“Designed to add a touch of novelty to the Korn Karnival and to impress upon the visitors attracted by the Karnival that the pretty babies were not overlooked, the Baby Buggy Parade, which passed over the principal streets Thursday afternoon proved to be one of the most picturesque parades of the kind ever witnessed in the city.”
“Rich in color and beauty it easily exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the promoters. Frankly speaking nothing like it was ever seen in this section. Practically all Portsmouth turned out to pay tribute to the little ones and their beautifully decorated carriages.”1
“The winners in the Baby Buggy Parade yesterday afternoon were:”
- “First prize, $15, Mary and Rebecca Snyder, children of Mr. and Mrs2. John W Snyder of Second street.”
- “Second prize, $10, Francis Harold Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs3. HS Boyd4 of Third street.”
- “Third prize, $5, Robert Edward Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs.5 Edward Russell, of Gay street.”
- “Fourth prize, basket of flowers, Mary Vallee Harold, daughter of Vallee Harold67 of Gay street.”
- “Fifth prize, basket of flowers, Lawrence Richard Wagner, son of Mr. and Mrs.8 Lawrence J Wagner of Offnere street.”
“It would have been the height of folly to have attempt to convince thousands of Korn Karnival Thursday that the baby buggy parade Thursday afternoon was not the crowning feature of the Karnival. Nothing ever attempted in a public-spirited sort of a way before has brought forth such universal satisfaction and commendation.”
“Its success far exceeded the fondest of its promoters, and when the history of the 1914 Korn Karnival is written the baby buggy parade will occupy a conspicuous page.”
“Words are inadequate to picture the sweetness with which this feature was received and permeated the very atmosphere for squares and carried with it an influence that was not easily shaken off.”
“A Parisian artist could not begin to describe the beauty of a single buggy in the parade. For artistic design and exception they could not have excelled. Almost every idea typifying the purity and innocence of childhood was employed by the mothers who entered their babes in the contest. To attempt to adequately describe a single entry would be futile.”
“Flower and gorgeous trimmings were abundant and profusely used in the decorations, and the finished product was the work of the artist in every instance, as the thousands who witnesses the parade will testify.”
“Inside each buggy was a precious jewel, with which the beautiful decorations and colors would have seemed tame and inconsequential. Without exception, the pretty little cherub in the center of the miniature float was the read attraction. The babies as a while behaved admirably and justified the claims of the proud mothers or fathers who pushed them.”
“The large crowd which thronged the streets along the line of marks somewhat hindered the plans of the committee in charge, but it did not detract one iota from the enjoyment which the parade gave. People rushed in such numbers, that the buggies were slowly pushed in the side of the street instead of the center, as had been planned.”
“The judges were prevented from getting the second look at the babies when they counter marched on Chillicothe street, and this interfered with their plan on arriving at their decisions. The first time the ones picked as the most formidable contenders were listed separately, and it was the intention of the judges to watch them more closely on the return, but circumstances compelled them to make their awards from the first view.”
“The buggy carrying Mary Rebecca and Rufus Snyder, child and Mr. and Mrs. John W Snyder, which was drawn by six of the older Snyder children, all garbed in spotless white, was unanimously awarded first prize by the five judges, each on of which picked that entry for first place. This decision met with popular favor. First prize was $15.”
“Second place went to the buggy containing Francis Harold Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. HS Boyd, of Third street. Two of the five judges picked this outfit for second place., one for third place, and a fourth judge awarded it fourth place. The second prize was $10.”
“Third prize, amounting to $5, was awarded to Edward Robert Russell’s buggy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Russell, of Gay street. four judges picked this buggy for position, one awarding it second place, one third, and two fourth.”
“The buggy carrying Mary Vallee Harold, daughter of Vallee Harold, was awarded fourth prize, a basket of flowers. This buggy was picked for third position by three of the judges while a fourth judge listed it as fourth.”
“The fifth prize, also a basket of flowers, went to the buggy containing Lawrence Richard Wagner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J Wagner, of Summit street. One judge picked it as second, one for fourth and another for fifth.”
“Two other buggies received votes from the judges, but not sufficient to get them in the prize class. These buggies carried Joseph Thomas Suter, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Suter, awarded fourth position by two judges and fifth by another; Mary Pauline Grimes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.9 John Grimes, awarded second position by two of the judges.”
“According to the judges, the following are deserving of special mention: Eloise Elaine Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.10 Dr. George Martin; Bert Hurth son of Mr. and Mrs11. A Hurth12; Sarah Ann Marting, daughter of Mr. and Mrs13. Albert Marting; George Allen Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs.14 George Adams; Albert Ball, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ball; William Thomas Rayburn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rayburn, Gordon Fessler, son of Mr. and Mrs15. Jacob Fessler; Joan Stritmatter daughter of Mr. and Mrs.16 Edward Stritmatter; John Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Taylor.”17
- Baby Buggy Parade. (1914, October 8). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 5.
- Agnes Susan Weber Snyder
- Elizabeth L Becker Boyd
- Harry Sidney Boyd
- Helen Marie Brushart Russell
- Louis Vallee Harold
- Mary Agnes Stanton Vallee was her mother who died as a result of childbirth.
- Clara Maria Chinn Wagner
- Frances Caldwell Coleman Grimes
- Mary Louise Kaster Martin
- Loretta “Lottie” Klein Hurth
- Adolph Ignatius Hurth
- Rowena Nye Drew Marting
- Bessie Sohner Adams
- Myrtle Soister Fessler
- Katherine May Noble Strittmatter
- Baby Buggy Parade is Hit of Karnival. (1914, October 9). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 12.
