website  watertownhistory.org

 ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

 

Homecoming Day

 

Repasts, Receptions and Reminiscences

 

Begun in 1902

 

Homecoming idea originated in the middle west in Watertown   Watertown Gazette, 06 24 1910

 

 

1902

In 1902 Watertown initiated a series of annual Homecoming Days.  These days of reunion and celebration, held in early August or September, were anticipated each summer.

 

This author likes to think that the success of the Homecoming event was a prelude to that of Watertown’s current Riverfest event, also highly anticipated, extremely successful, and held in early August.

 

1904      Chapter on 1904 Homecoming

 

1905

   Watertown Daily Times 07 27 1905

 

The third annual home coming and excursion of the Watertown club of Milwaukee to Watertown will be held on Sunday, Aug. 6. The train will leave over the Milwaukee road at eight o'clock and arrive at Watertown at 9:20, where the excursionists will be met by a large reception committee of the citizens of Watertown.

 

Ward's military band will play concert music at Tivoli Island at Watertown in the afternoon . . .  It was decided to invite Mayor Dunne of Chicago, Mayor Rose of Milwaukee, and Governor La Follette to deliver addresses to the people at the picnic grounds in the afternoon. There will be a parade of all civic societies of Watertown in the afternoon.

1905

   Watertown Gazette article of 08 11 1905

 

1905

   Watertown Daily Times, 08 12 1905

 

Sunday, August 6, was certainly a gala day in this city it being the observance of the Third Home Coming Day which has become quite a social feature in the experience of the inhabitants of Watertown, and great credit is due the mayor and members of the home club, in making it the grand success it was under the circumstances - and there would have been a much larger attendance had the railroads made special rates for the occasion, which they were precluded from doing on account of the existing laws in the state.  As it was, there were at least 700 former residents of Watertown who came to meet relatives and friends and visit the scenes of other days.  The delegation from Milwaukee numbered about 500 ...

 

1907

   Watertown Daily Times, 07 19 1907

 

(At last Monday's Council meeting) Alderman Ryan presented an ordinance amending an ordinance governing hack and bus men.  It was adopted and now provides that any person can operate buses to picnics, fairs, etc. without obtaining a license and not interfering with the provisions for buses running to trains.  The ordinance was amended so hastily in order that visitors here for the homecoming might have necessary accommodations to the picnic grounds and a certain few not have a monopoly in the conveyance of the visitors to the picnic grounds.

 

1907      Chapter on 1907 Homecoming

 

1908      Chapter on 1908 Homecoming

 

1909      The grandest of the Homecoming fetes was that of July 31 and August 1, 1909.  Bands went to the stations to meet the trains and welcome former residents. Another floral parade in which carriages and surreys still predominated, and a program, in which Mayor Arthur Mulberger and Judge George Grimm were featured speakers, was followed by amusements of many kinds - band concerts, repasts, receptions and reminiscences. [ Watertown Remembered ]

Click to enlarge

         

     1909                     assumed      

 

Chapter on 1909 Homecoming

1909

09 03     Herman Wertheimer recognition   WG

 

1910

Chapter on 1910 Homecoming, eighth annual

 

1911

Chapter on 1911 Homecoming, ninth annual

 

1913

   Homecomers, 1913

 

Cross-References:

Military Band, invitation, Homecoming Day (year uncertain)    No 2     No 3  (2 and 3 are enlargements)

Tivoli Island, site of Homecoming celebrations

 

Compiled by Ken Riedl