This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website
City Went Wild, for a Great War Ended
Armistice Day, 1918
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 11 1952
Watertown went wild. And so
did the rest of the nation and practically the whole world. It was on
On that day Watertown witnessed what
has been without question the wildest celebration in its history. An
impromptu parade, band music, jammed sidewalks and streets, flags, bunting,
firecrackers and free drinks all combined to make it such a hilarious occasion
that those who lived through it have never forgotten it. Nor are they
likely to do so.
The end of the war sent men's hopes
for world peace soaring everywhere. But subsequent events in history
dashed that hope and again in 1939 a war broke out in Europe which blasted into
World War II. Even today world statesmen and diplomats talk ominously of
another war--World War III.
Period of Confusion
Thirty-four years ago this month,
November began in a mire of confusion, contradiction and expectancy and
tension. The war which began in 1914 was closing and everyone who
followed the march of events knew it, but no one knew just how or where the end
would come.
The period is best told in the
headlines that greeted readers those confusing days.
For example:
Thursday, Nov.7:
"Unofficial Report of Armistice
Signing."
Friday, Nov. 8:
"Armistice Not Signed but
Envoys Receive the Terms This Afternoon."
Saturday, Nov. 9:
"German Emperor Abdicates
Throne."
Monday, Nov. 11:
"President Wilson Announces That
Armistice Has Been Signed; Reads Terms at Special Session of Congress."
Days of false hopes, confusion,
doubt, rumors, joy and sorrow. They were exactly 34 years ago.
Something was going to happen, but
no one knew what. It was almost certain that the war was nearing the end,
but just when, no one knew.
Then things began to move
swiftly. Those in high command of the German army, faltering in their
loyalty to the emperor, sent out feelers for peace.
The news of those attempts leaked
out and immediately spread the false notion that a truce had been signed.
News agencies flashed the word that aroused the world to fever heat.
"Armistice Signed," screamed the headlines in the papers subscribing
to leading wire services. That was on Nov. 7.
Premature Celebration
The city started celebrating, only
to awaken the next morning to learn that the war had not ended, that it was
still on but that it could, from all accounts, not last much longer.
Watertown waited. The nation waited. The world waited. Each
day the news appeared a little more confusing, but down in their hearts men
knew that something big was about to happen. And it did. On
The
day before on Nov. 10, the German Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland where he
lived and was to die in exile.
On
Nov. 11 word came that firing would cease at
_____________________________________________________________
City Pays Respects to Fallen Heroes of the World War
Thousands of People Take Part in Armistice Celebration
Parade One of the Biggest in City’s History
1921
Watertown Daily Times, 11 11
1921
Watertown came out in full force to
celebrate Armistice day yesterday, if one is to judge by the splendid showing
which the citizens made in the mammoth parade which filed through Main street
in honor of the fallen heroes who died in the World war. The turnout was much larger than most people
expected. It was one of the finest
demonstrations in the history of Watertown and was witnessed by hundreds of
people who lined the down town streets long before the time set for the
parade. All organizations in the city
were represented in the parade.
The Watertown police department led
the parade giving a very impressive bearing to the line of march.
Next came
the Watertown city band and an auto with Mayor Wertheimer. Members of the city council, city officials
and the fire and police department followed in cars.
Junior citizens as Red Cross nurses
occupied several automobiles in the procession.
Next came
the American Legion and ex-service men, escorted by troop “D” 105th
Cavalry, Wisconsin National Guard. They
were followed by the G. A. R. in autos, the Watertown chapter of Red Cross, the
Woman’s Relief Corps and the ladies’ Auxiliary of the American
Legion.
Among the Women’s clubs which
followed were the Catholic Woman’s club, the Euterpe
club, Saturday club, the Delphian club, the Clover
club, the Woman’s Progressive society and the Royal Neighbors. Next came the
Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and the Knights of Columbus.
The third division of the parade was
headed by the Northwestern college band and cadets, followed by the
Northwestern students. These were followed by Watertown labor unions, the W. C.
T. U., United Commercial Travelers, and the city’s fraternal
organizations. The High school students
were well represented and hundreds of school children took part in the
parade. They were from every school in the
city and their line in the parade was over a mile long. It was a remarkable showing and could not
fail to thrill the hearts of the hundreds of people who watched the parade as
it filed through
The Boy Scouts brought up the rear
in a very dignified way.
Many Beautiful Floats
The parade yesterday contained many
beautiful floats which represented the true spirit of the day. The floats were carefully planned and
represented a great deal of work for those in charge. Woman’s part in the war depicted in one
float a nurse and two wounded soldiers being the principals. The float showing Flanders field with its
poppies among innumerable white crosses, attracted favorable comment all along
the line of march.
Besides being typical of the spirit of the day it brought a silent
message to all who saw it. The float
prepared by the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Knights was very
pretty. It represented Liberty enthroned
upon the world surrounded by Soldiers and Sailors of America.
The Delphian
Club brought out clearly the advancement of woman in the educational and
political life, and the many other beautiful floats made the parade one of the
finest and best which Watertown has seen.
The people of the city showed their
respect for the heroes who have died, by the many flags which were hung about
the city.
Flanders poppies were seen upon the
coats of hundreds of men and women who paid their respect to the world’s
greatest war. Those in charge of the
arrangements for the day’s celebration are to be congratulated for the
success of their efforts. With the
cooperation of the citizens they have made it a day which is a credit not only
to the city but to the nation as well.
