WAUPACA COUNTY NEWS

November 2, 1922

THE POTATO SHOW

BIG EVENT BEING HELD AT STEVENS POINT THIS WEEK

PARADE WAS BEST EVER

Waupaca County Float Was Unique

Market Reports Being Received By Radio

Alice Dybdall Waupaca County Potato Queen

            This week the big State Potato Show is on at Stevens Point, and almost all of the county’s growers and dealers have been in attendance.

            The Waupaca and Portage county booths are located together, with the caption over the booth – “Central Wisconsin’s Potato Belt.”  In the booth is also located the Bureau of Markets issuing daily bulletins.  A wireless receiving set gathering market reports is also located in the booth.  Besides the potato booths there were a large number of commercial booths.

            In the parade Waupaca county was represented by a large potato mounted on a float, bearing the inscription “Waupaca County, the Potato Capitol of America.”  The float was also loaded with potatoes.

            Alice Dybdall of Scandinavia was Waupaca County Potato Queen.

            Oneida county took first prize for potatoes.  The following article about the show appeared in Wednesday’s Stevens Point Journal:

            A monster potato parade, claimed to be the only one of kind and size ever attempted in the state, was held in Stevens Point at noon today as a feature of the tenth annual convention of the Wisconsin Potato Growers’ Association now being held there.

            The parade was an elaborate affair and represented the result of weeks of effort on the part of local committees which worked under direction of the Chamber of Commerce.  Inclement weather failed to mar its success, showers holding off while it was in motion in business and residential streets.

            The evolution of potato transportation in central Wisconsin was vividly portrayed in a special section displaying the primitive methods of hauling when a team oxen and wagon were used, a later improvement showing the horse drawn cart and finally the modern truck.

            Two mayors of two central Wisconsin cities and two potato queens were seated in a carriage pulled by a team of horses driven by Lon Myers at the head of the parade.  They were Mayor J.N. Welsby of Stevens Point, Miss Florence Kubisiak, local potato queen, Mayor Paronto of Waupaca and Miss Alice Dybdall, potato queen of Waupaca county.

            When the queen’s eqquitage reached the corner of Main street and Strongs avenue the procession was halted while an armed guard dismounted and proceeded to the carriage, opening its doors and assisting the two queens and their respective mayors to alight.  With due formality they then proceeded to one side of the carriage, where each queen knelt on a rug placed there for her, and where each was crowned potato queen of their respective counties. The coronation was performed by F.M. Glennon, representing the Chamber of Commerce, who also presented the Waupaca queen with a suitable gift from the Waupaca County Potato shippers.  The local queen was then presented with $25 in gold.  The queens were reseated in the carriage and the procession then again got under way.

            Another big feature of the parade was a float carrying Andy Gump, Min and Chester, cartoon characters, impersonated by Raymond Boone, Michael Liis, and Leander Van Hecke respectively.  When the post office was reached the parade was again stopped long enough to permit Andy to deliver a campaign speech in the interests of his candidacy.

            A big float representing Badger Inn, the eating house at the fair grounds conducted by the Methodist ladies, featured two girls cutting potato chips and tossing them to the crowds.

            Earl Wilson had charge of the big parade and its success is due largely to himself and 35 co-workers, together with the co-operation tendered by citizens at large.