Patriotism Forest Hills Style, July 5, 1920

By Michael Perlman

Forest Hills Gardens town crier

Back in 1914, the annual Independence Day festival was launched in the Forest Hills Gardens. This set off a tradition where committees, residents, and friends participated in a day-long program for all generations and interests in an exquisitely decorated and uniquely illuminated Station Square, as well as the Forest Hills Inn and Tea Garden, Olivia Park, and along Greenway Terrace. A most historical Forest Hills event was on July 4, 1917, when Colonel Theodore Roosevelt delivered his “One Hundred Percent American” unification speech at the LIRR Station to address WWI. Today, patriotism and tradition continue to echo in a modified form through Children’s Day at Flagpole Green in June. Let’s turn back the clock to July 5, 1920, which marked the 144th anniversary of America’s independence.

The ceremony on Village Green now Flagpole Green

Keeping in mind that the 1919 celebration cost $3,057.90, Dr. Thompson Tyler Sweeny, who served as the Chair of the 1920 celebration, requested that every Gardens family contribute an average of $10. It was anticipated as the greatest of Independence Day celebrations yet! The Forest Hills Gardens Bulletin published, “Not only were the birds singing cheerily to arouse the villagers from morning slumbers, but through the streets early on July 5 came the Town Crier calling lustily to all to come to the Green for the Flag-raising at 9:30.” The ceremony featured members of American Legion Post 630 and Boy Scouts Troop 2 under the direction of Harvey Warren, who served as Post president and scoutmaster. Uniformed servicemen and Boy Scouts assembled in Station Square and began marching to Village Green. After Warren played the part of a Colonial Town Crier, he changed into military garb. The flag was raised and a patriotic prayer was made. A chorus sang patriotic tunes under guidance of the famed Glee Clubs leader Bruno Huhn, with piano accompaniment by Mrs. Charles H. Scammell, who was considered “the foster mother of all good singing of Forest Hills Gardens.”

Children were ready to play games in Station Square at 10 AM, thanks to the direction of Dr. W. F. Seybolt.. The publication read, “There are between fifty and sixty very happy boys and girls who are wearing bronze and silver badges, won at the children’s games in canvas-covered Station Square between 10 and 12 o’clock.” It continued, “With kiddie car races, pillow fights, sack and relay races, a whole program of fun, speed, and skill was carried out.” The lineup also included games for adults such as a baby carriage race, football kicking and ball tossing, tilting matches, tug-of-war between easterners and westerners.

 

At 2 PM, Hawthorn Park became a baseball field where the “Inn Warriors” (the Inns) clashed with the “Station Square Cohorts” (the Outs). An umpire appeared in armor, while a batter wore petticoats. The Daily Star reported, “There will be no tennis this year, the committee having decided that tennis is so integral a part of the life of the community as to make a baseball game a greater diversion.” The Forest Hills Gardens Bulletin stated, “The Outs came nobly from the rear and put the winning run over the plate to the accompaniment of the deafening plaudits of the assembled throng.” It later read, “It was a dashing game, and the narrow margin of one run by which the Outs won their victory shows how closely it was played.” The Inns’ captain was Ray Bell whereas Edmund O’Shea led the Outs. 

By 4 PM, attendees were in tune for opera at Olivia Park, a natural amphitheatre. Milton Aborn directed a company which performed “Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo (1892) and “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni (1889). The Metropolitan chorus featured 24 vocalists and the Metropolitan orchestra featured 17 members. Scenery was minimal to maximize on the park’s charming ambiance.

Between 5 and 7 PM, festivities included a home-cooked supper by the Women’s Guild of the Church-in-the-Gardens social room for $1, where the proceeds would benefit the Community House fund.

At 7:30 PM, they made their way back to Station Square for a band concert and the community Choral Club that performed several patriotic airs comprised of nearly 75 vocalists. Another highlight was music at twilight by the Regiment Band of the 22nd Corps of Engineers, a 40-piece band under Master George Briegel. The evening continued with dancing in Station Square at 9 PM, lasting until midnight. The Forest Hills Gardens Bulletin read, “The dance on Station Square, lighted by myriads of red, white, and blue incandescents, will fittingly close a happy family and community patriotic day – the Independence Day of 1920, long to be remembered”… “The decorations will consist of myriads of American flags interspersed with those of the Allies, all placed to produce the best effect.” It also stated, “All the lads and lassies, maids and matrons and escorts danced on the canvas covering until – well, why tell the hour – for the music was the best and the night balmy.” Over 3,000 people were in the audience and among the dancers, and Chairman Henry W. Hirschberg was commended for this final feature.

The festival offered a humanitarian aspect. Proceeds from the refreshment booth, which served ice cream cones, lemonade, iced tea, sandwiches, and cake, benefited the Big Sisters of Queens Borough. Based on the prior year’s partnership, the Big Sisters received over $200 and assisted seven children who would have traditionally ended up in institutions, and ultimately helped them find suitable homes. 

Reflecting on the festival’s success, the publication stated, “Our friends and relatives were here in such numbers that it was apparent that our village is growing, and that everyone likes ‘our party,’ as Dr. Sweeny, the chairman, called it.” It continued, “The most impressive and appropriate part of the program, in the humble opinion of the editor, was in the Flag raising and the singing of the newly christened Choral Club.”

A similar version was featured in Michael Perlman's Forest Hills Times column: http://foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27760129/article-1920s-patriotism--Forest-Hills-style

A Forest Hills Tribute To July 4, 1918

By Michael Perlman

Chairman Eckman of 4th of July Celebration introducing Senator Calder, Station Square, 1918

Originating in 1914, the Forest Hills Gardens coordinated annual Independence Day festivals in exquisitely decorated Station Square with activities at the Forest Hills Inn and Tea Garden, Olivia Park, and along Greenway Terrace. One of the most communicated events was on July 4, 1917, when Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, delivered his “One Hundred Percent American” unification speech at the LIRR Station, pleading for a single standard of patriotism and loyalty to the America of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, to address WWI.

Now it is time to turn back the clock to the 1918 festivities, which were also meaningful, but yet, long-forgotten. Today, patriotism and tradition continue to echo locally in a modified form, particularly through Children’s Day at Flagpole Green in early June, although a century ago large-scale Independence Day celebrations were held on the actual day. 

Flag raising ceremony on Village Green, July 4, 1918

A flag raising ceremony proceeded on Village Green (now Flagpole Green), and Reverend Joseph McLaughlin of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs delivered an address. H.E. Conway read excerpts of Secretary Franklin Lane’s address and patriotic songs were recited. Tennis matches were played on courts that once occupied the site of The Inn Apartments, and the Obstacle Race was an attraction among the popular children’s games feature in Station Square. In Olivia Park, students of the noted Louis H. Chalif dance school at 165 West 57th Street performed the Twilight Symphony, an interpretative dance. 

Samuel W. Eckman, who served as Chairman of the Fourth of July Celebration, introduced Senator William M. Calder, who delivered an eloquent address resulting in rounds of applause by several hundred attendees throughout Station Square. His speech consisted of “The country owes a debt of gratitude to General Leonard Wood and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt for their work in stirring up the sentiment on every hand,” and “We are a long way from success, but we mean to fight it out to the last man, and we must all be ready to answer the call and to stand behind the government.” As a native Long Islander, he felt that Forest Hills was especially delightful, and he praised our community spirit.

Senator Calder felt that one of our most important achievements was passing the draft. He explained that “it put all men, the rich and poor alike, on terms of equality.” He established confidence for our future, based on the success of achievers including Harold Davies (WWI veteran) and Charles Schwab, the famed steel magnate.

Senator Calder discussed America’s conditions in its early days such as the Civil War, and pointed out our fight to free a portion of the human race. “We are now as never before a united people,” he said. “This is a war for justice to nations and to men, and when it is over, the treaties of peace must have a clause in then which should assure to all nations a just and complete peace. We must never forget our obligations to France in the time of the Revolution – how they helped us then and how we should help them now.”

He continued, “While America welcomes the oppressed of every nation to her shores, they must when they come join heartily in building up the honor and glory of the United States. We should here today consecrate ourselves anew to the cause of America and to the just war that she is engaged in.”

The agenda continued with “The Spirit of Play,” a masque presented by children, and character and patriotic dancing followed. Evening festivities consisted of dancing in Station Square, in addition to Camp Upton soldiers performing musical numbers. At the Church-In-The-Gardens, wounded soldiers and sailors of WWI were guests of honor at a dinner.

A great success resulted from the collaboration of various committees such as “Soldiers and Sailors” chaired by L.M. Burt, “Printing” by the prolific American type designer and printer Frederic W. Goudy, “Posters” by famed artist Herman Rountree, “Red Cross” by Mrs. Leon D’Emo, “Entertainment and Program” by John M. Demarest of the Sage Foundation Homes Company, and “Dances and Music” by W. Leslie Harriss.

A similar version has been published in Michael Perlman's Forest Hills Times column:www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27581231/article-A-Forest-Hills-Tribute-on-July-4--1918?