THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

June 5, 1913

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

            The first settlement in what is now the city of Waupaca, was made June 9^th, 1849, by E. C. Sessions, J. and W. B. Hibbard, J. M. Vaughn and W. G. Cooper. Since that time the country has been marvelously developed.  Farms and homes have replaced the forest that then covered the country.  The city of Waupaca has grown from a mere hamlet to a city of 3000 inhabitants and is one of the most beautiful cities of its size in the country, both because of its natural advantages and because of the pride and industry on the part of its citizens in the up-building of the city.

            During all of these years many people who have lived in the city and its surrounding country, have ventured to other places and have established other homes.  We feel sure, however, that each and every one of you who have once resided here, still retain a strong feeling of regard for this community.  We feel sure that each of you who have moved away, stop and think many times of the trials and tribulations, the joys and happiness that you have experienced while living here, and that each and every one of you can recall scores of people living here, or who have moved away from here, whom you would greatly wish to see again and to renew acquaintances now dormant.

            For many years the residents of the city of Waupaca and its vicinity, have hungered to see and meet all of those who have moved away, and this desire has finally culminated in a movement for a genuine home coming to be held in the city of Waupaca August 11^th to 15^th of this year.  The Committee in charge of the work has secured the names of practically all of those who at some former time lived in this neighborhood.  A written invitation has been extended to each one to join us in a genuine homecoming.  Replies have been received from a great many, and we are sure that hundreds of the former residents will be here to participate in the celebration.

            We are publishing in this issue of the paper the names and addresses of all former residents that he Committee has been able to secure.  We trust that each of you will carefully look over the names in both of these lists, and will write to those of your old friends or school-mates whose addresses appear herein, and arrange to meet them at this Home Coming.  We also ask that each of you send to the Home Coming Committee the addresses of any persons that the Committee has been unable to obtain.

            It is the desire of the citizens to make this celebration a “homey” Home Coming, and Waupaca with all its residents, will welcome you in the most cordial spirit.  Opportunities will be given on each day for the assembling of all persons in groups or classes who will be sure that each one of you who comes back here will enjoy a week of care-free rest and comfort that will well repay you. Waupaca has never before had a Home Coming and will not have another Home Coming for many years to come and everybody should take advantage of this opportunity.

            No definite program has been decided upon yet, but an outline of the plans that will be carried out is as follows:

            Monday, August 11^th, will be Registration Day, and this day will be given up to the registering of all visitors and to furnishing information in regards to your friends who may be living here and now or coming here to attend the reunion.

            The following days will be taken up with meetings both outdoor and indoor, in which all will take part, also meetings in which classes and various groups will participate.  One day will be devoted to a basket picnic at the Chain o’ Lakes.  Old fashioned sports and games and athletic contests between classes will be arranged.

            One day will be given up to a general celebration in the city of Waupaca, which will be made a gala day for all the country around.  On this day you may join with the crowd in taking part in the pleasures provided for you, or if you prefer, may seek a few congenial friends and spend the day at some of the parks or lakes of Waupaca.

            A forenoon of one of the days will be devoted to visiting and decorating the cemetery, for a remembrance of those who have passed away is as much a part of a Home Coming as the greetings of those who are still with us.

            The lodges, the churches and the societies of the city will arrange for meetings of their old members in their rooms at various times during the celebration.

            One of the best bands of music available will render outdoor concerts on each day.  Every day will be crowded with pleasure and each evening will be used to prolong the entertainment of the day.

            The date is August 11^th to 15^th, 1913.  Bear in mind that even though Waupaca should have another Home Coming in ten, fifteen or twenty years, there is no surety that you will then be able to meet friends whom you can meet now.  The entire city and country around extend to you a most cordial invitation to attend this Home Coming.