ALTON - On Monday, September 1, 1924, Altonians celebrated Labor Day with a parade and big picnic in Rock Spring Park. The Building Trades Council and the Trades and Labor Assembly sponsored the “monster celebration.” The ladies’ auxiliary of the carpenters’ union decorated an especially spectacular float.
The parade began at Sportsman’s Park in the East End at 9:30 a.m. and marched along Broadway to City Hall Square (what is now Lincoln-Douglas Square – a fire destroyed the original Alton City Hall on April 22, 1924), up Piasa Street to Third Street, and back to City Hall Square, where the parade disbanded. Afterwards, participants went to Rock Spring Park for the picnic and other activities.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
A printed program was given out in advance:
Between 3,000 and 4,000 people went to the park for the picnic. In addition to the wrestling, boxing, and dancing, baseball games were played at Rock Spring Park and at Sportsman’s Park. Everything was going well until a sudden storm arose at 5 p.m. People hurried to the two pavilions, but many failed to make it to shelter before the heavy rain doused them. The storm was so intense and flooding in Alton so severe that the Trades & Labor Assembly and Building Trades Council rescheduled the picnic, dance, boxing matches, and wrestling matches for Saturday, September 6th.
The Rock Spring Park picnic was not the only celebration held in the area in 1924. The North Side A.M.E. Church gave an all-day picnic at Cannon’s grove (the home of Mrs. Joseph Cannon) in Godfrey township. Barbequed meat, chicken, and fish were served. Trucks ran between the North Side and the Cannon home to bring church members out for the picnic. Almost the entire congregation attended, as well as many members of Rocky Fork Church. Everyone reported having a great time.
Sources
“Alton to Have Big Labor Day Celebration.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), August 23, 1924.
“City Hall Wrecked by Flames.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), April 22, 1924.
“North Side A.M.E. Labor Day Picnic.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), August 30, 1924.
“Notes.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), September 2, 1924.
“Parade to Mark Observance of Labor Day Here on Monday.” Alton Evening Telegraph
“Picnic and Dance Rock Spring Park.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), September 5, 1924.
“Picnic Features Celebration of Labor Day Here.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), September 2, 1924.
Old Alton Views - Electrical Workers Union Labor Day Parade,1905, [object Object] (Illinois Digital Archives), 2024-08-20,http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll61/id/1129
More like this:
