Article taken from The Portsmouth Times, Saturday, August 17, 1912, p. 2.
Large Crowd at the Harrisonville Picnic
With ideal weather prevailing, a tremendous crowd was present at the famous Harrisonville picnic and reunion Saturday. All roads today led to the beautiful grove on the farm of Walter Corriell, where the picnic has been held annually for more than a quarter of a century.
As early as six o'clock people commenced to arrive at the grounds and from then on until two o'clock a stream of vehicles of every description loaded down with people, rolled onto the grounds. The crowd was estimated as being right at 5,000.
An interesting program was rendered in the afternoon and several addresses were made. The exercises were immensely enjoyed by the big throng. The celebrated sheepskin band of Harrisonville was present and enlivened things with stirring war tunes on the fife and drum, which brought back to memory the days of the civil war to the veterans present.
Hundreds of families brought baskets well filled with edibles and at the noon hour had lunch in picnic style on the grass in the shade of the big trees. The weather being warm the refreshment stands did a land-office business, while the other attractions, including the merry-go-round, shows, baby racks, etc., were kept busy.
Candidates were very much in evidence, there being but one or two of the county candidates absent, while there were several district candidates present including James S. Thomas and Charles M. Caldwell, candidates respectively for common pleas judge and congress. The candidates on both sides did some tall hustling, and as a result there was plenty of politics at the picnic.
Portsmouth was well represented, the delegation from this city numbering close to 500, while Lucasville, New Boston, South Webster, Sciotoville, and Wheelersburg sent many people. The picnic was a great success and every one present seemingly had an enjoyable time.