DESPITE DAMPNESS.
A field day and flag raising was given yesterday afternoon by the employees of Winslow’s tannery, with sports at Prospect park and a general good time. The exercises connected with the flag raising were held in the large addition, lately completed, to Winslow Bros.’ tannery. On the platform, decorated for the occasion with the national colors, wore Selectmen Fales and Bateman, Revs. Nead and Stephan of the Norwood clergy, the members of the present firm, and others.
Mr. George W, Gay presided and introduced Hon. F. O.Winslow as the speaker of the occasion. Mr. Winslow spoke in his usual able and happy manner, alluding to the significance of the occasion and to the lessons of the flag. He spoke of the history of the tanning industry in eastern Massachusetts and on the founding of that Industry in Norwood on the site of the present Winslow’s tannery. On the spot whore this new building had boon erected, the old bark mill, with its iron wheel, once stood. Of all the older tanning industries originally founded in this section of the state, the Norwood tanneries, including Winslow Bros.’ and Lyman Smith’s Sons’, are the only two remaining. Mr. Winslow spoke of the substantial character of the house of Winslow Bros. Throughout its long history its financial credit had never been questioned and its integrity lias never been discussed. There has never been a strike and labor unions have never existed and never had reason for existence there. Mr. Winslow spoke of the good and kindly feelings which have always existed at the tannery between employer and employed. He alluded to the fact that in the early history of the industry great numbers of men from foreign lands came there to work and had become good citizens of the town and the nation. He spoke of the flag as standing for the best governed country and most happy and prosperous people on earth. “It is,” said Mr. Winslow, “a gratification to me to know, my fellow-laborers, that that flag is yours.. Your money purchased it. It stands forth as an evidence of your loyalty and patriotism.”
In the course of Mr.Winslow’s remarks he made some allusions to “yellow kids,” which became a standing joke for the rest of the day. Ono of the best known institutions of the tannery is the building known as the “yellow shop.” Near tins shop are great numbers of sunflowers, which the employees of that particular shop wore in their buttonholes. Hence they wore called “yellow kids” for the rest of the day.
At the close of Mr. Winslow’s remarks cheers were given for the old firm of Winslow Bros., for the speaker of the occasion and for the flag. A procession was then formed, headed by the Norwood band, and followed by employees and guests, which proceeded to Prospect park. As the procession passed the residence of F. O. Winslow a halt was made and the procession by divisions cheered Mr. Winslow, who gracefully touched his hat at each successive salute.
At about the time the procession started for Prospect Park it began to rain, and the rain continued most of the afternoon. The programme of sports was mostly carried out, however. There was a large crowd in attendance and the grandstand was crowded with women and children. The band played, free lemonade was dispensed. and the potato, sack and three-legged races produced a good deal of fun, heightened by the slippery condition of the soil, produced by the rain.
Results were as follows:—
100-yard dash—First, Walter Hobson; second, J.ames Sweonoy; third, Edgar Wilde.
Potato race — First, Maurice Tobin; second, George Rcadel; third, William Howarth.
Three-Legged Race—First, Duncan and Proctor: second, Shaw and Howard; third, Tobin and Fisher.
Sack Race—-First, James Walsh, second, Edgar Wilde; third, Maurice Tobin.
Three standing jumps—Michael Fitzgerald, 28 ft,, 6 1/2 inches; P. O’Brion, 20 ft., 10 1/2 inches; Michael Conley, 26 ft., 6 1/2 inches.
In the tug-of-war between the wool department and the tanners, the wool department pulled the tanners off their feet in very quick time.
In spite of the rain the ball game between the married and single men proved an amusing and exciting event.
F, G. Allen was captain and Eugene Winslow manager of the married men, and A. P. Thompson captain of the single men. The game resulted in a score of 12 to 1 in favor of the married men, and the single men’s run was due to an error, and was entirely a free gift to them. The single men did most of the crowing and coaching during the game, but have not said much about It since.