USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 64
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momentous strike in American labor annals resulted, with George F. Baer of the Reading railroad interests as generalissimo of capital and John Mitchell, a youthful labor leader, in command of the union forces. That strike was ex- ceeded in length only by the disastrous struggle of 1925-1926, which all but wrecked the anthracite industry. But from the standpoint of accomplishment, the strike of 1902 stands out in relief.
The effect of the 1925 suspension upon the whole anthracite community is still held in such vivid remembrance that no attempt will be made to paint a similar picture which existed as the great strike of 1902 progressed. As winter then approached, President Roosevelt took cognizance of an alarming situation and requested representatives of both sides to meet him in Washington. This conference proved without immediate results. In the meantime, various oper- ators had opened their mines and work had been partially resumed in a few localities. This move was followed by numerous disorders-the first which had marked the struggie-and the entire National Guard of Pennsylvania was called to active duty in the anthracite field by a proclamation of Governor William A. Stone, October 6th.
The situation was desperate. The east and north in particular were with- out coal-not then accustomed to the use of substitutes-and the prospect of no supply for the winter close at hand, produced widespread alarm.
On October 3rd, another conference was called at the White House.
Accusations as to which side was to blame for the delayed settlement were vigorously made and denied with acrimony. Before the conference ad- journed, Mr. Mitchell for the union, made an offer to submit the whole matter to a board of arbitration appointed by the President, each side to abide by the terms of the decision for a term of five years. The operators at first refused to accept arbritration, thus bringing down about them the wrath of a fuelless public. Finally, on October 13th, Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan visited the President with a proposal from the operators to create an Anthracite Coal Strike Commis- sion of five, none of whose members were to be directly concerned with mining. Mr. Mitchell countered with a request that a sixth member be added representing labor. On October 16th, Attorney General Knox announced that this propos- ition had been agreed to and immediately named the members of the first Com- mission as follows:
Brig .- Gen. John H. Wilson, retired, representing the United States; E. W. Parker, Washington, engineer; Hon. George Gray, Wilmington, Delaware, Judge of the U. S. District Court; E. E. Clark, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, chief of the Order of Railway Conductors; Thomas H. Watkins, Scranton and Bishop John L. Spalding of Peoria, Illinois.
After a conference at Wilkes-Barre, October 20th, union representatives of the entire anthracite field agreed almost unanimously to approve the action of Mr. Mitchell. Work was resumed on October 23, 1902, the loss in money to all concerned by the greatest strike in history being later estimated by govern- ment statisticians to have exceeded $173,000,000 .*
*The duration of notable strikes or suspensions in the anthracite field may be noted as follows:
1900-September 12 to October 29.
1902-May 12 to October 23.
1906-April 1 to May 7.
1909-No suspension during wage negotiations.
1912-April 1 to May 20.
1916-No suspension during negotiations.
1920-"Vacation" strikes for varying periods in September.
1922-April 1 to September 11.
1923-September 1 to September 19.
1925-September 1, 1925 to February 12, 1926.
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Picking up the thread of a chronological narrative, steam heat pipes were first laid under city streets in 1900 and the full supply of the Spring Brook water company was connected with city mains. Not content with labor troubles, the Democratic party, at an old fashioned convention held in the spring, split asunder, the "Lenahanites" and "Garmanites" dividing into two hostile and bellicose camps.
Bitterness likewise developed as to the composition of the city school district board. Under a special charter, this had been created a board of six. Under the new city code then adopted, the board was to be composed of a repre- sentative elected from each ward. The elections were held, but the board of six claimed that the new city charter did not affect public school management and refused to resign. Pending the decision of a test case brought by the newly elected members, peace was partially restored and the old board continued to func- tion. A year later the Supreme court upheld a local decision that the old law creating a board of six still held and the board re- mained at that number until 1911 when the new school code pre- scribed a board of nine members.
As the new century began its stride on January 1, 1901, it was ushered in by a midnight SCENE OF ICE FRESHET, 1904 celebration unrivaled up to that time. Headed by the Ninth Regiment, some three thousand marchers paraded the streets until the court house bell tolled midnight of December 31st. The accompanying din of bell, whistle and all other noise-producing implements procurable was terrific. The celebrants hoped that a new era had indeed begun.
The year was marked by the retirement of Judge Stanley Woodward from the bench after more than twenty years' service, Judge John Lynch succeeding him to the presidency. Shortly thereafter the Hon. F. W. Wheaton was appointed to a vacancy occasioned by the legislative creation of an additional law judge for the County.
On September 6, 1901, the community was shocked by announcement of the shooting of President Mckinley at Buffalo. When the dread news of his death followed on the 13th, bells were tolled, business was suspended and the whole county thrown into deep mourning.
On the 19th memorial exercises were held in the Armory, thousands being unable to gain admission. In October, the city council extended its first bid for the sale of coal under the River Common. This coal was estimated to be worth $600,000. Two bids were received, one from the D. L. and W. railroad, a second from the Lehigli Valley Coal Company. As each was for an identical amount of $1500 per acre or less than $75,000 for the parcel, the bids were indignantly rejected. Mitchell Day, October 29th, was enthusiastically observed by mine workers, more than 8,000 of whom marched through the streets of Wilkes-Barre.
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As the coal strike of 1902 reached its end, much industrial activity seemed to awaken in other quarters. The Vulcan Iron Works and the Hazard Manu- facturing Company each built large additions to their plants. Of the many electrical railway promotions of the period two were destined to be consummated and each in turn has vitally affected the region traversed.
In December, 1903, after years of agitation and many months of construct- ion, the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad was opened between Wilkes- Barre and Scranton. Neither money nor engineering skill were spared in the construction of its nineteen and one-half miles of double trackage and it was pronounced when completed, the best equipped electrically operated railroad in America. On Christmas day, following its official opening, 13,363 passengers were carried. In 1906 the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company secured a majority control of the capital stock of this system, the new owners pointing it out as a model of construction for other large developments it had in mind.
Another similar enterprise of magnitude which was to add to the prestige of Luzerne's capital as a center of transportation facilities was the completion of the Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton Railway which was opened early in the year 1904. This development served a section of the county either not reached before or, due to mountain- ous conditions, reached only by tedious and circuitous routes. Both of these pro- jects were of a type known as "third rail" construction and each possesses valuable and commodious terminals both for freight and pas- senger traffic in the com- munities reached.
A small pox epidemic which had ravaged portions of the county for more than two years was declared at an end in 1903. Forty-eight deaths resulted from the two hundred eighty-one cases quarantined.
In 1905, the Board of Trade seemed to take on a new lease of life with the election of R. Nelson Bennett as secretary. Sub- scriptions to the extent of PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT $75,000 were forthcoming to establish the Matheson Motor Car Company and capital was raised to secure the location of the Wales Adder Machine Company at Kingston. The former made a valiant and costly struggle to gain a foothold in the expanding automobile world, but a receivership later put an end to its activities. The latter industry continued to develop under local control, but
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in 1927 passed, as did the Hazard plant and the Spring Brook Water Company, into the hands of larger syndicates engaged in similar lines of business.
The year 1905 proved a season of large state and national conventions, The Pennsylvania Bankers Association met in Wilkes-Barre on June 15th. On August 10th, there assembled in the city and vicinity one of the largest crowds in local history. The national convention of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union was held in Wilkes-Barre on that date. Largely through the influence of Rev. J. J. Curran, President Roosevelt, Cardinal Gibbons, Senator P. C. Knox, Mayor Weaver of Philadelphia and other distinguished statesmen and prelates were guests of the convention. President Roosevelt, two of his sons, and Senator Knox arrived by special train, reaching the city at 3 P. M.
More than 200,000 people crowded every available vantage point from the railway station to the south River Common where a stand had been erected for the seating of these distinguished guests. The President was introduced to a vast audience by Mayor Fred C. Kirkendall of Wilkes-Barre and responded with one of his characteristic addresses.
The presidential party, after the meeting, was escorted to the Wyoming Monument where a wreath was deposited by the chief executive, after which the party continued to Pittston where it was awaited by the special train.
April 1, 1906, brought a customary mine suspension while capital and labor were negotiat- ing a new wage scale. This was a brief and unimportant inter- ruption of work, satisfactory ne- gotiations being concluded on May 10th, followed by an im- mediate resumption of operations.
A celebration of the cen- tenary of Wilkes-Barre's incor- poration as a Borough had long been discussed. Early in the PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AT WYOMING MONUMENT year, it took definite form under the supervision of a General Committee appointed jointly by the Board of Trade and the City Council. Officers and members of this Committee, were the following:
"Hon. Fred C. Kirkendall, Mayor
Chairman General Committee
"R. Nelson Bennett ..
"W. D. Vallette.
"George J. Stegmaier. "John C. Bridgman, Jos. G. Schuler, Rev. Horace E. Hayden,
"James Hanlon, "Dr. Aston H. Morgan, "James M. Boland,
"Daniel L. Hart,
Wm. H. Reichard, Dr. Frederick C. Johnson, John H. Perkins,
General Secretary Secretary Treasurer Gen. C. Bow. Dougherty John Butler Woodward, Col. Clyde M. Rishel
Dr. Alfred E. Bull, Ernest G. Smith,
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"R. Jay Flick, "Francis A. Phelps,
"H. H. Ashley, "John S. Harding,
Richard H. Richard, Richard Sharpe,
Charles K. Gloman, Col. Asher Miner, A. F. Derr."
A list of the members of other committees which functioned during the successful celebration is as follows:
H. H. Ashley, Richard Sharpe, John S. Harding,
W H. Reichard, Chairman
D. O. McCollum, T. C. North,
D. H. Evans, Frank Puckey,
George F. Henry,
Thos. MeGourty,
A. C. Overpeck,
H. P. Fell,
Jacob S. Pettebone,
T. K. Sturdevant,
Thad. Ryman,
George Eckhardt,
Austin W. Betterly,
George Smith,
INVITATION COMMITTEE F. C. Johnson, Chairman
John S. Harding, Christopher Wren, Gen. H. W. Palmer,
Hon. F. C. Kirkendall, W. R. Ricketts.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE James M. Boland, Chairman
J. Fred Frace,
John Guiney,
H. F. Mooney,
M. J. Mclaughlin,
C. W. Robinson,
B. F. Barnum,
ELECTRICAL COMMITTEE J. H. Perkins, Chairman
Arthur Lewis, Frank Lewis,
RECEPTION COMMITTEE F. M. Kirby, Chairman
S. J. Strauss, Hon. John Lynch,
Hon. G. L. Halsey,
Rev. E. J. Morris, Rev. H. L. Jones,
Rev. Marcus Salzman,
A. F. Derr, Thos. H. Atherton,
John S. Harding,
W. G. Harding,
A. Marks, E. F. Payne, H. A. Fuller,
INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE
Joseph A. Geyer, Charles M. Helfrick,
Charles D. LeGrand.
B. E. Carr,
H. L. Moore,
S. T. Nicholson,
John Kaschenbach,
Russell Uhl, H. H. Harvey, F. M. Chase, George H. Smith,
Charles Matheson,
FIREMEN'S COMMITTEE Joseph G. Schuler, Chairman Gus. Constine, George J. Stegmaier,
James M Rutter,
Isaac E. Long, Marx Long, Joseph Steinhauer,
Rufus Marcy,
W'm. Mauer, Charles Mauer, Daniel Carmody, Robert Williams,
G. L. C. Frantz, Vice-Chairman S. W. Grover, Walter S. Carpenter, Alexander Hodge,
Percy Thomas, Louis A. Schrage,
Harry Mooney,
David Griffiths, E. T. Long, George T. Dickover, T. R. Hillard. James A. Keating,
James E. Daley, Frank Schappert, Philip McManus, Anthony Blaum, Fred. Taylor, R. M. Keiser, Harry Emerson, Richard Stephens, Christian Haines, George Walker, D. W. Jones, E. T. Roth,
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE Rev. Horace E. Hayden, Chairman A. F. Derr, J. B. Woodward,
F. C. Johnson, H. B. Schooley.
DECORATIONS COMMITTEE
Fred H. Gates, Secretary S. C. Reichard, James F. Mundy, George W. Walker, C. C. Shiber, Harry E. Weidner,
Giles Ross, Edmund Weidman,
Bernard O'Rourke,
John Rinehimer,
Leo W. Long, John Hance, Harvey Weiss, Dr. S. Warren Reichard,
Rev. Horace E. Hayden, H. B. Schooley, B. F. Morgan,
Thos. A. Wright,
J. F. McGuire, A. Newberry. W. A. O'Neill, H. M. Posten, George Kraft,
H. N. Rust, Harry Roth,
E. N. Carpenter,
S. D. Warriner, Dr. E. C. Wagner, Hon. H. W. Palmer, E. T. Long. Dr. L. H. Taylor,
H. H. Welles, Richard Sharpe, John R. Edgar, Charles E. Bertels, W. L. Conyngham, Paul Bedford, J. W. Hollenback,
Asher Miner, Chairman
Robert R. Harvey, E. E. Burnaford, L. W. Reid, Leslie S. Ryman, C. H. Gillam, W. E. Barnwell, P. M. Gilligan, Col. Arthur Long, Robert Sturdevant, P. F. Kelly, Fred. J. Stegmaier, Lea Hunt,
Phillip McManus, G. W. Webb.
Lyman H. Howe, Leslie Ryman, Harry Jordan, Dr. W. S. Steward, C. P. Ilunt, W. C. Shepherd, Hon. F. W. Wheaton,
Hon. G. S. Ferris,
Rev. J. J. Curran, Rev. C. E. Mogg.
Rev. E. G. Fullerton, James M. Coughlin.
John Schneider, Hugh Lawson, Harry Gruver, Joseph Fuerth, Thomas North. Herman Wagner, George Norton, A. Kropp, John Son, John Mericle, Samuel Bartelson.
E. B. Jenkins, John Zweible, Silas E. Jones, Hazleton, Walter McAvoy, Hazleton. Luther LeGrand, Hazleton, Edward Abbott, Hazleton,
Geo. Heller, J. F. Marley, J. F. Shovlin, Gen. C. B. Dougherty, Wm. S. Dershimer.
Frederick M. Kirby,
Jacob Roberts, Jr.,
William L. Raeder,
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MUSIC COMMITTEE Dr. Aston H. Morgan, Chairman Prof. Griffith Jones, Martin Freeman, Oscar Smith, Tudor Morgan,
Prof. John Lloyd Evans, Frank B. Kelly, Prof. Sam. Oppenheim.
CHORAL COMMITTEE J. B. Woodward, Chairman
Adolph Hansen, E. L. Hungerford, Joseph Pissott, D. L. Williams, Wesley E. Woodruff,
A. C. Campbell, Ernest G. Smith, John Bauman, Gwilym Amos.
WATER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE
Daniel L. Hart, Chairman
Lea Hunt, W. H. Zieldt, Harry Chase, F. M. Hooper, T. S. Ellis,
John B. Vaughn, B. J. Cobleigh,
T. L. Newell, A. A. Stull,
HALLS AND GRAND STAND COMMITTEE Col. Jacob Roberts, Jr., Chairman
BADGE COMMITTEE
Charles K. Gloman, Chairman J. Donald Jones, Z. Platt Bennett, B. Frank Meyers, Esq.,
Nathaniel Ross, M. D., Deemer Beidleman, Prof. Fred H. Nyhart,
STREETS AND PARKS COMMITTEE
Richard H. Richards, Chairman
Evan Challis,
George Goebel,
Isaac M. Richards,
P. F. Clark,
Patrick J. Boyle,
FINANCE COMMITTEE
John C. Bridgman, Chairman
George S. Bennett,
Alexander Farnham,
Dr. G. W. Guthrie,
Ambrose West,
F. M. Kirby,
T. R. Hillard,
A. H. McClintock,
Thomas Darling.
C. P. Hunt, George K. Powell. E. H. Jones, C. E Stegmaier,
Benjamin Reynolds.
A. F. Derr,
W. Leavenworth, R. A. Quin, F. W. Chase, C. F. Huber,
A. A. Sterling, Dr. H. N. Young,
Dr. F. P. Lenahan,
WV. G. Harding, T. F. Ryman. Rev. W. D. Johnson,
J. N. Conyngham,
G. A. Smith,
J. A. Turner,
O. M. Lance,
Ernest F. Roth,
MILITARY COMMITTEE Gen. C. Bow. Dougherty, Chairman R. G. McDowell,
Lieut. Ernest G. Smith,
Maj. Carleton C. Jones,
Maj. William Sharpe,
Mr. E. W. Marple,
Col. R. B. Ricketts,
Col. William C. Price,
C. J. Glasser.
Mr. W. L. Higgs,
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE Ernest G. Smith, Chairman C. B. Boyle,
George A. Edwards,
P. J. Ramsey, Arthur A. Casper,
George S. Boyle,
Frank Mankieweiz,
Edmond Uffalussy,
Evan C. Jones,
Guy Sturdevant, Jos. E. Flietz, I. A. Hammerling,
Carl T. Yetter, R. M Tubbs. Wm. Evans, Chas. K. Gloman.
Edward I .. Lewith, Paul Drippe, W'm H. Capwell, Dallas,
W. H. Conyngham, Vice-Chairman W. L. Foote, Louis Tisch, D. W. Jones,
Edward Gunster, R. S. Mercur,
F. Lange, J. M. Wilcox, C. J. Capwell, R. G. McDowell,
C. Walter, E. N. Carpenter,
C. F. Murray,
J. J. Becker,
WV. D. Beers,
J. K. Weitzenkorn,
Charles Maurer,
H. G. Shupp, James A. Goldsmith,
Charles J. Long, E. W. Davis,
Charles E. Morgan,
Dr. A. D. Thomas,
T. A. Wright.
C. B. Dougherty,
James M. Coughlin, Harold G. Frantz, H. S. Smith.
Col. Asher Miner. Col. E. B. Beaumont, Col. Wm. Murphy, Col. C. M. Rishel, Maj. O. S. Parsons, Maj John S. Harding. Capt. James C. Kenny,
Daniel I .. Hart, C. 11. Derby, Wm. T. Murphy. W. P. Gallagher, E. T. Giering, P P. Mangan, P. S. Risdale, John J. Maloney. Dr. Albert G. Morrish. Wesley Woodruff, Austin W. Betterly, Koustine Kijanski, H. E. Gilpin, Robert A. Quinn. Bayard Hand, Esq T. F. Heffernan, Guy V. Moore, M. J. O'Toole,
Wm. Dershuck, Hazleton, Col. Harry Sweeney, Hazleton, John Kraft, Hazleton,
D. B. Griffith, Nanticoke, T. R. Callery, Nanticoke,
Wm. J. Peck, Pittston, W. J. Devanney, Pittston, Wilkes-Barré Press Club, Scranton Press Club, J. J. Shanley, Plymouth, Jos. H. Swartz, Plymouth, W. C. Taylor, White Haven, W. R. Flad, Freeland, Guy Sensenbach, Freeland, D. S. Buckley, Freeland, George Williams, Plymouth, Prof. E. H. Scott, Plymout h
Prof. J. I. Alexander, Charles F. Pokorney, Prof. Rowley, Dan. R. George,
J. I. Alexander, John Shepherd, David James, I. L. Kraft, Nicholas Glasser,
W. W. Finch, Irwin E. Finch, H. H. Derr. Oscar S. Parker, William P. Billings,
George Nicholson Rev. J. B. Craven. H. A. Gordon, Esq .
B. F. O'Rourke,
Giles Ross,
Daniel H. Evans,
James F. Mundy, W. B. Robinson,
Dr. Walter Davis,
Ferdinand Lange,
Dr. T. W. Thomas, C. W. Sturdevant,
Paul Dasch.
D. F. Carmody,
Evan Challis,
W. J. Harvey, George R. Bedford,
John B. Reynolds,
T. L. Newell, C. H. Gillam, W. S. Biddle. George Butler, Esq.,
W. C. Shepherd, Thomas Cassedy, J. C. Bell, Cornelius Reilly, Fred. Goeringer,
Edward Mackin, B. F. Maloney,
Maj. Gordon Scott, Hon. Geo. H. Troutman, Maj. W. O. Coolbaugh,
Mr. Louis McDermott.
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CIVIC COMMITTEE
Frank A. Phelps, Chairman
Herbert Goldsmith, Joseph Kraft, Evan Challis, Wm. Kintzel,
A. R. Smith, A. E. Burnaford, Evan P. Howe, Montie Levy, Col. George T. IIenry,
Edward J. Hummel,
Wm. J. Kelly,
R. S. Meixel,
M. J. Walsh,
H. J. Hockenbury,
Hull,
Aston.
CEREMONIES COMMITTEE W. L. Raeder, Chairman
George S. Bennett, A. L. Williams,
Hon. F. C. Kirkendall,
Rev. Edw. G. Fullerton.
Wm. B. Robinson,
Hon. H. W. Palmer, Rev. Henry L. Jones,
Rev. B. F. G. McGee,
Dr. Aston H. Morgan,
Rev. Albert E. Piper,
Rev. Curtis E. Mogg.
J. Roberts, Jr.,
Rev. R. A. McAndrews,
Rev. John G. Curran,
C. W. Sturdevant,
Rev. Alex. J. Kerr,
Rev. Marcus Salzman,
Patrick J. Clarke,
Rev. L. L. Sprague,
Frank A. Phelps,
A. E. Burnaford,
Wm. Reichard
Jos. K. Weitzenkorn,
James M. Coughlin,
B. F. O'Rourke,
Charles P. Hunt.
George J. Stegmaier.
John V. Kosek,
Hiram Smith.
John Quin,
Evan Challis, George Walker,
James F. Mundy,
R. Nelson Bennett,
Edgar L. Klipplc,
Frank J. Hemingway,
T. M. McGourty,
Edwin B. Morgan.
R. H. Richards,
Giles Ross, P. A. Meixel,
George R. Goebel,
J. N. Thompson, Wm. C. Shepherd,
Daniel H. Evans,
W. H. Gibbs.
EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE
James Hanlon, Chairman
Dr. George W. Guthrie,
S. W. Baird,
John Shovlin,
Dr. W. S. Weaver.
G. W. James,
Peter Conlon,
D. P. Griffith.
C. F. Harvey.
Karl Koemer,
James M. Rutter, Dr. Charles Long,
Charles H. Weaver,
John Samuels,
Dr. Dodson,
James F. Harton,
Claude Moss,
James M. Coughlin,
J. F. Smith,
Charles Coxe,
J. P. Breidinger,
R. B. Treible,
Robert Smith,
Thomas Santee,
Wayne James,
FANTASTIC COMMITTEE
C. M. Rishel, Chairman and Chief Marshal James Snee, Vice-Chairman and Chief of Staff
Reuben Daley,
Henry Chase,
Ernest G. Smith, Harry Miller,
Harry Speece,
Dr. A. A. Lay,
C. E. Nagel,
W. B. McGuire,
William Morris,
Adam Hass,
Daniel L. Hart,
George M. Claus,
Maurice Sullivan,
Harry R. Deitrick,
Sam. Constine,
E. L. Wood,
Abe Galland, Philip McManus,
Charles Morrissey,
John J. Jones,
James Daley,
W. P. Moffit,
Dr. E. F. Smith,
W. H. Gibbs,
R. J. Walsh,
W. L. Higgs,
Fred. Hooper, Thomas Shea,
John Mooney,
Capt. E. D. Camp,
T. S. Ryman,
James DeMun.
Samuel Walp, Frank Schappert,
Capt. Henry Kropp,
Capt. Sterling Eyer,
ATHLETIC COMMITTEE Dr. Alfred E. Bull, Chairman
A. C. Campbell, Esq.,
James F. McCabe, Esq.,
Dr. W. B. Gearhart,
Wm. J. Goeckel, Esq., E. L. Klipple, Dr. Walter Davis, A. J. Barber, Francis O'Neill, Dr. H. D. Matten,
J. M. Tyson
Tracy A. Wakefield,
Dı. F. L. Davenport,
Dr. Edgar Tonkin, Dr. W. N. Reichard,
H. H. Zeizer,
H. N. Purcell,
W. F. McGuire,
J. Edgar Alexander,
Charles M. Austin,
PROGRAM AND SOUVENIR COMMITTEE R. Jay Flick, Chairman G. Adolph Baur, J. Barton Cheyney, T. S. Ryman.
George A. Edwards, Oscar J. Harvey,
Morris Sullivan, Vice-Chairman F. J. Dougher, George Buttner,
Jolin Ney. Jr., Valentine Ell, W. D. Jones, Charles Heller, Frank Guard,
George M. Clause, Francis Baker, Dr. Nathaniel Ross,
C. E. Nagel,
Hon. George S. Ferris,
Hugh P. Fell,
Hon. S. R. Catlin,
James A. Hanlon.
Wm. J. Kelly,
John C. Bridgman, James M. Boland, Ernest G. Smith,
D. W. Jones,
T. L. Newell,
John Rinehimer,
Robert P. Broadhead, Luther C. Darte,
Charles G. Shiber,
John A. Miller,
George A. Edwards,
D. L. O'Neill, Jr.,
Edward Philips,
Henry Lazarus,
Dr. B. M. Smith,
Leo O'Connor,
Frank E. Schuler,
J. J. Gallagher,
Miles Kelchner,
J. P. Breidinger,
As has been narrated at length in a previous Chapter, the measure creating a borough of "the town plot of Wilkes-Barre, its adjacent River Common and a strip of land adjoining the northeast corner of the town plot" was approved by the Governor on March 17, 1806. On April 25th, Judge Jesse Fell issued a proclamation calling upon the qualified electors of the new borough to "assemble in the Court House on Tuesday, May 6, between the hours of 12 o'clock noon
Rev. Willis H. Stone,
Dr. A. Gordon Finney,
E. P. Howe,
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and 6 o'clock in the evening, to vote for one person for Burgess, seven persons to serve as members of the Town Council and one person to serve as High Con- stable for the ensuing year."
On Saturday, May 10th, the newly elected officials assembled and the borough government duly organized.
The General Committee of the Cen- tennial was somewhat perplexed as to which date to choose for the celebration. Finally the earlier date was eliminated owing to the probability of unfavorable weather in March, and the days of May 10th, 11th and 12th were set aside as appropriate.
The program of events as eventually PHOTO-REPRODUCTION OF CENTENNIAL FLAG carried out for the days in question, was On a white field a green diamond, bearing, in as follows:
1806
1906
WILKES - BARRE
gold, a bee hive and this legend: "1806-Wilkes-Barre-1906."
"THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1906.
" 9:00 A. M. Automobile Hill Climbing Contest, Wilkes-Barre Mountain.
Choral
" 10:00 A. M. Opening Ceremonies-Historical Address, Hon. Henry W. Palmer; Singing, School Children-River Common.
" 2:00 P. M.
Military and Firemen's Parade.
4:00 P. M. Base Ball-Utica vs. Wilkes-Barre-Wilkes-Barre Driving Park. Admission, 25c.
" 8:00 P. M. Jubilee Concert-Choral Singing-Ninth Regiment Armory. Admission 50c.
"FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1906.
2:00 P. M. Civic and Industrial Parade.
" 4:00 P. M. Base Ball-Utica vs. Wilkes-Barre. Admission, 25c.
" 7:30 P. M. Band Concert-Children's Chorus-River Common.
" 8:00 P. M. Japanese Water Carnival.
" 9:00 P. M. Crowning of Jubilee Queen and Costume Ball, Ninth Regiment Armory. Ad- mission, 50c.
"SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1906.
" 9:00 A. M. Jubilee Shooting Tournament-River Common.
" 2:00 P. M. Amateur Athletic Meet, Y. M. C. A. Park. Admission 25c.
4:00 P. M. Base Ball-Utica vs. Wilkes-Barre. Admission 25c.
8:00 P. M. Night Carnival-Fantastic Parade."
DIAMOND CITY
KESBARRE
WILKES-BARRE CENTENNIAL BADGE-1906
Not on the official program but nevertheless remembered by participants and huge crowds which lined the streets, was an informal opening of the Centennial at midnight, May 11th, under the impromptu leadership of the Wilkes-Barre Press Club. Clad in miscellaneous costumes comman- deered from a storage warehouse, in which they had long reposed as relics of some of the road companies of Daniel L. Hart's theatrical ventures, members of the Club, other distinguished citizens and guests paraded the streets with Mayor Fred C. Kirkendall at the head of the column. At the Public Square, the Mayor presented the keys of Wilkes-Barre to its guests in general and the celebration was launched.
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