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BIO SIXTH RECALLED.With each recurring sixth day of ! June the people of Seymo mind the “Big Sixth celebrations of j the past. These were gala days for Seymour, These celebrations were begun by the Seymour 1 Worm club which was organized June lt;, 187f». It was an organization to promote the i cause of temperance and for several | years it wielded a laige influence inthe community. The first officers of the club were Dr. J. W. F. Gerrish,C. I?. Cole, vice president, M. E. Shiel, secretary, Win, McCrady,financial secretary, William Loftus, sergeant-at-arms. Henry Cane was the first janitor of the club room.Dr. Gerrisb served three years as president, then W. J. Durham was elected and served two years. A ter that Dr. Gerrish became the president again and served until his death, August .'I, 18-H3. For several years j the meetings were held in a room where Mose the Doss now has hie clothing store. The Deform Club was(disorganized after the [death of Dr. j Gerrish, who was really the leadingspirit in the club front the time of itsj organization until- bis death.i he annual meetings familiarly j known as the “Big Sixth” were of ; unusually large proportions. The crowd in 1879 is said to have been the largest ever seen in Seymour. There | were always attractions to entertain the people. Among the prominentspeakers brought here for these anniversaries were Neal Dow, of Maine, John V. St.. John, of Kansas, Geo. W.Bain, of Kentucky, and Samuel Carey of Ohio.Beginning with ]S$4 the “Big Sixth” celebrations wre under the management of Hermion Lodge, No. 44, K. of P., and were successfully carried forward. The annual celebration occurred with but two exceptions, 1894 and 1895, up to and including 18iH. All those years June fi was a big day in Seymour. The “Big Sixth” was a means of advertising Seymour far and wide. The day is recalled with much interest by our people, especially by those who took part in helping to bring about and sustaining theseannual celebrations.
Newspaper Details
Seymour Daily Republican
Seymour, Indiana, US
Fri, Jun 06, 1902
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Brandon S.
USA 21 Apr 2020
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