Progress Notes

For many years in Tuscumbia the end of July and beginning of August was the time for the annual Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic. Very few long time Miller County residents will not remember those two days at the end of July and beginning of August when most all of Miller County came to Tuscumbia to meet friends and relatives. Many who had moved away from here always planned their return home around the date of the Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic. The Picnic was not just a local Tuscumbia event. Because of the town’s location in the middle of the county, many county residents had friends in Tuscumbia or had relatives who lived there. The first Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic was held in 1926. Eldon’s Community Fair was first held in 1932. But for many years, Tuscumbia hosted many hundreds and sometimes thousands of people for the annual event, some making a special trip here from points distant especially for the reason of attending the Homecoming Picnic.

So this week I will place on our website the history of the first Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic in 1926 as described by Lawrence Wright, publisher and editor of the Miller County Autogram (photo 01).

01 Lawrence Alfred and Carmen Ercel Bassman Wright

The first article tells the story that the town board made the decision to hold a picnic to obtain funds to buy a heating system for the new school. The new school was constructed of brick and replaced the old wooden building located just a short distance south of the new one (photos 02 and 03).

02 New Tuscumbia School - 1926

03 Old School

Announcement of bids for construction of the new Tuscumbia High School were even printed in newspapers as far away as Cape Girardeau. David Statler, our Progress Notes Website engineer found this item in an old 1926 Cape Girardeau newspaper (photo 03a):

03a Bid Announcemt in Cape Gerardeau Newspaper
Click image for larger view

David told me a number of his ancestors came from the Southeast Missouri area.

The second article about the picnic by Lawrence is a long summary of the great success of the first Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic which was so impressive to all that from then on for many years the Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic was an eagerly awaited annual event. As time passed demographic changes occurred in Tuscumbia and Miller County related to economic, demographic and competing forms of entertainment and lifestyles such that the annual Homecoming Picnic was no longer celebrated after the mid 1970’s. But for half a century it was among the most eagerly anticipated events in the area.

I am going to present the articles by Lawrence Wright for those who might remember the Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic and have a special reminiscent interest in reading them. Others may want just to scan quickly through the articles as they are somewhat long. I have not placed many photos of the various individuals mentioned in these narratives since most of them have been presented before in other Progress Notes. The original name of the celebration as you will note in the following articles was “The Tuscumbia Community Picnic.” However, after a few years the event truly became an impetus for former residents of the area to choose the picnic as an ideal time to return home for a visit and reunion with friends and relatives; thus, the name of the event was changed to “Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic.”

Miller County Autogram
July 1st 1926

Tuscumbia Picnic Committees Named

Tuscumbia Beach and Fish Fry To Be Features

The executive committee for the Tuscumbia Community Picnic has named the committees listed below in order that the various features of the picnic be taken care of in a business like and systematic manner.

Each committee is to meet and organize and proceed with the work allotted to them. This picnic, as you know, is being given for the benefit of the new school building, and the profits of the picnic will be used toward completing the auditorium and installing a heating system.

Committees

Grounds…C.B. Wright, C.E. Fendorf and J. F. Wright
Advertising: L.A. Wright, J.B. Woody and Dorsey Barron
Concessions: Frank Fendorf, Dr. C.H. Newkirk and George T. Nichols

Dinner Stand: J.A. Walker, John H. Potts, A.L. Johnson, J.S. Hawkins, H.L. Wright, and Roy W. Starling.

Parking Grounds: Sheriff Frank Burks S.P. Hawken and Monroe Rowden

General Stand: L.E. Kallenbach, J.E. Spearman, B.H. Hix and Madison Bear

Ice Cream Stand: A.R. McCommons, R.L. Wright and F.L. Thompson

Lights: D.E. Kallenbach, Frank Maylee and Alonzo Lewis

Soliciting: T.C. Wright, Robert Fendorf and E.L. Hicks, W.S. Stillwell, Charles Messersmith and George W. Helton

Fish Fry: Frank Fendorf, J.E. Kallenbach and Os McGowan

The program for the two days has not yet been announced, but among the features will be a big fish fry, water sports at the Tuscumbia Beach adjoining Riverside Park, in addition to the usual games. The Tuscumbia Band will furnish music. The program committee will announce other features soon.

The people of Tuscumbia extend a cordial invitation to everyone in Miller County and the surrounding counties as well to come and spend two days on the beautiful Osage River… “The Hudson of the West.”

The Miller County Autogram
July 15, 1926

Picnic Committees Turn Out Enmasse

Much Interest Evinced at Meeting Held at Riverside Park Monday Night

The executive committee of the Tuscumbia Community Picnic called all committees together at Riverside Park Monday night for the purpose of seeing that all committees were in working order. A big crowd was present, indicating that our townspeople are all interested in the success of the picnic and expect to put it over in good shape.

The program committee is to make arrangements for two prominent speakers, one to speak on Friday night, July 23, and the other on Saturday, July 24. A big band concert will also be given each night in connection with the speaking. The park will be beautifully lighted, either with electric or gas lights, this to be determined later.

Fireworks will be a feature of the occasion, and a special committee has been named to look after this. Arrangements are being made to shoot the fireworks over the river from the site of the old Tuscumbia House Hotel. Reflections from the fireworks in the river make a very beautiful sight.

A fish fry with corn dodger is also another feature, and a special committee is also named to look after this. The plan is to secure fish from the Osage River exclusively for this.

A committee on amusements has also been named and this committee expects to offer prizes for the best swimmers; first and second prizes to be offered for both. These contests are to be held at the Tuscumbia Beach and will be open to men and boys and women and girls between the ages of 15 and 30 years. Mrs. G.T. Hauenstein and the Zone Store will each give a $5.00 swimming suit, and the Bank of Tuscumbia will also give prizes of swimming suits.

Another feature which will be of interest to many is the United States Government dredge boat at work at Tuscumbia Beach deepening the channel. The huge clam shell brings up a ton of gravel from the bed of the river at a load and deposits it on the dam.

Excellent meals will be served both days at a reasonable charge, and will be conducted in cafeteria style. The eats will be donated and served by the good cooks of Tuscumbia and there will be a large variety of eats for everyone.

C.O. Menell, Rock Island agent at Eldon, has written C.A. Searle, General Passenger Agent of the Rock Island, about our picnic and has asked that an excursion be put on from Kansas City for Friday morning, with return privilege Sunday. If this can be arranged many Miller County people from Kansas City will attend the picnic.

The picnic is being held for the purpose of raising funds to complete the Tuscumbia public school building which will cost, when completed, about $20,000. People from everywhere are cordially invited to come and take in this picnic, visit the beautiful Riverside Park and Tuscumbia Beach, see the Miller County Courthouse, the Osage River suspension bridge, which is the longest of its kind in the State, and inspect the new high school building which is nearing completion. Parties coming from a distance will be given an opportunity to camp in the Park. The two ever flowing Crystal Springs adjoining the Park will supply water for thousands and thousands of people. If weather conditions are favorable, Tuscumbia will have one of the largest and best picnics ever held in Central Missouri. Plan to come! Tell your friends about the picnic!

Note: The following is a full page ad in the Autogram about the upcoming picnic:

Miller County Autogram
July 22, 1926

Tuscumbia Picnic
Riverside Park
July 23 & 24

The Tuscumbia Picnic is being held for the purpose of raising funds to complete the new High School building. The people of Tuscumbia are united behind this picnic and the idea is to make the picnic different to the ordinary picnic. Tuscumbia being situated on the Osage River with its beautiful Riverside Park and Swimming Beach makes it possible to make of this picnic something very attractive.

Speakers:

Honorable W.L. Nelson and Honorable George A. Pickens

Mr. Nelson, Congressman from this District, will speak Friday afternoon. His talk will deal with our government and the nation’s capital.

Mr. Pickens, Secretary of the Missouri Association, will give us a snappy 30 minute talk Saturday afterward on community cooperation. This association is sponsoring the Greater Missouri Movement, and you should hear Mr. Pickens, for he will have a real message for Missourians who wish to see Missouri come to the front.

Fish Fry

One of the special features of the picnic will be a big Fish Fry with Corndodger and Coffee, and a committee has been appointed to secure fish fresh from the Osage River exclusively for the fry.

Fireworks

Arrangements are being made for Fireworks both nights and they will be shot off from the bluff on the river. Reflections from the Fireworks in the river make an entrancing sight.

The Tuscumbia Band

Will furnish music on both days with special concerts on Friday and Saturday nights in connection with other features of the program.

Crystal Springs

Riverside Park is favorably situated at Crystal Springs, which flow an abundance of clear, cold, pure water, enough to supply many thousands of people. So there will be plenty of drinking water for all.

Amusements

The committee on amusements announces that there will be fun for everyone in the contests. An egg breaking contest for women auto drivers; a tire rolling contest for boys; a Terrapin race for boys and girls; a Ball throwing contest for girls; Egg and Spoon race for girls; Sack race for Boys; hog racing for men, Chicken Calling contest for women; and a boxing contest. Prizes will be given to winners.

Come and bring the whole family, and if you wish to do so, bring the tent along and camp in the park. You will enjoy two days of rest and recreation on the Osage River among your old friends and acquaintances. Tell your friends about the picnic, for they too will enjoy it. Good roads make it possible to come from every road as Tuscumbia is situated on Highways No. 24 and 17, you will find the motoring fine.

People from everywhere are cordially invited to come and take in the beauties of Riverside Park, the Tuscumbia Beach, and see the Miller County Courthouse which is built of native stone, the Osage River Suspension Bridge, the longest of its kind in the State, and inspect the new school building which is nearing completion, and see the Government dredge boat at work at the Tuscumbia Beach.

Before proceeding with the next article by Lawrence Wright which is a detailed summary of the Homecoming Picnic event published the following week in the Autogram, I want to add some additional information. The Crystal Springs refers to a historical spring located on the east bank of Shut In Branch Creek south of the bridge which spans the creek. Water still runs into the creek from the spring from a pipe sticking out of the bank. This spring was described early on by James Pryor Harrison, the first non indigent resident of the town who established a trading post on the bank of Shut In Branch in the 1830’s.

One original building at the time of the first annual picnic, still present in the Riverside Park, is the bandstand which was built in the late 1800’s. Here are photos of it as it appeared early on and another of it as it appears today (photos 04 and 05):

04 Riverside Park with Pavillion, Old Bandstand and Dance Floor Building

05 Bandstand Currently

In later years a dance floor was built for the annual picnic. You can see an early photo of the dance floor on the right in photo 04 above. Here is a photo of the present dance floor which is located at the original site (photo 06):

06 Dance Floor Today

A few years after the first annual picnic a large pavilion was constructed which is located in photo 04 on the left. And here is a photo of the pavilion as it stands today (photo 07):

07 Pavillion

The next article by Lawrence Wright is an exuberant summary of the events of the first Annual Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic. One precaution I want to mention is that Congressman Nelson in his address at the first Annual Picnic uses some language that now is considered to be racially pejorative; however, I have copied the article without changes:

Miller County Autogram
July 29, 1926

Tuscumbia Community Picnic Attended By Several Thousand

Congressman W.L. Nelson and Mr. George A. Pickens, General Secretary of The Missouri Association, Delivered Inspiring Talks, Which Were Enjoyed By All Who Heard Them

Picnic May Be Annual Event!

Eldon Girl Wins 1st Prize In Swimming Contest: Eldon Boy 1st for Older Boys; Eugene Boy 1st for Younger Boys; Tuscumbia Girl Wins 1st in Bathing Beauty Contest

The Tuscumbia Community Picnic was a grand and glorious affair. Never before has the present generation witnessed an event at Tuscumbia more enjoyable than the gathering at Riverside Park Friday and Saturday. Congressman Nelson proclaimed it wonderful; Mr. Pickens, General Secretary of the Missouri Association said it was marvelous; and all are agreed that there never was a better spirit of cooperation and friendship shown than that evidenced here during the two days.

The success of this picnic may be attributed to several things…cooperation, advertising, the cause for which the picnic was held, and the location of the picnic grounds. It was fine to see people who have no children join hands with the others in making the picnic a success. It would be out of the question to single out and name those who deserve honorable mention for what they did, for there were so many, so we can only thank each other for their help. Several from out of the Tuscumbia district volunteered their help, and some gave contributions. These are known and their help is duly appreciated. As one woman living in a nearby school district remarked, “I have two children who will be in high school two years from now. I am looking ahead, for I want my children to have a better education than I had, and I want to help you with your school building.”

The committee in charge of the advertising desires to thank the Jefferson City Capital News, the Jefferson City Tribune, the Versailles Statesman, the Eldon Advertiser, the Russellville Leader, and the Iberia Sentinel for the publicity which they gave our picnic.

The people of Miller County are interested in educational work. One of the speakers of the occasion asked the editor of the Autogram if the people of the rural community were interested in high school, and the answer was in the affirmative, and it particularly applies to those who have children. The Tuscumbia picnic was held for the purpose of raising funds to buy furnaces for heating the new school building, and one woman who has several children in school and who not only prepared chicken, pie and cake for the table, but worked both days in the dinner stand, very aptly remarked, “I’m sweating now, so that my children may keep warm this winter.” The committee on donations remonstrated with one woman who has several children in school because they thought she was sacrificing too much in giving so much, but she still contended she would give it. Is it any wonder that our picnic was a success?

Then the location of the picnic grounds was a drawing card. Riverside Park is one of the beauty spots in Central Missouri, and the swimming beach was an attraction which will become more popular from time to time. The swimming contests proved interesting and exciting. It is estimated that more than 6,000 people attended the picnic during the two days and nights, the largest attendance being from 2 o’clock in the afternoon until 10 o’clock at night. The people from the nearby towns turned out fine after night, and the concessions report that they were having a picnic at three o’clock in the morning following the first day. On Saturday night the picnic continued until midnight, and then the picnic was declared officially closed.

The Park proved adequate to take care of the large crowd, and many from a distance were heard to remark that the Park was much larger than they thought. Crystal Springs proved their worth. Only one of the two springs, which are of about equal strength, was prepared for the picnic and at no time during the day was the flow of the spring perceptibly lowered, notwithstanding the fact that water was carried away in buckets for the stands and by the people, and as many as could get to the spring were constantly dipping from the concrete tank. A fine bed of gravel around the spring kept the surrounding ground clean all the time.

The financial success of the picnic is not yet determined, yet it is beyond the expectation of everyone. It is estimated that the total receipts were $1,650, with expenses of about $900. The crowd was beyond the expectations of the purchasing committee, hence there was a shortage of soda pop, notwithstanding the fact that 200 cases were sold.

During the two days there was not a car accident, nor any serious disturbance of any kind. This speaks well for a gathering of this magnitude.

The program was carried out practically in its entirety. The fish fry was a popular feature and more than five hundred pounds of Osage River fish were consumed. The fish were not quite adequate for the crowd and some were disappointed during the afternoon of the second. However, hundreds of people got a taste of Osage River fish, so they will come back to Tuscumbia.

The fireworks and band concerts each night contributed toward making the night programs possibly the most enjoyable hours of the picnic. Harry Buescher of Union, representative of the Kohler Light Company, supplied the lights with a Kohler electric light plant. This service is greatly appreciated by the people of Tuscumbia and was a feature that contributed toward the success of the picnic. The games and contests were nice, and many prizes were given.

Prominent Missourians present included L.D. Thompson, State Auditor, Judge Robert W. Otto, Supreme Court Judge; Congressman W.L. Nelson; and Mr. George A. Pickens, General Secretary of the Missouri Association.

Congressman Nelson Speaks

The program committee was indeed fortunate in securing Congressman William L. Nelson and Mr. George A. Pickens to speak. They are recognized as two of Missouri’s leaders in community welfare, and their topics were along this line of thought.

Mr. Nelson spoke Saturday afternoon from a point near the bandstand. He was introduced by W.S. Stillwell of Tuscumbia, who thanked Mr. Nelson for coming. Mr. Nelson preferred to stand on the ground among the people, and begged permission to remove his coat, as the evening was warm. All his requests were readily granted and he proceeded to deliver a very interesting talk on community work, our government, Washington City, and Congress. He again expressed his intention of forgetting about politics in his talk, and this idea was carried out (photo 08).

08 William L. Nelson

Mr. Nelson was given a hearty reception and this gave him encouragement to make one of the best speeches ever heard here. He said, “I am glad to be at this county capital, where the people are working for their common good. This is wonderful, and I think each one should ask of himself, “Is there something I can do for the boys and girls?” We have good crops of wheat; we have good crops of corn and hay, but the best crop of all is our boys and girls, who will be the men and women of tomorrow…the farmers and captains of industry of the future. Did you know,” he continued, “That more than 90% of the notables of our land in ‘Who’s Who’ were born on the farms? Boys and girls in the country and small towns are just as good as those in the city.”

He compared the conditions in the tenement districts of Washington City with those of the suburban sections; in the tenement districts, the conditions were crowded and unfavorable, and in suburban districts the flowers were growing about the homes, and life was freer.

Mr. Nelson remarked that he was born on a Cooper County farm, went to a country school, and he and his two other brothers rode one pony. He told of a number of humorous incidents of his school days, how the boys would make pop guns of elder and use red haws for ammunition; how one of his schoolmates set him afire with one of these guns just as he stooped over. “That was back in those days,” he reminded us, “when we went fishing; we either caught something when we went, or maybe we caught something when we got back home.”

“No,” he said, “We don’t have to go to the cities to find the joys of life. Experiences like these make us enjoy the things of life as they come.”

Mr. Nelson created mirth when he told of recently attending a picnic and while drinking a bottle of soda pop at a refreshment stand, some one asked a friend, “Who is that fellow drinking soda pop?”

The friend replied, “That is Congressman Nelson.”

The man then said, “He’s a little devil, ain’t he?”

A very interesting thought was then brought out by Mr. Nelson, which was fittingly expressed by Senator Caraway, who said, “There are no great men.”

Mr. Nelson said he knew a man in Washington who was so great that when he walked his feet didn’t even touch the ground. Mr. Nelson remarked, “Every year I realize that I know less.”

Referring to the Tuscumbia school district, in constructing the new school building, he was reminded of the story about the little negro boy, who ate too much watermelon. The boy was bending double, and the doctor was called. He pronounced the trouble as being too much watermelon. The negro boy’s mother said, “No, it ain’t too much watermelon, it am jes too little nigga.”

He said he was glad to see this school building proposition was not too big for the people of this community.

He reminded us that it is the duty of everyone in a community to stop and weigh himself: talk it over to ourselves, and find out if we are actually making good citizens…”What kind of citizen of Tuscumbia I am; what kind of neighbor I am.” The trouble, he said, with so many people was that they wanted to ask what kind of citizen the other fellow is making. Too many of us weigh ourselves on the wrong kind of scales. He told of a certain lady who bought a bushel of potatoes from the grocer. They appeared to be short in weight, and after weighing them she found they weighed only 40 pounds. She called the grocer and asked him what kind of scales he was using and then told him she thought perhaps they were “ambuscade” scales. He didn’t understand what this meant, so she told him to consult the dictionary. He did so, and found this definition: “To lie in wait.” So it is with the individual, he may be weighing himself on an “ambuscade scale.” He said too, that some men might be ciphers in a community, but when he stood side by side with a one, it made ten, thus demonstrating the value of cooperation.

Mr. Nelson next gave some interesting side lights on Washington City with its population of 525,000, which included 125,000 negroes. He says it is the greatest place on earth for the negro, they have an awfully good time there, and if he were a negro, when he died he would want to be buried there.

There are 200,000 government employees in Washington City. At one time it was partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, but it is now all on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Union Station, said to be the largest in the world, is 250 feet wide and 700 feet long. It has an arched roof 387 feet above the floor, and in the top of the dome a painting was begun many years ago. The painter died before it was finished and it remains as he left it. In the station is what is known as the President’s room. This room is for the convenience and safety of the President in entering and leaving trains.

Mr. Nelson told us something about Congress, Charlie Dawes and Nick Longworth. Besides a good smoker, he said Mr. Dawes was a musician of ability, and could play the cornet and the fiddle. The Senate contains 96 members and Mr. Dawes, as Vice President of the United States, “rules” the body.

In the other branch of Congress… the House of Representatives, Mr. Longworth, as Speaker, holds dominion. Everybody likes “Nick” and he, too, is a fiddler. Mr. Nelson said of Mr. Longworth, “He is always fair, and is a sociable fellow, and greatly enjoys the humorous.” In the Senate, each member is provided with a desk and in the House, each member is provided with a chair, only, and he may use one chair one day and a different chair on another day. Each member is provided with a room in the House Office Building where he looks after his correspondence and such official matters as may require his attention. In the morning each member of the House visits the different departments, and in the afternoon from 12 to 5 or 6 o’clock the House is in session. This is six days in the week, and Mr. Nelson says that he found it necessary to devote every Sunday of the session, except two, to answering correspondence.

He told of his visit to Mt. Vernon, the old Washington homestead on the Potomac, the Washington Monument, the Public Library, and many other interesting features about Washington City.

Referring to the members of Congress he remarked that the man in that body who could not take a joke or stand a severe grueling, is not a very big man in Congress. The big ones have learned the lesson of giving and taking.

In concluding his speech, he called to mind the time during the World War when he saw the Rainbow Division marching just before sailing for France with their 27,000 bayonets flickering in the sun. He said to himself, “There is the strength of America.” Soon he came back home, and his father took the Bible down and read the 12th chapter of Romans, and prayed for the boys in France. Mr. Nelson then pondered and said, “No, the strength of America is not in her army, nor in her navy; neither is it in Washington or Jefferson City, but it is in the homes of America.

Mr. Pickens’ Talk Was An Inspiration (photo 09)

09 George A. Pickens

Mr. George A. Pickens, the speaker of the occasion for Saturday afternoon, was accompanied to Tuscumbia by Mrs. Pickens and Dr. M.E. Dawson of Kansas City. Mr. Pickens is General Secretary of the Missouri Association, the organization which is doing so much to advertise Missouri resources and possibilities along with the Greater Missouri Movement.

Mr. Pickens in his preliminary remarks stated that the program committee had made a mistake in that he was advertised to make a 30 minute talk, whereas he was going to limit it to 15 minutes. Mr. Pickens’ talk was so concise and interesting that he really got 30 minutes of inspiration into a 15 minute talk. Mr. Pickens was introduced by Attorney H.L. Donnelly, now of Kansas City, but formerly of Tuscumbia.

His first thought was of a complimentary nature with reference to the Tuscumbia Community Picnic, Riverside Park, the Beach and the Tuscumbia Band. Mr. Pickens was particularly impressed with the history of the Tuscumbia Band. He told how the Band was organized in 1905, with money largely contributed by the members, that only three of the original members were now in the Band, and how the Band since then had been self sustaining; and not only that, but he told how the Band had accumulated $400 which it now has on time deposit; this money is to be used for community work when the occasion demands it. He said, “I defy any other Band in the State of Missouri, under such conditions, to show such a record and be able to produce a check for $400” (photo 10).

10 Tuscumbia Band - T.C. Wright, L.A. Wright, W.S. Stillwell, Robert (or Roger) Stillwell
Click image for larger view

Mr. Pickens said the trouble in the past with Missouri was the State had had too much adverse advertising. He told the story of how the teacher asked the little boy to bound Missouri. He proceeded as follows: “Missouri is bounded on the south by Arkansas, on the east by Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois; Iowa lies to the north of us, Nebraska and Kansas lies to the west of us and all other states lie on us.” Instead of Missouri being the “Show Me” state, it has now become the “Show You Estate.”

He then dwelt upon the wonderful agricultural possibilities of Miller County with its ten different kinds of soil; then enumerated that the farmers of Miller County, last year, marketed $200,000 worth of dairy products and $500,000 of poultry and eggs; and said, “We can yet raise a lot more of these products. It is wonderful the things that can be produced in Miller County, and it behooves us to find out what we can do with the soils, mineral development, etc. and to determine what will bring to us the greatest purchasing power.”

Speaking of the resources of the State, he called attention to the fact that Missouri’s great capitol building was constructed almost entirely of Missouri marble.

Mr. Pickens then gave his audience a talk on community enterprise, getting his inspiration from the Tuscumbia picnic, which he explained was for the purpose of procuring funds to complete the kind of school building Tuscumbia is planning to construct, as the assessed valuation of the district is not sufficient to reach this goal with the levy allowed by law. He complimented our people for the community spirit shown here, and he also found the picnic a fine place for the entertainment of the people. He said that it was only through team work that great things could be accomplished, and gave as instances the attention California, Florida, and Georgia had thus received. “But,” he said, “We are learning.”

Mr. Pickens has made many radio talks from WOS station and a great number of Miller County people have heard and enjoyed these talks. He said that he had mentioned Miller County in two of his talks in the past, but that he had seen enough during Saturday for several talks of 15 minutes each. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens and Dr. Dawson, accompanied by the business manager of the Autogram, made the drive along the Beach, previous to his talk, and in his speech, Mr. Pickens said that he had been over a lot of Missouri, but he had never seen anything in its line which surpassed it (or did he say equal to it?). At any rate he pronounced it grand and did say, “Let’s advertise this Beach to Missouri.”

Mr. Pickens’ talk gave to all his hearers new inspiration for boosting Missouri, and Tuscumbia hopes to have the pleasure of other visits from him. In concluding his remarks, he recited the following toast to Missouri: “Here’s to Missouri…the mother of the West; and to her brave men and women of the past who gave to us a history to be proud of; traditions to be kept alive; and the courage to go on working for those who shall come after us.”

Prizes Awarded Winners of Swimming and Beauty Contests

The swimming and beauty contests were the biggest features on the amusement program. Three contests were held in this which is to be made an annual event of the Tuscumbia Beach. In the afternoon of the first day, two contests were held for the boys. In the first contest, for boys 18 years or over, Leonard Kehr of Eldon won first prize, a $5 swimming suit, donated by Mrs. G.T. Hauenstein, and Harry Buescher of Union won second prize. The contest was held parallel with the government dam, along, along a distance of about 400 years. In the contest for boys under 18 years of age, first prize was won by Edward Fraley of Eugene, suit being donated by the Bank of Tuscumbia, and the second prize was won by Claire Potts of Tuscumbia.

In the girls’ swimming contest Miss Marjorie Dick of Eldon won first prize, a $5 swimming suit, donated by the Tuscumbia Zone Store, and Miss Avanelle Miller of Kansas City won second prize, a swimming suit of equal value, donated by the Miller County Autogram. Owing to the fact that there were no entries in the contest for small girls, it was decided to give three prizes in the older girls’ contest, and a third prize was then given to Miss Lucille Neville of Eldon. Miss Dick is the daughter of W.H. Kick, train Master of the Rock Island; Miss Miller is the daughter of Postmaster A.G. Neville of Eldon.

In the bathing beauty contest, Miss Mary Stillwell won first prize of $5 in gold; Miss Avanelle Miller of Kansas City, winner of second prize in the swimming contest, won second prize in the beauty contest. Miss Mary Brockman of Tuscumbia won third prize in this contest. These prizes, all cash, were contributed by the county officials.

Other Contests Amusing

The chicken calling and hog calling contests proved amusing. Mrs. Cora Kallenbach won first prize in the chicken calling contest, the prize being a package of poultry laying tonic contributed by the Tuscumbia Farmers Exchange. Willard Burns won in the hog calling contest and was awarded the prize of a 25 pound sack of flour contributed by the Anchor Milling Company.

Truman Helton won first prize and Buren Worthy second prize in the tire rolling contest.

In the terrapin race Buren Worthy won first prize, $2; Wassie Witt second prize, $1; and Truman Helton, third prize, 50c.

In the egg breaking contest for autos Mrs. T.C. Wright won first prize with a “tin lizzie.” This prize was five gallons of auto oil. Second prize, 2 ½ gallons of auto oil, was won by Mrs. Frank Fendorf; third prize, a like amount of oil, was won by Miss Mary Brockman.

In the slow driving contest, Harry Buescher, in an Oldsmobile, won first prize, 5 gallons auto oil; A.R. McCommons, in a Pontiac, won second prize, 1 gallon auto oil; Frank Fendorf, in an Oldsmobile, won third prize, 3 gallons of Bendac Liquid Gloss.

Community Picnic May Become Annual Event

The picnic here Friday and Saturday had some important phases other than that of raising money for a good cause.

In the first place, it provided an opportunity for old friends to meet once more, and to make new friends as well; it furnished a place for recreation to many who appreciate the opportunity given them for an outing on the Osage River; it showed the value of the spirit of cooperation in a community; and it proved the worth of the municipally owned Riverside Park, the Tuscumbia Beach, and the Osage River scenery.

For these reasons, it seems to be the opinion that the picnic and swimming contest should be made an annual event; and should there be any profits, that they be used for community enterprise.

The town board of trustees had just made a deal with H.L. Wright for the dressing rooms which he recently built for the benefit of those who wish to swim at the Beach. The rooms adjoin the Park. Agitation has been started for the construction of a large shelter house in the Park, one that may be used by tourists and also be used during picnics for stands. This would be laudable, and would be a source of pride to the people of Tuscumbia, and of service to the traveling public and vacationists.

Let us plan to keep going forward in the things that make for the betterment of our town and county. The spirit of cooperation has been manifested. Let us make plans now to have another picnic next year, and may we so conduct it that our visitors from far and near will want to come again.

Here is a photo which was published in the following week’s edition of the Autogram which featured some of the winners of contests (photo 11):

11 Prize Winners at Tuscumbia Beach Picnic - 1926
Click image for larger view

My mother, Susie Bear Pryor, who was born in 1921, remembers well the annual Homecoming Tuscumbia Picnic. Her family lived across the street from the park. Here is a photo of their house in the left background taken at the time of the 1933 new bridge celebration (photo 12):

12 1933 Bridge Celebration Bar-B-Que - Bear Home Upper Left
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Memories of Susie Bear Pryor (photo 13):

13 Harry Schell, Susie Bear Pryor and LeRoy Oligschlaeger

The Tuscumbia Picnic was something everybody looked forward to & I started trying to save up money to spend way before it started. Also, everybody had a new dress because that was really important for everyone that attended, so that's for starters. Tuscumbia didn't have much entertainment & the picnic coming each year was something we all looked forward to every year. C. B. Wright worked in the pavilion selling tickets for the meals. T.C. Wright led the town band up in the band stand (photo 14).

14 C.B. and Tennyson Wright

The same people usually kept the same jobs every year.

I know I've told you some of the things such as the fight I had with Leahetta McCommons. She & I got in a fight & the sheriff, Charlie Bill Abbott, saw us & came over to the Water Melon Stand & pulled us apart (photo 15).

15 Charlie Bill Abbott

That made the news all around about the Sheriff separating us. It was very late & I was at the watermelon stand eating & she came up behind me & threw a rubber-return ball & hit me hard in the back & I was so startled that I turned around & tackled her. I still remember how mad I was so that means I was really mad! We were both young kids & not very dignified.

The watermelon stand & the soda pop stand were together & there was a passage way between it & the General Stand but as I remember it I was eating water melon when she attacked me with the rubber-return ball. We sure got razzed about that with all the people saying that was the only fight at the picnic that year.

Well, I want to assure you that Leahetta and mom remained the best of friends, the picnic “tiff” notwithstanding. Actually, fights at the picnic were rare, even after beer began to be sold later in the 1950’s.

Alan Wright sent me one of his memories of the Tuscumbia Picnic:

The Tuscumbia Picnic, at one time, was a very special event indeed. I can remember sitting on my dad's lap at the watermelon stand with a big cattle watering tank in the middle filled with iced melons and volunteers chopping those "Black Diamonds, Kleckley Sweets, and Georgia Rattlesnakes" into big slices and selling them--I think a salt shaker came with the deal. I'll bet they were no more than a nickel or a dime a piece. I also have vague impressions of all those strands of electric lights all through the park area.

Alan’s cousin, Merle Wright, also sent me some of his memories:

My Uncle C.B. Wright was the money/ticket taker for the famous Fried Chicken Dinner in the Pavilion. I think it was served both at noon and evening. I remember it being “Hot” in the pavilion but the food was so very good. I think a choice of many kinds of pie or cake was offered for desert.

My Cousin, Betty Lee Wright White reminded me that her mother, my aunt Lizzie helped to cook the evening meal along with Mildred Wells and others. Uncle Richard Wright along with his wife Julia ran the Ice Cream concession, I did not work here but was a good customer (photo 16).

16 Richard Wright

My father and I stayed with them some times because Aunt Julia was a good cook too.

Homer Clay Wright was in charge of the general merchandise booth which sold trinkets that you did not need but had to have because they came from the Picnic. I remember one year I helped there. They had balloons with a big tank of gas to blow them up making them lighter than air. I was doing this and got in a big hurry trying to fill them. I broke too many balloons and Homer Clay informed me I was costing the booth too much and he did not need my help any more. He also played in the band which performed in the band stand that was over the Ice Cream booth (photo 17).

17 Homer Clay Wright

After C.B. became too sick to come to work, Homer Clay became the cashier at the pavilion. I now know that Bamber Wright took care of the money at night from the carnival rides and concessions. I also have confirmed that Toliver Lawson was in charge of the Dancing. This was a big project for both square and round dance that went well into the night with live music.

Homer Lee Wright was in charge of the Hamburger stand for several years. Homer got the beef animals and had them butchered in a way where he offered whole cow meat for the burgers. He was very proud of this and I remember the smell of them cooking was so fresh and wonderful that most people wanted more than one. To this day I judge the quality of ground beef by the way it smells when cooking (photo 18).

18 Homer Lee Wright

I liked to help here where one of my jobs was to help keep the soda cold and in stock by flavors, such as grape, lemon, and crème. The soda was cooled in stock tanks with large blocks of ice. I also had to keep the counters clean by picking up the empty bottles and putting them in the cases for return. The Soda Company parked a truck beside the booth and took full cases off and put empties on the truck. The water from the melting ice made the ground muddy and slick. I think I remember myself and others falling in it.

I attended the Picnic several times from being old enough to remember, 1939 into the late 1940’s. My father and I would stay with Uncle Homer Lee Wright most of the time.

I think I took my father to the Picnic in the late 50’s or early 60’s. He really enjoyed being able to visit with people from yester-year.

I took a Clark motor home in 1970 with my family and my parents, Chas I. & Pauline Kouns Wright to The Tuscumbia Picnic in it where they could rest and visit with old friends at the same time. I got special permission to park on the grounds and they enjoyed meeting people they knew from years past.

This was the last time any of my family was there.

I interviewed Bamber Wright a few months ago to record his memories of the Tuscumbia Picnic (photo 19):

19 Bamber Wright

Bamber was born April 17, 1919.

One year the flood was high enough that the picnic was at the school.

The bandstand was the first building built at the park and preceded the first annual picnic in 1926 by more than twenty years. The bands performed from the second story and the bottom level was used as the ice cream stand (see photo 04 above).

The Tuscumbia band had various members. Those Bamber remembers were Homer Clay Wright on trombone, Robert Stillwell and his father, Walter Stillwell, and T.C. Wright was director (see photo 10 above).

The first dance floor was of wood and was stored in the barn of Wiley Berry. In later years the dance floor activities were in charge of Tolliver Lawson and Lloyd Slone. In the 1950’s a concrete floor was provided for the bandstand and the dance floor.

In Bamber’s memory the Annual Picnic committee consisted of himself, Fred Pryor, and Bill Hix.

During Bamber’s tenure the following stands were:

1. Ice Cream stand at bandstand lower level directed by Richard Wright

2. Hamburger stand lower level of pavilion directed by Homer Lee Wright

3. General Store directed by Ansel Pryor

4. Water melon stand directed by Glen Warren

5. Soda Pop stand directed by T.C. Wright

6. Beer stand (first appeared in 1950’s) directed by Fred Pryor

7. Dance Floor directed by Tolliver Lawson and Lloyd Slone

8. Concessions directed by Leonard Kallenbach and later by Bamber Wright. This responsibility involved contracting with various carnival business’s for the rides and games. This type of venue was added in the 1940’s. The Mo/Ark Shows provided the carnival rides for the picnic for many years.

The dance floor at the park has been renovated several times. Early on the music was oriented toward square dancing. However, in the late 1930’s and into the 1940’s and thereafter the Tuscumbia Picnic was fortunate to have a local “Big Band” sound provided by the Doerhoff Orchestra of St. Elizabeth (photo 20).

20 Doerhoff Orchestra - Ray, Norman, Leonard, Steve (Dad), Emil and Ida

Lois Mace Webb had some memories of the Tuscumbia Annual Homecoming Picnic:

"Regarding community dances, the one big event of the year I should mention was the Tuscumbia Picnic. Everyone danced at the Tuscumbia Picnic -- young and old.

One year I heard that the Baptist preacher chided the congregation that he believed more Baptists were on the floor than any other group. We laughed about it -- lots of good dancers in that crowd. We could get 8 sets of square dancers on the floor, and the dance part of the picnic sometimes lasted 3 days. In addition to the callers like Charley Bill Abbott, Jack Edwards was an excellent caller. And Jack could sing too, though he remained reserved about his talent perhaps all of his adult life (photo 21)."

21 Jack Edwards with his father John Edwards

Joyce Williams Mace told me that she and her friends from Linn Creek loved to attend the Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic because of the square dancing. In fact, she first met her future husband, Lee Mace, at the dance floor in the park at one of the annual Picnics. She said that Lee had his eyes on her and didn’t hesitate to ask her to be his partner in one of the dances. Afterward, her two girlfriends who came with her to the dance and picnic went home alone and she and Lee had their first date that very night when he was the one to return her to her home in Linn Creek. Not long afterward they were married.

My own memories of the picnic are quite vivid as it was the most exciting event of the year for me. Probably, that was because when I was attending the picnic the Mo/Ark Shows provided carnival type exhibits and shows as well as carnival rides. I could ride the Merry Go Round endlessly and never tire of it. Sensitivity to issues we have today was not so much emphasized back then. One of the exhibits was a tent which contained large bottles of deformed fetuses (and I’m not making that up!). In the same tent was a very obese woman who had a real beard! Boxing matches were popular in which volunteers were solicited from the audience to take on the Mo/Ark Shows’ boxer for which a monetary prize was given if the volunteer won the match. I remember one year that local Tuscumbian Alan Burks volunteered and he soundly whipped the Carnival’s boxer (or maybe his loss was a ruse to please the crowd?).

The picnic always had unusual types of competitive events. For example, Nina Martin Strange sent me a photo from the Autogram of herself and others who had participated in a “Skillet Throwing Contest” at a picnic sometime in the early 1970’s.

Nina had won the skillet throwing event. You may notice that the photo of some of the contestants was taken in front of the old bandstand (photo 22).

22 Skillet Throwing Contest

Because of the depression years in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, many Miller County folks left the area to find work elsewhere. Some went to St. Louis area and others to Kansas City. For example, as time went by probably several hundred, maybe more, Miller County citizens lived in the Kansas City area. These Miller Countians started their own Annual Miller County Picnic. Recently, we were donated a large group photo of the 6th annual Miller County Picnic at Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri by Promise Vaughan (photo 23).

23 Promise Vaughan

Here is the photo Promise is holding (photo 24):

24 6th Annual Kansas City Picnic Swope Park - 1928
Click image for larger view

I would imagine some are still living who might identify one or more of their relatives in the photo. Promise said some of the Vaughan family were located on the far left of the photo.

Promise is a descendent of Wilson Vaughan of Tuscumbia; her father Robert Vaughan was a son of John Vaughan who was a son of Wilson. John Vaughan was raised here but went to California early in his life. Promise is from Cheno Hills, California but is attending a missionary school at Roach, Missouri presently preparing for a mission in Africa. Robert, her father, had found in his father John’s files the old photo of the large group of Miller County natives attending the 6th annual Miller County Picnic in Kansas City, Mo. held at Swope Park.

So that is the story of the Tuscumbia Annual Homecoming Picnic, which for many years was one of the most popularly attended events in the county. Although the Picnic always arranged for various kinds of attractions, contests, and plenty of food, its major attraction was the opportunity it offered for local people as well as those who had moved away to meet and renew old acquaintances and friendships.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

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