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ITEM: Photograph of Fairwater women and daughters, July 4, 1904, and narrative SOURCE: Fairwater Historical Society collection, Marie Hardesty donation, 2002
NOTES: The photograph was published by the Brandon Times on June 29, 1967. The article accompanying the photograph read as follows:
This is a picture of 36 young women who bought and made their own patriotic costumes for a one day Fourth of July celebration in Fair Water in 1904. We think the whole-hearted cooperation of citizens in celebrating Independence Day in earlier years in what nowadays would be called a fairly simple manner was much more noticeable than the occasional affair staged on the Fourth in these later years. The Fair Water village band led the parade from down town to the Laper park in the southwest part of the village. Here the creek was crossed on a foot bridge to where a temporary bowery and refreshment stands were set up for the day. We could not find anyone who remembers whether there were speeches or not or any kind of program. But tremendous basket lunches and lots of visiting were satisfying to both body and mind. Youngsters found ways to entertain themselves including a few, no doubt, who managed to fall in the creek. The date, 1904, is well remembered because on July 3 a tornado just missed Fair Water. It struck the Jahns barn, 1/2 mile south of hwy. 44 on the Utley road and denuded his chickens of feathers. It headed for Fair Water, demolishing the Charles Bierman barn at the intersection of hwy. 44 and the county line road, and de-roofed the house across the way. Then it was dissipated before it reached the next farm to the east. Its force was so great at the Jahns farm that straws were driven into oak trees without breaking the straw. Samples of this phenomenon were on display for years. Mr. Bierman's two daughters could not attend the celebration wearing their costumes because they had to stay at home and help to pick up the pieces. The pictures of this patriotic group, printed on postals, was so well exposed and saved that this very presentable engraving was possible. Those seated, left to right, were Esther Kubehl Brown, Nora Kubehl Duerr, Lillie Frei Beilke, Edna Kussman Pleuss, Erna Leuthe, Grace Werth Merrill, Alice Bahr, Elsie Briese Bloch, Alvina Hannaman Hammen, Mamie Schmuhl Laper; Second row: Lillie Laper Hamley, Cora Fenske Block, Helen Jahns, Ella Riemer, Lena Bloch Strehlow, Clara Laper Peschke, Mary Fenske, Amelia Lamonska Berg, Alma Briese Patchett, Bertha Born, Elsie Frei Kubehl, Mabel Fenske Bloch, Laura Laper Sommer; Third Row: Agnes Alwin, Emma Lamonska, Lillie Werth, Elsie Hannaman Laper, Laura Hannaman Schmuhl, Mabel Hass Sasada, Ella Kussman Card, Lillie Kussman Humphrey, Emma Boren Utke, Lydia Falbe Lieske, Ida Drager, Elda Daehn Zimdars.
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