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| 1933 Century of Progress Exposition Documents |
City to Observe 100th Birthday With Gala Fete
Anniversary of Incorporation to Be Celebrated at the Fair.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 9 August 1933, pg. 27.
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Another great day of A Century of Progress—the day, in fact, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of the trustees of the town of Chicago—is coming Saturday.
With pageantry, music and pomp the city will celebrate "Incorporation day" at the Chicago Historical Society's museum and on the exposition grounds.
One feature will be an exchange of greetings between Mayor Kelly and a character dressed to represent Thomas J. V. Owens, who, on Aug. 12, 1833, became president of Chicago's first board of trustees.
Colorful Program.
But that will be only one feature. United States cavalry, sailors and the famous Black Horse troop of Illinois will make the program colorful, and historical experts will help bring back the days before the last century's progress set in.
From Virginia and Florida and other parts of the nation descendants of old Chicago settlers are coming to participate in the ceremonies.
They will gather at 10 a.m. at the historical society's headquarters, Clark street and North avenue, the white-pillared portico which will serve as a stage for the first event of the program.
Prof. James A. James of Northwestern university, full of the lore of old Chicago and the middle west, will be master of ceremonies. He will present Dr. Otto Schmidt, president of the historical society, who will survey briefly Chicago's first century.
"First Board" in Costume.
Next Prof. James will introduce a company of persons costumed to represent the membership of the first board of trustees. Other early Chicagoans of historic importance will be introduced, as will a group of Indian chiefs.
That part of the program will be brief. Upon its conclusion the party will proceed in motor cars to the Court of Honor on the fair grounds. And from there, with a picturesque, costumed crowd which will have waited for them, they will parade through the exposition grounds to the Travel and Transport building court, where the main program is set to being at 11:30 a.m.
The parade will be a procession of Chicagoans as they were in 1833. Pretty belles and handsome beaus will be in it, together with men representing the city's first politicians, business men and traders. The "army" of Fort Dearborn likewise will be represented, along with numerous Indians.
Authentic vehicles of the period, part of the Wings of a Century pageant of the exposition, will be in the march. A United States army band will play and the always thrilling Black Horse troop will do its part.
Pageantry Prologue.
The program in the Travel and Transport court will start with a pageantry prologue accompanied with music.
On one side of the platform will be representatives of the early settlers, including the five members of the first board of trustees: President Owen, George Dole, Madore Beaubien, Dr. E. S. Kimberly and John Miller.
On the opposite side present-day citizens will sit, including Mayor Kelly and the city council, Rufus Dawes, Prof. James, a representative of Chicago Historical Society, and representatives of the army, navy and Black Horse troop.
Mayor Kelly has officially designated the day by proclamation as Incorporation day.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 14 January 2006
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