By Clarence "Dutch" Adams
New York State has always been one of the leading states in the United States in fruit production and Niagara County has always been a leading county in New York State in fruit production. Grapes were one of the fruit crops grown in Niagara County and shipped on the Erie Canal. However, originally there was only one white grape on the market and it ripened very late and had a musky flavor. Claudius L. Hoag and B. Wheaton Clark were operating a nursery on the Hoag farm on Lake Avenue where the Odd Fellows Home was built later and they were determined to develop a good white grape.
Claudius Hoag's father, Obadiah P. Hoag, had settled in Somerset in 1834, then came to the town of Lockport and purchased land from Nathan Comstock for his farm. In 1816 Nathan Comstock had come to the area with his four brothers when the route of the canal was established. Nathan bought 800 acres of land from the Holland Land Company through which he thought the canal would pass. The boundaries of his purchase were from the present Transit Road east to a little past Cave Street, and from Price Street north down the 'mountain" (as the escarpment was called then) to the Old Niagara Road. The land was all dense forest so Nathan Comstock cleared some land, built a log cabin, and planted the first orchard. About 1828 Nathan Comstock built a larger, cut stone home, which still remains on Old Niagara Road.
After the canal was built Nathan
Comstock sold land to Obadiah P. Hoag and also sold 300 acres to Joel McCollum, Seymour
Scovell, Otis Hathaway and Sylvester Hathaway. In 1832 Joel McCollum built the cut stone
house at 248 North Adam Street (pictured here) which is still in the McCollum family, the
present residence of Josie Woodbridge, daughter of Josephine McCollum Carveth.
The land that Obadiah P. Hoag purchased included Nathan Comstock's log cabin which later became the site of the Odd Fellows Home. Claudius L. Hoag had come to Lockport with his father and had worked with him on the farm. He went to Canada and learned the art of hybridizing, then started a nursery business on the farm. His father lived on the farm until his death in 1888 at the age of 95.
B. Wheaton Clark was born in Morovia in 1845 and came to Lockport with his parents in 1853 when he was only 8 years old. When he was older he went to work for Claudius Hoag and learned the nursery business working with him. They formed the C. L. Hoag & Company, a nursery, in 1868. Harvey H. Wakeman was also involved with the farm, but apparently he was involved more with the farm than with the nursery.
In 1866 Claudius Hoag and B. Wheaton Clark took seeds from Concord grapes and cross-pollinated them with the Cassady, a very hardy white grape. Ten of the seeds sprouted and in the spring of 1867 they were transplanted to open ground. One plant grew with unusual vigor and each year produced more and more bunches of grapes. Prunings from this original vine were divided into cuttings- and these were planted in the spring of 1873 and a large stock of vines was grown.
The venture was a tremendous success and on March 22, 1879, the Niagara Grape Company was formed with Jabez Woodward, E. Ashley Smith, Claudius L. Hoag and B. Wheaton Clark as officers. Their office was located at 31 Main Street in Lockport. The Niagara Grape Company had seven vineyards in New York State and several large ones in Florida. A circular published by the company in 1881 stated that the vine would not be sold but would be placed with growers who would turn over the proceeds of one-half of the net sales of the grapes to the company. In 1885 the company was incorporated as the Niagara White Grape Company with their office in the McRae Block on Pine Street in Lockport.
Production and sales of the Niagara grape increased rapidly and the Niagara Grape Market Company was organized in 1889. One office was with the Niagara White Grape Company in Lockport and a second office was
in New York City where Garrit G. Lansing of Lockport was general agent and cashier for the company. Large quantities of the vine were shipped all over the world but eventually production increased to the point where the market was flooded and prices dropped. In 1915 the Niagara White Grape Company was gone but the Niagara Grape Market Company remained at 36 Ashley Building in Lockport until 1921 when it also disappeared. The Niagara grape is still on the market but it is no longer the special product that it once was.
The Odd Fellows Home Association bought the farm from Claudius L. Hoag in April, 1894, and today the original Niagara grapevine is still growing on the grounds of the Odd Fellows Home. In 1927 the New York State Horticultural Society erected a monument there, a bronze tablet on a large boulder stating that this is the original Niagara grape vine.
Claudius L. Hoag and B. Wheaton Clark both lived on Lake Avenue until 1882 when B. Wheaton Clark moved to a fruit farm on East Avenue, east of Cold Spring. In 1905 B. Wheaton Clark was living at RFD 7, Lockport. He died in 1929 and is buried in Cold Springs Cemetery.
Claudius L. Hoag lived at 153 Lake Avenue until 1894 when he moved to 107 Genesee Street, Lockport. In 1899 his address was 115 Genesee Street and in 1903 his address was 122 Locust Street where he lived until his death on Nov. 15, 1913. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.
Baseball has been, and still is, one of the more popular sports in the Lockport area. The "Lockport Baseball Club" was formed in 1858 and the first organized baseball game in Lockport took place on the Court House Square on April 30, 1858. After that all games were played at the Lockport Fairgrounds on Washburn and Willow Streets. The "Niagara Baseball Club" and the "Union Baseball Club" were formed shortly after 1858 and between 1858 and 1871 seven baseball clubs were organized in Lockport.
In 1875 the Lockport Baseball Association was organized with John Hodge, President, and J. Carl Jackson, Vice-president. One of the more popular baseball clubs in Lockport, the
"Pastimes, " was organized in 1885 with Fred Oliver as manager and Cleland Ward was captain. The players received no salaries but from 1885 to 1890 the Pastimes played not only amateur teams but they also played professional teams from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto and Hamilton, winning most of the games In 1895 the "Idlers" baseball team was formed and in 1896 they were Niagara County Champions.
Among the Lockport residents who played baseball were Jimmy Duffy, the boxing champion, who played for the "North Enders" in 1917, and Fenton "Darb" Whalen, who played for the Lockport Knickerbockers in 1905, then began playing professional ball, starting in 1908 at the age of 18. After leaving the game of baseball, "Darb" Whalen became a very popular after dinner speaker, recounting humorous tales of his playing days. One story he would tell was of a game against a team on which Babe Ruth was playing. "Early in the game "Darb" hit a home run and on his way around the bases he shouted to. Babe Ruth, "You may be the best in the city but I'm the best in the country." -Shortly after that Babe Ruth hit a home run and as he passed "Darb" Whalen playing third base "Darb" recalls, "He never said anything, he just glared at me."
In 1939, mainly through the efforts of Bob Stedler, sports editor of the Buffalo Evening News, the PONY baseball league was formed with teams from Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York. In 1942 William Schumacher obtained a PONY league franchise for a Lockport team. The parent club was the Chicago White Sox and the team was known as the Lockport White Sox. One of the Lockport White Sox players was Ollie Carnegie, home run king of the Buffalo Bisons who was in the Bison Hall of Fame. Games were played in the baseball stadium at Outwater Park. Players came from all over the country and boarded with Lockport families. Many of them married local girls and stayed in the area after their baseball career ended.
In 1943 team ownership was changed to the Chicago Cubs and the team became the Lockport Cubs. The Lockport Cubs were league champions in 1943 and 1944, under manager Greg Mulleavy. In 1946 team ownership changed again, this time to the Cincinnati Reds, and the team became the Lockport Reds. In 1948 the Lockport Reds were league champions and also won the playoffs.The last PONY League Lockport team was in 1950 when the team was sold to Corning. In 1951 a group of local businessmen organized the Lockport Locks and entered the team in the Middle Atlantic League. However, the team only lasted one year and ended Lockport's professional baseball participation but there are still teams playing organized baseball in Lockport, with players of all ages participating.
By Clarence "Dutch" Adams
William H. Marshall came to Lockport in 1878, lived at 1 Garden Street and worked as a hackdriver. The company he worked for is unknown. In 1880 he moved to the basement of the Lutheran Church, still listed as a hackdriver. In 1882 he is listed as a harness maker, boarding at 17 Dayton Street in Lockport. For whom he worked is again not listed, but he could have been self-employed because in 1887 he had his own harness making business at 305 Market Street. He also apparently had his first house -131 Olcott St.
In 1888 William H. Marshall lived at 33 Dayton St.; then in 1891 his harness making business and his home address were both at 297 Market St. In 1892 his business was still at 297 Market St., but his residence in 1892 was 113 Market St. and in 1893-94 he had moved to 47 Vine St. In 1895 he still lived at 47 Vine St. but the harness making business had moved from 297 Market St. to 111 Main St.
In 1899 William H. Marshall formed a partnership with his son, William T. Marshall. Marshall & Son, harness makers, was at 125 Main St., opposite the Union Hotel, and this is where the business remained until it was dissolved. It had grown from harness makers to offering many different kinds of leather goods: "Harness, robes, whips, trunks, satchels, suit cases etc. Repairing promptly and neatly done." In 1907 the business became Marshall & Sons when another son, Herbert, became a partner. William T. Marshall remained a partner, but in 1910 he moved from the family residence to 11 Grosvenor St., probably after getting married.
In 1899 the Marshall residence was at 80 Juniper St.. where the Marshall partners all lived. In 1905 the Marshall residence changed to 603 Walnut St. On March 27,1922, William H. Marshall, founder & developer of Marshall & Sons, died, but the Marshall sons still maintained the business until 1937. Then William T. Marshall set up his own leather goods business at 39 East Ave. William and his wife Jeanette lived at 136 Juniper St.. Herbert and Christine Marshall still lived at 603 Walnut St. In 1940 Herbert went to work at Harrison Radiator Corporation and in 1942 William also joined Harrison's. The former leather goods store at 39 East Avenue remained vacant Until 1949 when it became the home of Niagara Sporting Goods. William T. Marshall died in 1958 and Herbert in 1977.Republished
with permission from the February 2003 issue of the
Niagara County Historical Society Newsletter
By John K. Hall
Mayor George H. Minard welcomed thousands of visitors and former residents to the first "Old Home Week" celebration, which opened on July 24, 1910. There were two publications in connection with this celebration: one by the Board of Trade, the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce, and the other by the "Old Home Week" committee. The following was written by Mathew H. Hoover, and included in both publications.
A few words concerning
Lockport, City Set On A Hill-
Where the devastating disturbances of the elements are strangers,
But the grateful gifts of bounteous orchards and fields are ever present guest;
Where
the wheels of industry whir under the tireless and exhaustless energy of Niagara's
electric current,
undimmed by the smoky clouds which begrime other manufacturing centers;
Where
the vehicles and vessels of trade and commerce
are ever ready to come and go by land and by water at the bidding of prosperous business.
The Lockport Business Men's organization formed the Lockport Water Supply Co., incorporated April 8, 1886, and received a permit from New York State to dig a power canal from the Niagara River to Lockport. It as to produce electric power and furnish cleaner water than the canal provided for drinking and for Holly's hydrant system. The water would empty into Eighteen Mile Creek and then into Lake Ontario. The water would be available all the way to Olcott for generating electric power.
About the same time that Lockport started digging the canal, a company was formed to develop power at Niagara Falls. This company didn't like the idea of Lockport digging a power canal and making their own power - so they cut a deal. If Lockport would give up the power canal, they would furnish a block of cheap power. This was agreed to and as a result Lockport had cheaper power, in 1910, than Niagara Falls. This solved the power problem, but we were still drinking canal water. In 1909, Lockport laid thirteen miles of pipeline and brought Niagara River water into the Holly System for fire protection and into a large standpipe, at the corner of South Transit and Summit Street, for drinking, at the cost of $750,000.
In July, 1910, the Upson Brothers founded the Upson Company. In August, 1910, Herbert C. Harrison founded Harrison Radiator Company on Richmond Avenue with W.H. Upson Sr. as one of the incorporators and first treasurer. Simonds Saw and Steel Works moved into Lockport and began operations in December, 1910, on Ohio St.
The Empire Engineering Construction Company had started dredging operations for enlarging the Barge Canal and Larkin and Sangster started building the new Big Bridge. The dredging of the canal eliminated the raceway on the south side of the canal and the closing of the Holly Company on the north side brought to an end the era of canal water furnishing power for Lockport industries.
The county historian has a good collection of pictures showing the dredging and construction during this period.
The "Old Home Week" celebration was the biggest event that Lockport had ever seen, and may still be. O.M. Diall was general chairman. He was also chairman of the Board of Trade. On Monday, July 25, at 2-00 PM, was the School Parade. Every school, including the four Catholic schools, had a float plus bands and marching units. On Tuesday at 8:00 PM, was the grotesque parade, a fun event with prizes for the most ridiculous float and most ridiculous costume.
On Wednesday the Western New York Volunteer Fireman's Association held a parade with ten divisions, 60 bands, 60 marching units, equipment and floats. The sixty bands massed and marched from the Big Bridge to Elm Street after the parade.
Thursday was the Industrial Parade with six divisions. tMounted police, Newfane Cornet Band, 74th Regiment Band, Citizens Reed Band, 19th Regiment Band, Electric City Band (Buffalo), 29th Separate Company Band
(Medina), floats and employees of the various industries, all were marching.
Friday was Military Day and also Buffalo Day, Niagara Falls Day, and the Tonawanda's Day. Major General George S. Grimes was the honorary grand marshal. The festivities started at 1:00 PM on the balcony of the Kenmore Hotel with six honorables, the mayor, and one reverend giving short messages. The parade started at Niagara & Prospect Streets and went up Main to Washburn to the fairgrounds for a grand regimental review. The line of march was resumed at 4-00 PM, and they took a circuitous route back to downtown and disbanded at the Court House.
Friday night at 8:00 PM was the Automobile Parade. They started at the Fairgrounds (Willow and Washburn), rolled up Locust to Lincoln and wound around most of the city streets and disbanded at the Big Bridge. $50.00 for the best decorated car. Keep in mind that not many people owned cars in 1910 and this was a real attention getter. I wonder how many flat tires they had and how many cars overheated and stalled? The parade route was illuminated by the residents using red fire.
Guess what happened Saturday morning? That's right, another parade. The Fraternal and Civic Day Parade. Ten divisions made up of four branches of the C.M.B.A., the L.C.R.A., Council #7 of the U.C.T., the J.O.U.A.M., Tent #240 of the K.O.T.M., Elks, Eagles, Moose, Hibernians, Red Men, Italian Societies, Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of Foresters, the North End, South End and West End Social and Athletic Clubs, six bands and four drum corps.
They didn't mention any East End Social and Athletic Club. Perhaps there wasn't one or they didn't want to march.
The parade moved from the Court House to Vine Street and then back and forth on the side streets and disbanded at the Big Bridge. The floats and marchers were excused and all the bands massed and marched up Main Street to Elm Street playing, "Onward Christian Soldiers."
The "OLD HOME WEEK" committees had been working for a year and things were coming along quite well. John Moon, a local contractor, was the Finance Chairman. He had a way of raising money that is the same as we use today. A coupon on the front page of the Union Sun asked for donations. When you donated, your name and the amount you gave was printed in the paper.In addition to "OHW." activities, there were regular activities which are worth mentioning. The Stevens farm on Stevens Street needs berry-pickers. A few years later this farm would by purchased by the Upson brothers to build their new plant. The Common Council voted to install a cement sidewalk in front of the Protection Hook and Ladder on Locust Street.
C. B. Whitmore and Co. had started excavating for five immense buildings to be erected on Ohio Street, for the Simonds Company. Active Hose No. 5 observed their thirty-second anniversary.
A special I.R.C. train will take you from Lockport to along side a lake steamer at the Olcott wharf, so you can cruise Lake Ontario and spend four hours in Toronto, on July 4, 1910.
A concerned citizen wrote a letter to the Union Sun encouraging the Common Council to take action to get the burned-out buildings of the Holly Co. and the Lockport and Boston Block Co. torn down before "OLD HOME WEEK." The visitors coming to Lockport will not carry away pleasant memories if they see these unsightly structures.
The Civil Service Commission will hold an examination in November for a clerk and postman at the Lockport Post Office, with a starting salary at $600.00. Burtt Bros. Furniture Store (NE corner of Pine and Walnut) has a three-piece suite, consisting of a tete, arm chair, and arm rocker, upholstered in velour and mahogany finish, for $13.65.
Thirty-seven molders and ten core-makers are on strike at the McKim, Dussault, and Gardner foundries. They are asking that their wages be increased from $3.00 to $3.25 per day. George Walton nickel cigars, in three shapes, are available all over town.
Lewis Greenhouses and Farm on Locust Street have 20 tons of currants and gooseberries to be picked. They need 200 pickers for Monday, July 11, 1910. Pickers can earn up to $1.50 to $2.20 per day. An Ice Cream and Strawberry Social will be held at Grace Episcopal Church Thursday evening,
The Imperial House, 40 Chestnut Street, has rooms with board for $4.00, $4.50, and $5.00 per week. V W. Ringueberg, a local realtor, needs 26 homes immediately for families moving to Lockport. Rental houses are in demand and the demand for new houses is so strong that contractors are working overtime to keep up. The General Committee let a contract to John Moon to erect a reviewing stand of 500-person capacity, located at the five alarm tower at Cottage and Main. Contractors are so busy that none of them could submit a bid and Mr. Moon volunteered to do the work.
The Pastime baseball team of 1887 will have a practice session at Rogers Diamond. All of the original members will be on hand for the big game with the Wheelman's Club nine. The Wheelman's Club is being decorated gorgeously (now the Tuscarora Club).
The Hydrant Hose Co. on Cottage Street will be decorated and a large "WELCOME HOME" sign will be erected, surrounded by electric lights. The Western New York Firemen's Association will hold their 10th annual convention in conjunction with the Fireman's Day Parade, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 25 and 26, 1910. They expect that 400 delegates representing 11 counties and 125 companies will be on hand.
7,000 invitations have been sent out to former residents. The number of souvenir programs has been increased from 10,000 to 15,000 because of the interest in them. The committee should realize a profit of $1,000.00.
Friends of the Barge Canal will meet at the Commercial Hotel to discuss ways to hasten the completion of the widening of the canal, Seven million dollars is being spent in or near Lockport. The Trader's Paper Mill employees are busy making hats and umbrellas, made from the paper they manufacture, to wear in the industrial parade.
John R. Earl, chairman of the Concessions Committee, reports that concessionaires are arriving on every train. G. W. Sangster Shows will be setting up on Walnut Street from Pine to Locust. Lockport Light, Heat, and Power will string 1,000 electric lights from Pine to Locust. The Dixie Shows, with 88 men and women, are setting up at Darrison Park. Lights will be strung on both sides of Main Street from Transit to Washburn. At each intersection, lights will extend from all corners up to a ball of lights supported by cables fastened to the tops of buildings on either side of the street. There will also be flags on each side of the street.
Mr. Earl further reports that games of chance and jingle boards are prohibited. Mr. Earl and his committee will inspect all concessions on opening day. If anything objectionable is found, the concessionaire must remove the item or leave town. Also, there will be no confetti throwing, and feather ticklers and similar fun devices are barred. There will be an 11 p. m. curfew.
Saturday evening, July 23, 1910, a Union Church Service was held at the First Baptist Church, on the corner of Pine and South Streets. On Sunday, all the churches held special services. Several former pastors had been invited back to preach. The sermons were centered around family, home, and reunions.
It rained Sunday evening, but Monday dawned bright and sunny- "In splendor of dress, that rivals dreams of the most imaginative writer of fairyland tales, Lockport welcomes its old-homers, its hundreds of visitors and sightseers and bids them all partake of the gaiety of the greatest week in her history."
Whistles blew, church bells and fire bells rang, and the streets were filling with people. "Hardly had the morning sun reached the joy-filling point in the heavens when the first outburst of music was heard." The 19th Regiment Band of St. Catharines had arrived, dressed in their bright red coats. They were joined by the General Committee and marched up Main Street to the Kenmore Hotel where a concert was given. The City Band followed a short time later and gave concerts at the corner of Pine and Main, and Locust and Main.
The Santos-Dumont flying machine had arrived at the fairgrounds Sunday afternoon. The services of this aircraft were secured at considerable expense to the committee but they felt the people of Lockport would be eager to see this latest of great inventions. O. K Stuart would be performing twice daily on a wire strung between the top of the Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank and the Hodge Opera House.
Down at the Big Bridge, Sensational Smithson will, twice daily, ride his bicycle blindfolded down a 40 foot high ramp and at the bottom go up a 15 foot ramp, and then Smithson and his bicycle would sail 40 feet onto a platform. At the evening performance he would sail through a flaming hoop.
The school children's parade started from Transit and Ontario Street at 2:30 p. m. on Monday afternoon. At the head of the procession were 52 autos packed with girls in white dresses and flag-waving boys. Some of these children had never ridden in an auto. Next came a detail of mounted police and the 74th Regiment Band. Grand Marshall Prof. Alexis V. Mueller of the high school faculty and Superintendent of Schools Emmett Belknap rode in a bright red car driven by Egbert D. Corson. They were followed by members of the Board of Education and Chairman of the Day Honorable Cuthbert W. Pound.
The theme of the Union School's Junior department was, "Lafayette's Visit to Lockport." All the students on the float wore historically correct costumes. A bicycle squad of 150 Union School boys and girls rode decorated wheels. The Washburn School float depicted the "Ball Scene from Cinderella." The costumes were lavish. The Walnut Street School had "Betsy Ross Making the First American Flag." The patriotic theme was well received by the crowds lining the streets.
The second division was led by the Citizen's Reed Band and the Clinton Street School float entitled, "Primitive and Modern Houses, 1810-1910." The William Street School depicted "Red Riding Hood" and all the characters from that story. The Vine Street School, located in the heart of Lockport's "Little Italy," entered a float entitled, "Gondolier Italian American." A gondola mounted on the float contained 40 children waving Italian and American flags.
The 19th Regiment Band of St. Catharines furnished music for the third division. Ellsworth Storrs was the aide and led the "Sunbonnet Babies and the Overall Boys" of the Hawley Street School. The float depicted a haying scene with students engaged in the work of making hay. One youngster was astride a pony on the float. "Mother Goose and Children in a Shoe" was the subject of the West Avenue School. Children hung from all sides of an immense shoe on the float.
Marching at the head of the fourth division was the Newfane Coronet Band, followed by the High Street School float. There was a replica of one of the original canal packet boats, filled with children, highlighting the locks which had made Lockport famous. Karl Kandt led the children of Trinity Lutheran Church School and their float which developed the theme, "Memories of Childhood."
The 29th Separate Co. Band of Medina set the tempo for the 5 th division. This division contained floats from the four Catholic schools in Lockport: St. Joseph's Academy, St. Patrick's, St. John's and St. Mary's. The St. Joseph's Academy float represented "Liberty Seeking a Home in the Sciences." Young ladies were appropriately costumed to represent Liberty, America, Religion, Science, Music, Art and Peace. The St. Patrick's float depicted "The Goddess of Justice and her Loyal Subjects." Miss Emma Hoeing was Justice and 33 young ladies served as her pages and attendants. St. John's school theme was, "Faith, Hope, and Charity Presiding Over America." May McDonough wore a pale blue gown, and bearing a cross in her hand represented Faith. Rose Daly, attired in a green gown and holding an anchor, was Hope. Helen Haley, wearing a red dress and holding a heart, represented the Queen of Virtues, Charity. Catherine Spalding, robed in white with red and blue ribbons entwining her, played the role of America. Nineteen young ladies wearing white dresses, with red, blue, and green scarves served as attendants- The subject of St. Mary's float was, "America and the Original 13 States." Students were robed appropriately to represent America and the 13 States, with lots of flags and bunting. St. Mary's won First Prize, and after the parade the children went to their respective schools and were served ice cream and other refreshments.
This parade was a real crowd-pleaser and officials and onlookers were full of praise for the enthusiastic children, the originality of the floats, and the hard work of teachers and parents in building the floats. A quote by Matthew Hoover, editor of the Union-Sun, stated: "Nowhere in the history of pageants can a Lockportian today find expression that would justly portray the brilliant grandeur of the school children's parade. It was a spectacle that sent the blood of every loyal Lockportian tingling through his veins, and thrilled the hearts of the massed thousands along the line of march."
Following the parade there was a demonstration flight and lecture about the Santos-Dumont airplane at the fairgrounds. At 7:30, O. K. Stuart performed on the high wire at Opera House Square. At 8:00 p. m. was the grand illumination of Main Street, West Avenue, East Avenue, Pine, Locust, and Market Streets by thousands of electric lights. This may not seem like a big event by today's standards, but in 1910 downtown illumination was by arc lights, being the first of this kind of illumination. Sensational Smithson made his leap of death through the hoop of fire at 8:00 p, m. and there were three concerts at three different locations.
The evening was rounded out with a display of fire works at 9:00 p. m. on the Big Bridge.
On Tuesday the volunteer firemen began arriving. Headquarters for the convention was at the Kenmore Hotel. The delegates marched from the hotel to the Opera House for their first session. All the usual activities went on during the day.
At 3:00 p. m. the Pastime ball team and the Wheelmen marched from the Wheelman's Club to Dudley Square to play the big ball game. The two teams and their wives had dinner at the Kenmore Hotel that evening. Wallace Keep started the evening by reciting, "Casey at the Bat," which was written by one of his Harvard classmates. There was good food, many toasts, and endless stories about games in the past. The Wheelmen, who had actually won, graciously bestowed the honor of winning on the Pastime Team, the elder of the two teams, and all went home happy. Matthew Hoover was toastmaster.
At 7:30 p. m. the Lockport Fire Department had a mock run from Washburn Street to Box 47 at the corner of Bristol and West Avenue. In 1895, Lockport replaced all their hand-drawn equipment with horse-drawn fire equipment. It must have been quite a sight to see a team of horses drawing a fire engine down Main Street at a gallop. It must have been quite a ride for the firemen.
The Grotesque parade was at 8:15 p. m. This was just what the name implied. Everyone dressed as outlandishly as possible and the one the judges thought was the most 'grotesque' won. The Darktown Fire Brigade of Niagara Falls, which included the Phony Police Force, won the $5000 first prize. The North End Athletic Club won the second prize, and Miegel's German Band from Swormsville captured the third prize by playing grotesque music, which was bad enough to drive the perfectly sane to the bughouse. The fireworks were at the corner of Chapel and Market in Lowertown. Two small fires were started by the fireworks but were quickly extinguished by the firemen.