1,120 Infants Found Eligible for Better Babies Contest

From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, August 27, 1925:  The official count in the Better Babies Contest has found 1,120 babies eligible for participation in the event to name the best baby boy and the best baby girl in Indiana.  This year’s number of eligible entrants is more than 200 babies over last year’s which shows a growing interest among Indiana parents in the better babies’ competition.  Dr. Ada Schweitzer, director, state board of health division of child hygiene, is conducting the contest in conjunction with the state board of agriculture and The Indianapolis News.  Letters are being sent to the babies’ mothers informing them on what day and hour they may bring their babies to the state fairground Better Babies Building for examination.  Twelve sets of twins have entered the contest, but the space reserved for triplets is conspicuously empty.

“1,120 Infants Found Eligible for Better Babies Contest,” The Indianapolis News, 27 August 1925, p. 19:4

Thousands Witness Great Industrial Parade

From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, August 19, 1925:  The main spectacle of Greater Indianapolis Week was this afternoon’s parade witnessed by thousands of residents and visitors.  The largest parade in the city’s history included approximately 18,000 participants riding or marching along behind 1,400 elaborately decorated floats, and hundreds of automobiles, trucks, and wagons representing the city’s business firms, industries, and civic organizations.  Music from twelve bands and the rhythmic beat of seven drum corps kept the miles of pageantry moving without pause. Cheers went up along the parade route for the Red Cross and American Legion floats.  Shrieks from Broad Ripple Park’s calliope accompanied the roaring engines of three airplanes flying in formation over the parade route.  Five other aviators performed thrilling aerial stunts over downtown.  The festivities concluded at Broad Ripple Park with a barbecue, swimming, and athletic events.

“Thousands Witness Great Industrial Parade,” The Indianapolis News, 19 August 1925, p. 1:1

Photographs from The Indianapolis Star, 20 August 1925, p. 10

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