Train Depot World War 1 Homecoming Celebration, 1919
Title
Train Depot World War 1 Homecoming Celebration, 1919
Description
The “Heroes Welcome” sign on the new depot shows this photo was taken during the World War 1 Homecoming celebration in the summer of 1919. This quiet scene must have been photographed early in the day before all the activity on the Square and Main Street. Woodstock Illinois.
The Woodstock Sentinel of June 12, 1919 describes the planning and the day's events.
WOODSTOCK SENTINEL THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1919.
VOLUME SIXTY-THREE WOODSTOCK McHENRY COUNTY. IL NUMBER FIFTY
WOODSTOCK ACTS AS HOST TO COUNTY
CHEERING CROWDS GREET MARCHING RANKS OF UNIFORMED MEN OF McHENRY COUNTY
LARGEST CROWDS CHEER SOLDIERS AT CELEBRATION
The Parade—Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Passing Reviewing Stand
Twenty Thousand People Make Home-coming Celebration Greatest Day in Woodstock’s History
NOT A HITCH OCCURS TO MAR BIG DAYS CELEBRATION
Woodstock Surpasses All Expectations in Entertaining Visiting Soldiers
Woodstock did itself proud Tuesday on its entertainment of the soldiers, sailors and marines who went out from McHenry county to take part in the great world war and have now returned to their homes to again enter into the manifold pursuits of peace.
Woodstock s motto—“the best little city anywhere"—was never more clearly proven true than on last Tuesday, when about 1,000 of the county's heroes, together with thousands of their friends and relatives from all of the surrounding towns and villages were congregated in this city for the greatest celebration Northern Illinois, outside of Chicago, has ever known.
It was an Ideal day and from early morn until late in the afternoon the automobiles came from every direction to bring the people here for the day's events.
Nearly all of McHenry county went on a strike that day, not only employees but employers as well. They couldn't be kept down on the farm any more than they could be held in stores and shops. And the fine part of it was nobody wanted to work— and they didn't. It was the big holiday for the home folks to give them a chance to welcome the khaki and blue back after their months of hard service for Uncle Sam.
Even those who were most optimistic were astounded at the success of the day. Woodstock has set a pace for her neighboring cities which will make them struggle to outdo or even equal the welcome extended to McHenry county’s soldiers, sailors and marines.
The program of the day was put through without a hitch. There was no disorder whatever, everybody had a great time and went home happy, although tired.
Estimates on Attendance
Conservative estimates of the size of the crowd in the county-seat Tuesday place the number around 15,000 to 20,000. Anyway it was the largest assemblage the city ever had on one day. The city park was one mass of people all day except when they were scattered for dinner and supper. In the evening while the entertainers were working, during the hour of the band concert and while the dancers moved over the waxed pavement, it was next to impossible to move about the park and streets without great difficulty.
Outside talent in the form of outdoor cabaret had been engaged. It was like watching a three-ring circus and trying not to miss a thing. Quartets singing one place, dancing girls at another and comedy artists keeping the crowd in an uproar somewhere else. The boys with the accordions "push fiddles’" as some called them, were kept busy for hours.
The committee in charge of the booths worked all day and evening handing out pop, gum, peanuts and cigarettes lo the uniformed guests. Everything was free to them, just as it should be, and their lady friends were not denied the good things passed out over the counters either. Many came to the booths to buy drinks and eats but there was no money box at these stands, so the would-be purchasers had to go to the regular refreshment parlors to be served.
McHenry and Burton townships each had a headquarters tent in one
The Woodstock Sentinel of June 12, 1919 describes the planning and the day's events.
WOODSTOCK SENTINEL THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1919.
VOLUME SIXTY-THREE WOODSTOCK McHENRY COUNTY. IL NUMBER FIFTY
WOODSTOCK ACTS AS HOST TO COUNTY
CHEERING CROWDS GREET MARCHING RANKS OF UNIFORMED MEN OF McHENRY COUNTY
LARGEST CROWDS CHEER SOLDIERS AT CELEBRATION
The Parade—Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Passing Reviewing Stand
Twenty Thousand People Make Home-coming Celebration Greatest Day in Woodstock’s History
NOT A HITCH OCCURS TO MAR BIG DAYS CELEBRATION
Woodstock Surpasses All Expectations in Entertaining Visiting Soldiers
Woodstock did itself proud Tuesday on its entertainment of the soldiers, sailors and marines who went out from McHenry county to take part in the great world war and have now returned to their homes to again enter into the manifold pursuits of peace.
Woodstock s motto—“the best little city anywhere"—was never more clearly proven true than on last Tuesday, when about 1,000 of the county's heroes, together with thousands of their friends and relatives from all of the surrounding towns and villages were congregated in this city for the greatest celebration Northern Illinois, outside of Chicago, has ever known.
It was an Ideal day and from early morn until late in the afternoon the automobiles came from every direction to bring the people here for the day's events.
Nearly all of McHenry county went on a strike that day, not only employees but employers as well. They couldn't be kept down on the farm any more than they could be held in stores and shops. And the fine part of it was nobody wanted to work— and they didn't. It was the big holiday for the home folks to give them a chance to welcome the khaki and blue back after their months of hard service for Uncle Sam.
Even those who were most optimistic were astounded at the success of the day. Woodstock has set a pace for her neighboring cities which will make them struggle to outdo or even equal the welcome extended to McHenry county’s soldiers, sailors and marines.
The program of the day was put through without a hitch. There was no disorder whatever, everybody had a great time and went home happy, although tired.
Estimates on Attendance
Conservative estimates of the size of the crowd in the county-seat Tuesday place the number around 15,000 to 20,000. Anyway it was the largest assemblage the city ever had on one day. The city park was one mass of people all day except when they were scattered for dinner and supper. In the evening while the entertainers were working, during the hour of the band concert and while the dancers moved over the waxed pavement, it was next to impossible to move about the park and streets without great difficulty.
Outside talent in the form of outdoor cabaret had been engaged. It was like watching a three-ring circus and trying not to miss a thing. Quartets singing one place, dancing girls at another and comedy artists keeping the crowd in an uproar somewhere else. The boys with the accordions "push fiddles’" as some called them, were kept busy for hours.
The committee in charge of the booths worked all day and evening handing out pop, gum, peanuts and cigarettes lo the uniformed guests. Everything was free to them, just as it should be, and their lady friends were not denied the good things passed out over the counters either. Many came to the booths to buy drinks and eats but there was no money box at these stands, so the would-be purchasers had to go to the regular refreshment parlors to be served.
McHenry and Burton townships each had a headquarters tent in one
Creator
Date
1919
Collection
Citation
Tripp, “Train Depot World War 1 Homecoming Celebration, 1919,” Woodstock Public Library Archives, accessed May 14, 2024, https://woodstockpubliclibraryarchives.omeka.net/items/show/573.
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