The Army cross-country Lincoln Highway convoy got to Denison on Saturday, July 26, 1919, and would spend Sunday there as a rest day. Here’s part of the Denison Review‘s coverage in the next week’s paper (“train” refers to the trucks in the convoy).
“After reaching Denison, camp was quickly established in the park, and people began an inspection of the train. All during the afternoon, there was a continual stream of people going to and from the park. Of course the train carried its own kitchen and during the supper hour, there was a very large crowd of spectators around the kitchen, watching the work of preparing the meal for the 250 men. And while the men were waiting the supper hour, they were at work inspecting the trucks and equipment, and the officers were busy filing reports to headquarters.
Saturday evening the band accompanying the Goodyear truck, rendered a concert on the court house lawn and thousands of people gathered and enjoyed the music. Account of the automobiles around and near the court yard revealed the number to be something over six hundred cars. After the concert, the committee announced a public dance on the pavement and space was cleared on the street between Center Street and Broadway and hundreds of people enjoyed the dancing. Music was furnished by the Hains’ orchestra, and young ladies were chaperoned by delegates from the Woman’s Federated Club, and the soldier boys and officers of the motor train, were given preference in dancing. Throughout the evening, the soldiers were treated to ice cream and cake and canteloupe, served by the ladles of the Federated Clubs of this city. The ladles of the local Relief Corps also added to the pleasure of the boys’ stay in this city by supplying them with some 1200 homemade cookies and cake, which were sent to the park Saturday afternoon.”
It wasn’t all fun and games though.
“The only episode which really marred the visit here of the transport train and which has cast some reflection on Denison, was the action of one of our local celebrities, who on more than one occasion has been in the police court.
The young man in question, and who we are sorry to say, was only recently discharged from the army, went down to Washington park Sunday with the evident intention of starting some trouble. He made some remarks to the visiting soldiers which were anything but complimentary, but the soldiers bore the insult rather than have trouble. Sunday night down on Broadway, he met some of the visiting soldiers and again picked a quarrel with them, calling them vile names. The soldiers resented this and for a time it was feared that the local celebrity would pay dearly for the insult, but he managed to make his escape, but not until he had been struck in the eye by one of the soldiers. Officers of the convoy rushed to the scene, and ordered the soldiers to return to the park, which they did at once.”
