153. Early News Of A 1962 Winchester Founders Day Celebration.

March 1, 1962.  Committee Chairmen Are Appointed For City Founders Day Celebration.

  While most of the nation was busy projecting its imagination into a future space-age interplanetary  voyages, a group of Winchester citizens met to plan a return to the dress, fun and customs of the early 19th century.
  The meeting was called by Bill BERTRAM, general chairman of Winchester's Founders Day committee, which began plans for a celebration to be held this summer commemorating the 15th decade since the city's founding.
  The meeting was organizational, with committee chairmen appointed to handle various details of the six-day celebration, designed to be the first of a series, which, its originators hope, will be held each year until the date for a sesquicentennial celebration. Forty-five persons attended the meeting.
  Dates are July 17 through July 22.
  Chairmen appointed were Gerald PRESCOTT, in charge of the Tuesday evening historical parade; Mrs. Don DALY, Monday evening show chairman; Raymond TANNER and Mayor Ralph WEST, co- chairmen of the Wednesday evening torch-light parade, rally and ox roast; Glen HODSON and the barbers union, chairmen for beard-judging and awards; Jack ZALTSBERG, chairman of sidewalk merchandising; Dick CAMPOS, music chairman; Jerry HERRELL, pageant director; Joe Hamilton and Wallace FIELDS, pageant script; John HAINES, Mrs. Joe DRISCOLL and Miss Edith HALE, Jaycee and sorority chairmen for the grand ball; Randall BOWMER, chairman of a horseshoe tournament; G.J. CONLEY, Charles McROSE and the Winchester Kiwanis Club, finance committee.
  Considerable discussion was held concerning concession booths to be set up around the public square during Founders Day celebration. It was agreed that booth holders, which can be any county organization from Cub Scouts to home demonstration clubs, must pay a flat fee of $25 for space, plus 10 per cent of gross profits; each booth must arrange for its own electrical connection, but electricity will be provided. Booth space will go on sale March 5. G.J. Conley will be in charge of the booth-chart.
  Mrs. Helen Mills, local beauty operator, was present at the meeting to offer to style women's hair in the proper 19th century manner for the ball and pageants.
  Bertram said that the profits from booths and other possible concessions will be used to help finance the general celebration.

April 26, 1962.  Producing Company Hired.

  A producing company has been hired at a cost of $6,650 to organize the Winchester Founders Day Celebration, July 14-21.
  The producing company has organized hundreds of such historical events. The firm will aid in the organization of committees and committee work. It will write the historical pageant and furnish a business manager-director of six weeks as well as furnishing 275 costumes, a stage backdrop, lighting, make-up for the cast, properties, etc.
  Besides the physical things, the firm will be offering its experience and know-how and time of its employees. No one in Randolph county has the time or experience to produce such an affair.
  The project can be a benefit if we do more than reflect for a week on the tremendous debt we owe to the persons who founded this community.
  Then there is a real challenge to make this a successful affair as the profits will go into a fund to develop new industry, so vital to the growth of this area.
  This is a project that hundreds of persons, in fact every member of the community, can take part in and enjoy.
  Don't wait for someone to contact you to help....offer your services now to the officers of the non-profit company which will put on the celebration.
  Surely we can each accept this challenge which is so small in comparison with the one faced by the men and women we intend to honor July 14-21.

May 8, 1962. A  PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS;  The year 1962 has been dedicated to celebrating the One Hundred Forty-Fourth year of Winchester's incorporation, and,
WHEREAS;  The great Village of Winchester has set aside the dates July 13 through 21 of this year to celebrate this important milestone with Parades, Praise and Pageantry, The Great Winchester Spectacular, and, to remind us of the customs of our male citizens in early days
WHEREAS;  The male citizens of this village are desirous of entering the spirit of this historic event by wearing hair on their face where heretofore it has not appeared to remind us of the customs of our male citizens in early times,
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED; That I, Ralph M. West, Sr., Mayor of Winchester, Indiana, hereby proclaim that these public spirited citizens shall become members of the great fraternity known henceforth as "BROTHERS OF THE BRUSH."
  Members in good standing will agree to raise facial adornments in the form of mustaches, sideburns, goatees, full beards, or any combination thereof from this date forward until July 21, 1962. Members in good standing shall participate in such activities as directed to publicize our Great Winchester Founders Day Celebration; by joining chapters of the "Brothers." by participating in booster caravans and by wearing official derbies, top hats and/or similar old fashioned apparel before and during the actual celebration days.
  This Proclamation issued in the Founders Day spirit of good fun, and in recognition of the importance of visual support by all male citizenry of our glorious Founders Day Celebration.
  Proclamation signed this May day of 1962 by hand and seal.  Mayor Ralph West, Winchester, Indiana.

May 10, 1962.  Celebration Resolution.

WHEREAS, there has been formed a citizens committee to carry out plans for celebrating this Founders Day event, and
Whereas, it is the desire of us all that this event be a self sustaining event financially,
BE IT HEREBY KNOWN, that the Celebration Committee anticipates revenue from such projects as admissions to an historical pageant spectacle, and historical program advertising booklet, a carnival and the sale of such novelties and souvenirs as Booster Badges, Membership Certificates, Wooden Nickels, Commemorative Coins, Old Fashioned Wearing Apparel plus Ties, Plates and similar items,
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT NO INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION will sell, trade or give away anything that has a celebration reference or connotation without first obtaining written permission from the Founders Day Committee. APPROVED by City Councilmen: Ralph Drill, Fred Pittenger, Earl Junior Byrum, Ulysses Hinty, Mike Make and Mayor Ralph West.


If I can sweet-talk Thursa into posting some pictures, I'll have more later on Founders Day. mh