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Fowler marks
87th
Missouri Day celebration
2007
The
chief event for the first
Missouri Day, held on June 26,
1920, was a tug of war that was
held at the Arkansas River.
Missouri
Day 2007 marks the 87th birthday
of the "big one-day event" as it
was called long ago. The very
first Missouri Day celebration
was held on Saturday, June 26,
1920.
According to the article
published in the "Fowler
Tribune" on June 25, the main
objective of this celebration
was to gather all the former
residents of the "Show Me"
state, as well as visiting
residents, for a social good
time. Former Missourians were
asked to participate in a basket
dinner, however, this event was
not limited to just Missourians.
Many sports events followed the
picnic including the chief event
of a big tug of war. The tug of
war contest was held at the
Arkansas River and had former
Missourians from the north of
the Missouri River on one side
of the rope while those who
resided on the south side pulled
on the other end.
In 1933, Fowler crowned its
first Missouri Day queen. Young
ladies between the ages of 15
and 25 campaigned for the crown.
Miss Maurine Woods received the
most votes and was crowned the
first-ever Missouri Day queen.
Her court of honor consisted of
Pauline Moffitt, Mary Boone,
Lilly Dell Harriman, Helen
Strange, Evadne Purinton, Alice
Baylor and Velma Mae Allison.
The Missouri Day celebration was
traditionally held on the second
Wednesday in August. In 1974,
the Missouri Day Committee
decided to moved the celebration
to Saturday, July 13. Missouri
Day from then on was held on the
third Saturday in July. Each
year, the one day event became
increasingly bigger and better
than the year before, bringing
several thousand visitors to the
area. This year, the event was
moved to the second Saturday in
July to accommodate the
carnival.
Today, Missouri Day is still the
best event Fowler has attempted,
with many traditions still
remaining and others
being formed.
lajuntatribunedemocrat - fowler |
