes for the best-looking boy and girl baby. All boys and girls between ages of 1 and 3 are eligible. 4:30pm – Kangaroo Court. This will be the final session of the Jubilee Kangaroo Court. 7:00pm – Old Fiddlers Contest at the Agriculture Exhibit in Disney Park. 8:00pm – Jubilee Pageant – “A Tale of One City.” Part II – Pageant – Survival – 1913-1938 The second 25 years finds pageant viewers at the Cater Opera House along with the genteel ladies and gentlemen viewing one of the vaudeville acts that played Marceline. Other scenes open on the Country Club Field Day with its races, picnickers, and the Charleston Dancers that were found at the dance that followed the day’s activities. We also look in on the jolly “Come to the Fair” trips made by the County Fair Boosters. Finally, in the mood of the nation, just rising from the depths of the depression we hear the words of Esther Belle Wheeler telling of the goal to which is “Marceline Marching ON?” Wednesday – July 3 2:30pm – Greased Pole Climb—Ripley Park. 4:30pm – Finals of the Jubilee Beauty Pageant in Ripley Park. 8:00pm – Jubilee Pageant—”A Tale of One City.” Jubilee Pageant – Part

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen

Nearly a century ago the casualty rate among locomotive firemen was so high that very few insurance companies would insure firemen and then only at a rate that was so high as to be prohibitive considering their compensation. This resulted in many widows and orphans being left destitute. On December 31, 1873 at Port Jervis, New York, a few firemen met after the untimely death of one of their fellow workmen and decided to form some kind of organization to alleviate the dire circumstances in which deceased firemen’s families were left. They banded themselves together into the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen with an insurance feature for relief of the deceased brother’s family. At times it was a strenuous problem to raise sufficient money to meet their obligations, but they never failed. From this meager beginning has developed the present Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen with one hundred and twenty-five per cent of assets for every dollar of insurance. The motto of this organization is: Protection, Charity, Sobriety, and Industry. Marceline Lodge #486 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen was organized at 2:00 p.m., December 31, 1896, by Charles W. Maier, Vice Grand Master, in Knights of Pythias hall over the State Bank. The session continued until a motion was made to adjourn for supper and to re-assemble at 7:30 p.m., which was done. The charter members and the offices to which they were elected were: J. Piper, Master; James Kain, Vice Master; L. A. Sheldon, Secretary; M. Maloney, Collector; E. Edwards, Receiver; F. Prince, Past Master; A. D. Young, Delegate to Grand Lodge; J. C. Showmaker, L. A. Sheldon, and F. O. Payden, Board of Trustees; M. Maloney, Protective Board (Chairman);, J. Fry, Protective Board; F. Prince, Protective Board; M. W. Shumaker and C. M. Rhodes, Members. Dr. McMillen was appointed Medical Examiner. Congratulations were extended by visiting Brothers William Bock, Frank Caldwell, and Charles Boyles of Lodge #391, Fort Madison, Iowa. The quarterly dues for a member carrying a $1,500 policy was $5; $1,000 policy, $4; $2.50 for a $500 policy. Initiation fee was $5. In April, 1897, the Committee had a meeting with the coal chute foreman endeavoring to have coal broken up before being placed on tanks of engines. Also M. Maloney had a meeting with Roundhouse Foreman Mr. Weaver in an attempt to have an employee on duty in the oil house at noon so firemen could draw oil and supplies upon arrival instead of waiting until long after dinner to perform this duty. Firemen were required to supply engines and fill lubricators. On June 20, 1897, at a regular meeting M. Maloney, J. D. Fry, and L. A. Sheldon were appointed as a committee to visit the businessmen of Marceline requesting them not to handle H. S. Block t Co. cigars and informed the businessmen either to boycott H. S. Block & Co. or be boycotted by the firemen. On November 7, 1897, M. Maloney presented a bill for 2 trips to Fort Madison on seniority cases. His bill was for $6.30 for three days lost time, on a work train. The rate at that time was $2.10 per day for 12 hours. At a July meeting the Lodge paid M. Maloney $35 as salary for attending the Grand Lodge Convention in Toronto, Canada. Shortly after 1900, efforts were made to organize the firemen on the old Hannibal and St. Joe R.R. The mention of a union organization there was considered a dischargeable offense since the disastrous 1888 strike of the Engineers. Men were discharged by wire when found to belong to a union. This was a condition on other roads and with other unions in many places. Firemen had to be very secretive about any union activity. The firemen on the Burlington properties slipped away to B. of L.F. & E. Lodges on railroads where unions were recognized or at least tolerated and there joined the Brotherhood. Many of those at Brookfield drove to Marceline, tied their horses in out-of- the-way places, and were initiated. Some of this was done in the beer storage room of the White Elephant saloon owned by Shupe Walker, who slipped them in and out the back door. Others were obligated in the coal house behind Sam Myers Store – just across from where Myers Clothing Company is now located. Sam Myers stood on the back porch of the store and kept a lookout for spies and spotters. In June of 1903 Lodge #634 was formed in Brookfield. Much credit is due the hardy pioneers who often chanced the loss of their jobs and the subsequent black-balling in order to organize and maintain their union. Especially active in maintaining Lodge #486 were L. A. Sheldon, J. B. Piper, R. Guthrie, J. C.- Dieterich, J. J. O’Connor. F. A. Prince, Bert Oldham, R. R. Kelly, A. I. Bowen, and the long-time champion of the firemen, their local chairman (grievance man) Mike Maloney. Maloney would go to the bat with anyone in defense of his firemen. On several occasions I have heard him say when being complimented on a run by an official of the company, “Don’t compliment me, compliment that boy on the left side. I couldn’t have gone anywhere if he didn’t have the ‘putty’ for me.” If a railroader in the earlier day was discharged for union activities or other causes which officials deemed undesirable, the man would receive a service letter which might sound fairly good, but when held to the light showed a water mark of a hatchet. The result of showing this letter meant “no job” for the holder. Consequently, a good business grew up on did Union Avenue at Kansas City across from the old Union Depot. There, one could get a ready-made service letter or one made to order for a few dollars. One railroad would not answer questions concerning their service letters. Had all the service letters being carried from that railroad been genuine, they would have had