Harrisonville Reunion
August 18, 1895
Article taken from The Daily Times, August 16, 1895
Sam Patch said "Some things can be done as well as others." He was right. So with the Harrisonville reunion and picnic last Saturday. Scioto Post, G. A.R., ably assisted by Lois Camp, S. O.V., put forth an extra effort this year, and the result was highly satisfactory to all concerned.
It cannot be said that reunion was any better or the picnic more enjoyable than on former occasions. The Harrisonville gatherings are always up to the limit. It's hard to improve on them. Last year the Sons of Veterans had entire charge of the affair, this year they stepped aside and the G.A.R. ruled.
Saturday was an ideal picnic day. All roads led to Harrisonville, and long before people were coming from all parts of the county. The road was blocked in some places by long strings of rigs stretching away for a mile or so without a single break.
The dust was almost suffocating, and if there was one thing more devoutly prayed for than another it was rain. And it came in a gentle sprinkle in the afternoon. Just a wee bit of shower where the people were gathered, but beyond Harrisonville it rained copiously, and many of the home goers in the evening found the roads muddy in some places. Judging from the acres of rigs of all sorts in the grove it seemed that everybody in the county had turned out. Various estimates were placed on the number of people present. Some thought there could not be less than 6,000 people in the grove; others estimated the attendance at 2,000. A fair average would be 4,000. Of these probably 500 came from Portsmouth. How they did miss the street car! A horse and buggy represented $6 for the trip from Portsmouth, and it had to be a good, reliable driver that could get it at that price.
The picnic grounds are on a little rising knoll, half a mile beyond Harrisonville. The grove is the property of Dr. Ray and contains over forty acres. The trees are not very large and the shade is not dense. The grounds might be considerably improved by cleaning out the underbrush and burning the leaves which have been accumulating on the ground for several years and have smothered out the grass completely. No malaria lurks in the grove. It is on high ground, half a mile away from water and dampness.
There were various means of entertainment in the grove. Most prominent of all was a large dancing platform. There was a large crownd around it all day. The Scott String band furnished the music for the dancers. Lemonade and refreshment stands were quite numerous. Marsh had two of the largest on the grounds and did a big business. The talented editor of the Morning Excuse even conducted a small lemonade and soda water stand. Five merry-go-rounds were in operation, but did not do the business expected. A platform for speech-making and the band was erected. Wheels of fortune, cane racks, shell games and various other schemes were in operation. Down in a corner of the grove several slabs of lumber had been stuck up, forming an enclosure of about twenty-five feet square. It was the intention of the builders to confine some Union prisonesrs inside, put some Rebels on guard , and, finally a grand rush for liberty was to be made, with a sham battle following. The prisoners could not be found, so the scheme failed.
A baseball game was also booked for the afternoon between the Sciotoville players and the Lucasville nine. As the clubs were being organized the rain came up and the sport stopped.
Recognizing the importance of having some eloquence and speech making, Mr. Horace White exerted himself to enlist the services of a number of orators and politicians. After much trouble he obtained some promises and after some patriotic music by the Harrisonville Sheepskin band and the Lucasville band, the first orator of the day was introduced. It was young Orra Rickey, son of Ex-Commissioner Frank Rickey. He delivered a very able oration and one worthy the oldest orator on the grounds. He is a very bright young man and will make his mark in the world someday.
Rev. Snodgrass was then introduced and made one of his characteristic patriotic talks. He was listened to with considerable interest and his frequent bursts of eloquence were loudly applauded.
William E. Ross, the colored statesman from the Seventh ward was next introduced. He wore his long Prince Albert coat and as he placed his hand on his bosom he looked far more dignified than his wont when addressing the city fathers. He made a good speech. It was full and running over with patriotism and he only alluded to politics in a very mild way. It was a very interesting talk. "Some nigger will steal and so will the white folks. Some colored people go to the penitentiary so does the white man. If I want to steal a chicken once in a while, nobody ought to kick on an old soldier. I was raised by Grover Cleveland's uncle anyhow and I ought to be excused," said the member of council from the Seventh ward. With the assistance of two of his colored brethren he sang an original song composed for the occasion. He afterwards favored the crowd with another song not quite so original, "Poor, but a Gentleman Still." He sang it, however, in a very original key, and some of the people believed what he said.
For some unaccountable reason the speech and song of Bro. Ross closed the exercises of the day, Chairman White then announcing the speech making at an end. There were several orators waiting behind the grand stand and were sorely disappointed when they were overlooked by the chairman. Charley Hard stood under the dripping bunting until his had was colored red, white and blue, ready with a pretty little speech for his constituents. Rev. Racy also wanted a chance to move the audience to tears and tell them what an honest man he was to trust with the country cash. A number of other offices seekers could hardly control their anger when refused a chance to make their speeches, "This is not a good crowd to electioneer in anyhow" said C. Hard, "there are too many woman and children here. The people I want to see are voters."
A good story is told on Candidates Hard and Ball of a discovery they made while in search of water. They found something else, and as they were examining the cork of kodak, flend pressed the button. Go to Floyd McCormick for the rest. It is said that Rev. Tracy was also in it.
All in all the picnic and reunion was a great success. Not a single accident was reported, not a single drunk and disorderly was to be seen on the grounds. Everybody came to enjoy themselves, and they did in their own quiet way.
These annual picnics are productive of much good. It matters not that their main objects is to make a little money. Patriotism and love country are always inspired, and the day is looked forward to with much eagerness by those to whom it is the only big holiday of the year. In many respects it is much more of a gala day than the biggest day of our county fair. Scioto Post, G.A.R., Lois Camp, S.O.V., and the people of Harrisonville are to be congratulated on giving us such and opportunity for solid enjoyment. There is not another picnic in southern Ohio equal to it. May the custom long survive.