University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

Page 23 text:

Contests and mock raids in addition to vari- ous other projects were undertaken last spring to provide publicity for the all-out party this fall. A special Centennial postmark was ap- proved for use. Contests were held to pick a title for the pageant and a Centennial seal. The Crowned Century Centennial was the selected pageant title. On May 1, 1954, a group of KU students galloped through town in a simulation of Quantrill ' s raid. After the students raided the town, they were treated to dinner at the Chuck Wagon. The official opening of the Lawrence Cen- tennial came on September 15, with the town gaily decorated for the event. Sarah Law- rence Slattery, a granddaughter of Amos Law- rence, for whom the town was named, attend- ed the celebration. Store windows were filled with displays of antiques and early American articles. The latest word in clothes (1854 version) was represented in store windows and worn by the local residents. Swing your partner! Round you go! and the sound of fiddlers mixed with modern music at the second big event of the Centen- nial celebration, the Centennial ball, on Sep- tember 22. Trails West, a pageant depicting 100 years of Lawrence and Douglas County his- tory, was presented at Haskell Institute dur- ing the week of the Centennial. It featured a cast of six hundred people and included horses, oxen, carriages, Indians, music and fireworks, all combined to produce a mam- moth spectacle. Polly Peppercorn, KU fresh- man, reigned as queen over the pageant. She was attended by nine girls, including Judy Cotton, sophomore, as the Duchess of Douglas County. The big two-mile Centennial parade on Massachusetts avenue was Saturday, Septem- ber 25. Complete with bands, floats, pioneer groups, carriages, and marching units, the parade was a colorful panorama. Even the untimely drizzle couldn ' t put a damper on the enthusiasm. The end of September brought the Centen- nial celebration to a close, as Lawrence settled down to begin its second century. I told you we should have turned right at the last corner. 21

Page 22 text:

A birthday party on a grand scale was held in Lawrence, Kansas, this fall. The city cele- brated its 100th year of existence as thou- sands of people turned out to say happy birthday! Lawrence had reason to be proud. It originated in 1854 as a log cabin settle- ment, survived two burnings in its first dec- ade, and finally advanced to become a mod- ern, thriving community surrounding and sup- porting the University of Kansas. Many of the Centennial preparations began as far back as last year. An early start was obvious when it came to the beard growers. Local enthusiasts of this fad began cultivating whiskers last year and kept on growing them until the first of October. Buttons could be by Carol Bowman purchased, certifying that the beard grower was an official brother of the brush. If a gentleman wished to abstain from beard-grow- ing, he had to pay two dollars for a permit. By Centennial week, celebrated this fall, there were bearded bus drivers, postmen, store own- ers, and college students. These bearded men became well-known because their pictures were often featured in the local paper. As a climax to the Centennial celebration, a con- test was held and prizes were awarded for the best beards in the different categories. Along with the beards came calico dresses, sunbonnets, and string ties that provided a strange contrast to the twentieth century cloth- ing on the streets of downtown Lawrence. Will this pass ROTC inspection? Contest on- other to providf fall A?] proved (o title for I The Cro selected [ ronp of inasinm o dinner The of rente, toi ed tie eel version) andwn the -an music at nial celel (ember Z Trail: tor) ' , H; east of horses, firewk rootlspe roan, rei Count;-, her 25, groups, lnu$ia; Tkeer

Page 24 text:

MATHER MOVES IN Charles V. Mather assumed his first coaching position at Brilliant, Ohio, in 1937, where the high school grid squad presented him with a 0-won 7-lost sea- son ' s record. In his next 1 3 years of prep coaching, at three other Ohio schools, Chuck Mather won III, dropped I I , and tied 5. His past 6 years have been spent at Washington high in Massillon, where Mather ' s rec- ord reads 57-won, 3-lost, and six con- secutive state championships. By Betty Lou Watson and Dick Walt