The big Fourth of July celebration at Jewell yesterday under the auspices of The American Legion, despite threatening weather in the morning, went over with the proverbial bang.

     It is estimated that in the neighborhood of 15,000 people were present to share in the hospitality extended to them by the citizens of Jewell, and from the crack of the first fire cracher in the morning to the last sky rocket in the night, everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.

     The parade in the morning at 10 o'clock was the drawing card for the early festivities.  In the parade were two bands, the Karl L. King band of Fort Dodge, and the Jewell municipal band, the Auxiliary drill team, Boy Scouts, Pioneer boys, a large number of floats, decorated cars, skooters and bicycles.  "Stub" Kahl and Glen Maxon furnished a great deal of amusement by driving an aged Ford dolled up with odd-sized wheels, flat tires, and whatnots.

     The baseball game scheduled for the forenoon between Blairsburg and Rose Grove was not played owing to the very wet grounds.

     The highlights of the afternoon was the speech by Smith W. Brookhart, the baseball game between Collins and Radcliffe, and the concerts by the Karl L. King band.
 

     William Pitzer is in Fort Dodge today representing Ellsworth High School in the all-Northwestern Iowa school band, which will give a concert tonight at the Northwest Teachers association convention.

     The band will be directed by Karl King, famous composer and director, and will have two rehearsals as a whole, one this morning and the other this afternoon.  The band will play the following overtures: "Magic Garden," "Zanzibar,"  "Cinderella",   "Evening Shadows," and the marches, "Iowa Band Law,"  "Crosley March," and "True Blue."

     Members of the Hamilton County 4-H Club band participated last Thursday in the dedication of a new band stand in the city square at Fort Dodge.   Twelve northwestern Iowa bands were present for the occasion and several thousand visitors enjoyed the all-day musical program.

     It was really Karl King day for Fort Dodge, visiting musicians and home town friends honoring the director of the Fort Dodge municipal band, who has a worldwide reputation as a march composer.   At the dedication ceremony which featured the evening program, Iowa bandmasters, in Fort Dodge for their annual convention, city officials and civic leaders praised King as a leader in the musical world, and he was presented with a gold medal, a gift from the city.

     The day was a long series of band concerts, culminating with a dinner, the dedication program and a concert by a massed band of 350 pieces, directed by King.

     Those who were in Fort Dodge from this vicinity were Carl and Martin Teig, Arnold Twedt, Joe Henderson, Myron and Alvin Gere, Loyd Oakland and Casper Torkelson, all of Randall;  Russell Bergeson, Selmer Sather, William Pitzer, Paul Weaver, R. L. Bright, John E. Olson, Ivan Vallem, Mr. and Mrs. Verdis Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. Hanson, Mrs. Tom Moore and Calra Sogard, all of Ellsworth.

     The Hamilton County 4-H club band will leave early Sunday morning for Chicago where it will take part in the activities of the National Boy's and Girls' Club Congress in connection with the International Livestock Show and Exposition.   This will make the fourth consecutive year that this band has been in Chicago for the exposition, and 30 to 33 memers expect to make up the personnel of the band on this trip.

     It is being planned to make the trip this year to the Windy City in motor vehicles.  A 12-passenger bus from Webster City will be used and the remainder of the band will go in automobiles.   The headquarters of the band this year will be the Lorraine Hotel, just outside the loope, this change being necessary as all the loop hotels raised their rates the first of October, and just as good accommodations can be secured at the Lorraine at a lower rate.

     The first four days of next week will be devoted to parades, sightseeing and bandquets, with the delegates of the 4-H clubs as guests of the International Harvester Company on Thursday as a grand windup of the big week.

     The members of the band who are planning on going to Chicago are as follows:   W. L. Schaub, Webster City, director.
     Cornets -- Carl Teig, Scott township;   Russell Bergeson, Ellsworth; Arnold Twedt, Jewell; Clayton Kent, Stanhope; Wendell Carlson, Stanhope; Arthur Buettner, Williams; Waldo Widman, Cass twonship.
     Trombones -- Martin Teig, Scott township; Edmund Hanson, Stanhope; Clifford Leopold, Webster City; Roland Meister, Williams; Alvin Gere, Ellsworth township.
     Baritones -- Melvin Bell, Williams; Geo. A. Hanson, Ellsworth.
     Saxophones -- Raymond Lutjen, Stanhope; Joe Carson, Kamrar.
     Oboe -- Casper Torkelson, Ellsworth township.
     Sousaphones -- Myron Gere, Ellsworth township; Robert Buell and Robert Huddlestun, Webster City.
     Drums -- Jack Phillips and Harlan Olson, Webster City.
     Alto -- Lloyd Okland, Randall.
     Clarinets -- Alton Berggren, of Stanhope; Buane Beightol, Edgar Pilchard, Bernard Demoratsky, Webster City; Sam Sather and Paul Weaver, Ellsworth; Sandord Torkelson, Ellsworth township; Herman Carstens, Williams.

     Karl L. King, the march king of America, last week produced a brilliant march which he has dedicated to the Hamilton County 4-H Club band, entitled, "International Favorites."   This music was on hand for the rehearsal of the band last Sunday, and it was voted a 100 per cent march by the members.   It is the intention of the band to make this their official march, and it is hoped that it will become the official march of the national 4-H clubs.   County Agent Rex E. Yockey has sent a copy of the music to Washington to the national headquarters of the 4-H clubs, with the intention that "International Favorites" will be played by the United States Marine band over the radio during one of the monthly programs of the 4-H clubs.
 

- Published April, 1952 -

   On Friday night of this week, the Jewell school band will render a concert at the Jewell school gymnasium at 8:15 p.m.    Karl L. King, of Fort Dodge, dean of American band music composers, will be here to direct the band in some of his own compositions.

   Mr. Karl King, nationally known director and march composer, has accepted an invitation to appear at the annual spring music concert in Randall on April 22.   Mr. King will direct the school band in playing a few of his own march numbers.
 

- Published April 19, 1953 -

Large attendance at spring concert

     A large audience attended the annual spring music concert in the Randall gymnasium, April 22, 1953.

     Groups participating were the Girl's Glee Club, Sextet, Mixed Chorus, Junior Band, and Concert Band.   The entire program lasted about one hour and fifteen minutes.

    The well-known composer, Karl King, directed the Randall Band through two of his marches.

     The Band Mother's Club served lunch following the program.
 
 
 
 

     The Karl King Band will present a concert in the Ellsworth School on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:00 p.m.

    Mr. King is director of the Ft. Dodge band and this will be classified as a free educational concert.

This article was published August 1, 1968.

1968 Watermelon Day Coming

     The crowds will be heading to Stanhope early Tuesday morning, August 6, and with the long and impressive list of activities scheduled for the annual Watermelon Day, it is certain that the town will be filled all morning, afternoon and evening.

     The festivities will start at 10:30 A. M. with the big parade.   Parade chairman Gordon Quam says that this year's parade will be bigger and better than ever.   Of course, there can never be too many entries, and Gordon invites and urges everyone to participate.   Entries and information concerning the parade may be obtained from Gordon.

     The afternoon's activities will include local stands, concessions, rides for the kiddies and fun of all kinds.  Always one of the major attractions is the free Watermelon served to all who attend.

     Last year onver nine and a half tons of watermelon was served to the happy people who enjoyed the big day.   Obtaining, preparing and serving the Watermelon is a tremendous job.   Several days before the event the watermelon is loaded on a big Hove truck, iced down and covered.   The day of the event it is transferred into tubs, and then the volunteers really go to work serving it to the appreciative guests who come to Stanhope from miles around.

     The evening feature will be a personal appearance by the famed Karl King band of Fort Dodge.   Mr. King is a nationally famous band master and composer, and his appearance in Stanhope at the Watermelon Day celebration is certain to be a major attraction.

     Another new feature at Watermelon Day this year will be the state wildlife exhibit.   This exhibit has been on display at the major fairs and other events throughout the state, and will add a great deal to the Stanhope activities.

     Ball games in the evening will climax the activity and there is no question but what people will say that this year's Watermelon Day was one of the biggest and best yet.

     The annual event is a project of the very active Stanhope Lions Club, which does a great deal for the community during the entire year.   The Stanhope Lions Club is known throughout central Iowa as one of the most active, progressive and community oriented service clubs in existance.

     Stanhope Watermelon Day held Tuesday was more than a town promotion . . . it was a wonderful event for the entire South Hamilton area!   The day was a perfect "watermelon day", with the weather plenty hat and the sun bright.   The town was absolutely full, and the friendly, fun filled spirit on the part of everyone was just what was needed to make the whole event and unqualified success.

     A large measure of praise and appreciation should be extended to Stahope Lions Club and everyone who made the big day possible.   The parade was particularly impressive.

     Of course, the free watermelon was delicious, and there were many activities to keep adults and children alike interested and active all afternoon.   The evening's Karl King band concert and the ball game that followed provided the perfect finish to a wanderful day.

     When town celebrations such as Stanhope's Watermelon Days are as well planned, well runa dn widely appreciated as this one, there is no question but what these special days have an important part in the activities of a small town.   Congratulations, Stanhope, and all your hard working, civic minded citizens who did an outstanding job.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

July 30, 1969 advertisement for Stanhope's Watermelon Day Celebration
The Karl King Band will perform at 7 p.m.

Karl King Band will play at 7 p.m.
for the Stanhope Watermelon Days Summer event.

Published in the South Hamilton Record News on July 31, 1969:

     The crowds will be heading to Stanhope early Tuesday morning, August 5 and with the long and impressive list of activities scheduled for the annual Watermelon Day, it is certain that the town will be filled all morning, afternoon and evening.

     The festivities will start at 10:30 A.M. with the big parade.   Parade chairman Gordon Quam says that this year's parade will be bigger and better than ever.   Of course, there can never be too many entries, and Gordon invites and urges everyone to participate.   Entries and information concerning the parade may be obtained from Gordon.

     The afternoon's activities will include local stands, concessions, rides for the kiddies and fun of all kinds.   Always one of the major attractions is the free Watermelon served to all who attend.

     The evening feature will be a personal appearance by the famed Karl King band of Fort Dodge.   Mr. King is a nationally famous band master and composer, and his appearance in Stanhope at the Watermelon Day celebration is certain to be a major attraction . . . .