Old Settlers Hold Picnic

From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, August 14, 1925:  Hog calling and fiddling were the most popular contests at the Marion County Old Settlers’ Association picnic in Broad Ripple Park yesterday afternoon.  Not all the 1,000 picknickers were old settlers, but they included many members of their families and friends.  Following an elaborate picnic dinner under the park’s shade trees, the program included old-fashioned songs such as Silver Threads Among the Gold, sung by the Lease sisters’ quartet and Blessed Be the Tie That Binds and When the Roll is Called Up Yonder sung by the entire gathering.  Speakers extolled the heroic work done by the pioneers and early settlers.  Prizes were handed out to the ugliest gentleman, the best baby, the prettiest girl, and the oldest man in attendance.  The prize for the oldest woman at the picnic went unclaimed.

“Old Settlers Hold Picnic,” The Indianapolis Star, 14 August 1925, p. 4:3

Dry Workers Help to Destroy Liquor Here Valued at $15,000

From The Indianapolis Star, Saturday, August 1, 1925:  More than $15,000 (2024:  $273,986) worth of liquor was destroyed yesterday afternoon in the basement of the county jail. Under the direction of Marion County sheriff Omer Hawkins, more than fifty people interested in the enforcement of the liquor law uncorked bottles of rare wine, whisky, and other intoxicants, pouring the liquid into the sewer.  The “liquor party” destroyed the stock confiscated last fall from the home of Herbert Duckwell, 3818 N. Delaware.  Woman’s Christian Temperance Union leaders and Anti-Saloon League representatives gave shouts of merriment when a cork popped loudly, or a participant was splattered with “Benedictine” or “Old Tom” as the liquor gushed from the bottle.  The pungent odor of liquor filled the air, settling on participants clothing, deputies cautioning the smell of liquor was prima facie evidence of drinking.

“Dry Workers Help to Destroy Liquor Here Valued at $15,000,” The Indianapolis Star, 1 August 1925, p. 8:4

Musicians Coming to City for Convention

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, July 25, 1925:  Beginning tomorrow, Indianapolis will host the seventh annual National Association of Negro Musicians convention.  The Indianapolis Music Promoters, a branch of the national association, will provide entertainment.  Colored musicians, artists, and instructors from across the country will gather Sunday afternoon for a songfest at Caleb Mills Hall featuring a local chorus of 150 voices singing negro spirituals and special numbers.  In the evening, several of the negro artists will appear in churches throughout the city with the object of increasing interest in negro music and to encourage negro composers and artists.  Contralto Marian Anderson and the Hampton Quartet will be among the prominent attendees.  WFBM radio will broadcast nightly programs by representatives of the national association.  Simpson A. M. E. Church, 1034 N. Missouri St, will be the site of business sessions.

“Musicians Coming to City for Convention,” The Indianapolis News, 25 July 1925, p. 31:6