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

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