W. R. C. CONVENTION

 

HELD AT THORP ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14TH 1904.

 

Not So Large in Attendance but Large in Hospitality and in the Spirit of Comradeship Manifested.

 

The fifth annual convention of District No. 18, W.R.C., was held at Thorp Friday, Oct. 14.  When train No. 1 stopped at the station that day twenty ladies (and one lone man from Colby) from Medford, Colby, Loyal, and Spencer stepped off and were cordially welcomed by a delegation of Thorp W.R.C. ladies and G.A.R. vetarans [sic] and were escorted to the I.O.O.F. hall.  There a bountiful dinner awaited them to which they did ample justice and proved to the Thorp ladies that they had not prepared good things to eat in vain.

 

Soon after dinner corps was called to order by Mrs. Phoebe Warner, president of Asbra Welcome W.R.C., No. 81, and the work of the order was exemplified by the home corps, No. 81, and inspected by Mrs. Celia Romaine of Loyal, district president and inspector.  Then followed the work of the convention with the following officers in the chairs:  Pres., Mrs. Celia Romaine, Loyal; S.V. Pres., Mrs. Sheldon, Thorp; J.V. Pres., Mrs. Vangorder, Thorp; Chap., Mrs. Lantz, Loyal; Sec., Rispa E. Crowell, Spencer; Con., Mrs. Fellows, Thorp; Asst. Con., Mrs. Francis, Thorp; Chief Guard, Mrs. Thomas, Loyal; Asst. Guard, Mrs. Vandusen, Thorp; 1^st Color Bearer, Mrs. Bushman, Thorp; 2^nd Color Bearer, Mrs. Brown, Thorp; 3^rd Color Bearer, Mrs. Fiebig, Colby; 4^th Color Bearer, Mrs. Rossman, Thorp; Organist, Mrs. Minshall, Colby; Pres Cor., Mrs. Prior, Loyal.

 

After the opening ceremonies the following committees were announced and admitted, escorted by the committee on courtesies: Mrs. White, Colby; Mrs. Phillips, Thorp; Mrs. Hinkes, Colby.

•  Committee of citizens : Geo. B. Parkhill, Fred Rossman.

•  Committee of G.A.R. : Mr. Sheldon, Mrs. White, Colby; Mr. Fellows.

•  Committee of S. of V. : Mr. Warner, Mr. Brown, Mr. Vangorder.

Mr. Parkhill gave the address of welcome which made the visitors feel that they were indeed welcome, even though circumstances would not permit the

effectionate [sic] greeting be pictured.  To this address Mrs. Julia E. Straub of Colby gave a very appropriate and able response.  Then followed short speeches and remarks from the other visiting committees to which the president responded with a few well chosen words.  An original poem entitled "A Tribute to the G.A.R." was given by Mrs. Sarah Hirsch of Colby, and we regret that more of the old soldiers could not be present to hear this touching ode.  After this the committees retired while the convention gave the chatauquis salute and sang Tramp, Tramp, Tramp and Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys.

 

The rest of the time was given to the business of the convention and the following numbers were rendered for the good of the order:

• Solo, The Blue and the Gray: Mrs. Carrie Bushman, Thorp

• Recitation, Kentucky Belle : Mrs. Laura Brown, Thorp.

• Solo, My Own United States : Mrs. Nina Bartell, Colby.

 

It was impossible to decide upon the next place of meeting but we hope it will be Medford.  It was six o'clock when the convention closed with a rising vote of thanks to the president for the able manner in which she had conducted the convention and to the Asbra Welcome corps for their royal entertainment.

 

Immediately after adjournment the ladies again rapaired [sic] to the dining room and found the tables as tempting and bountifully laden as at noon, and again they showed their appreciation.  A part of the evening [sic] was given practicing some of the W.R.C. services.  Then the visitors were taken to the homes of Thorp ladies and given every attention that would make their stay pleasant.  All left Saturday morning on the 7:35 train with the warmest feelings in their hearts for the ladies who had given them such a cordial welcome and treated them so hospitably all through their stay in pretty little city of Thorp on the Wisconsin Central--R. in Thorp Courier.

 

....Source: GREENWOOD GLEANER, GREENWOOD, CLARK CO., WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1904.

 

WRC & GAR--27 October, 1904

 

In addition to the foregoing the following vice presidents from the towns represented in the association were chosen:

Thos. Vine, Greenwood.

J.H. Walsh, Loyal.

Geo. F. Caldwell, Augusta.

M. B. Smith, Stanley.

H. P. Crowell, Spencer.

G. W. Henderson, Marshfield.

August Hornstead, Dorchester.

J. W. Tolford, Neillsville.

H. Hutton, Colby.

 

The committee, appointed for the purpose, reported the following resolution, which was adopted.

 

Resolved, that in the death of comrade J.H. Sargent of Stanley, we have lost a warm hearted and patriotic comrade, an efficient officer, an intelligent worker along all the lines of patriotic work, and that in his death there comes a vacancy that will be hard to fill.

 

We realize that our ranks are thinning but this comfort comes to us, that in our unselfish devotion to the cause of patriotism though the workers cease to be, the excellence of their character still abides.

--O. A. Britton,

--M. B. Smith,

--S. H. Pickett,

Committee.

 

The committee on resolutions also reported at this time as follows:

 

Resolved, that this association extend a vote of thanks to the citizens of Spencer for their cordial welcome and hospitality during our thirteenth annual encampment, and further resolved, that a vote of thanks be and hereby is extended to the Colby band and Baker drum corps, G.A.R., W.R.C. and encampment, Capt. Tolford even going so far as to suggest that the meeting adjourn early in order to give those present time to kiss each other and that he wanted to begin with the secretary.

 

Altogether the occasion was a happy one and will long be remembered by those participating.   Everything moved along nicely and a spirit of good cheer was dominant.   There was a little feeling, on the part of only a few however, because the band boys would not play any Friday morning.  Their work was thoroughly appreciated as was that of the Baker drum corps.             

Wednesday was mostly gathering day and getting ready for the fun of the next two days.  In the evening a program of vocal and instrumental music, recitations, by local talent was given, this being followed by a dance by the full Columbian Orchestra.

 

Thursday was the red letter day of the three.  A program at the Woodman hall, where all the exercises were held, was given, the principal feature of which was an able address by Hon.. Neil Brown, "the sage of Wausau," who had been captured while passing through town on the Central, by a detail of the veterans who were duly commissioned for the deed.  It seems Attorneys Brown and R. J. MacBride of Neillsvile had been at Unity on legal business and were on their way to their respective homes, when the squad got hold of them at the Spencer station.  Mr. MacBride succeeded in getting away, but sent back a telegram from Marshfield to the effect that while they did not capture him in person, they did capture his heart.

 

A picture of the crowd in front of the G.A.R. and W.R.C. hall was taken during the afternoon by M. H. DuCate, who used to be a Clark county man years ago at Greenwood.  A baseball game between Spencer and Marshfield with a score largely in favor of the home team was also a feature of the afternoon's fun.

 

Thursday evening occurred the regular camp-fire program, consisting of speeches by O.A. Britton of Superior, S.D. Pitcher of Oshkosh, and Geo. B. Parkhill of Thorp, which, interspersed with plenty of music made the evening a jolly one for all who could crowd into the hall.

 

The business session took place Friday morning, this closing the three day's encampment.  Capt. J.W. Tolford of Neillsville took charge in place of President H. R. Crowell of Spencer and Rispa E. Crowell as secretary.

 

A committee on resolutions consisting of Messrs. J. H. Welch, E. D. Romaine and Geo. B. Parkhill was chosen.

 

On invitation of P.F. Lantz, which was duly acted upon it was voted to hold the encampment next year with the Thorp post and the officers to have charge were elected as follows:

C.H. Sheldon, president.

Fred Rossman, vice president.

Chris. Tiedemann, treasurer.

B.J. Brown, secretary.

 

End transcription of 27Oct1904-2.jpg

 

Contributor: Sharon Scott.

 

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