Long Beach in July 1915

Gerrie Schipske

As the large ad proclaimed in the Santa Ana Register in 1915, Long Beach was hosting “three days of solid fun – July 3-5” under the banner: “Hear the Eagle Screech.”

The main event was the unveiling of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Pacific Park. The monument, whose cornerstone was laid on June 28, was the project of the Grand Army of the Republic – veterans of the Civil War. More than 20,000 attended the cornerstone ceremony.

It was funded by the collection of coins by Miss Carrie Drake. It took the Citizens Monument Association 10 years to raise the necessary funds for the eight-ton granite statue, which was a copy of the Lincoln figure in Chicago sculpted by Augustus St. Gaudens.

Chiseled by the Long Beach Monument Works (locate near the Municipal Cemetery), which was managed by F.F. Brittain, the statue included the names of famous Civil War commanders and the battles in which they fought. A replica of a Springfield musket used in the Battle of Chickamauga is on the base. A cannon was sent by the Benicia Arsenal for the dedication ceremonies. A cannon from the arsenal at Bencia was shipped to the city and placed next to the statue. The cannon weighed 9,461 pounds and was an authentic Civil War artillery piece dating back to 1841.

The official dedication ceremony was held on July 3 and included two offshore 21-gun salutes from the gunboat USS Chattanooga, sent by naval secretary Josephus Daniels and President Wilson. A banquet was held at the Hotel Virginia. Pacific Park was renamed Lincoln Park in 1920.

The sculpture was first moved from its original site in Pacific Park and taken to storage during the construction of the new city hall. In 1977 it was installed in front of the library without its pedestal and then moved to its current location in 1982. In the 1990s, the cannon was removed and place by Parker’s Lighthouse but not before it was painted white.

The second event was a public protest of World War I with a concert provided by the Long Beach Band. The third event was the showing of motion pictures taken of war “horrors” and the “new coaster pier.” The $75,000 Jack Rabbit Racer had opened in May of that year and was the second longest of its kind in the U.S. Located on the Silver Spray Pier, the racer remained until 1930 when the Cyclone Racer was built.

There is also a reference to “5000 Modern Woodmen of America in Free Exhibition Drill.” The Modern Woodmen of America are one of the oldest fraternal insurance organizations in the U.S.

Founded in 1890, they utilized a number of secret ceremonies and symbols which can be seen on many headstones in Long Beach cemeteries. Their headstones are in the shapes of tree logs with the inscription “Here rests a Woodman of the World.” The tree logs symbolized that their life was cut short.

At the bottom of the ad is contact information and lists “S.F. Du Ree.” Squire Du Ree was quite an entrepreneur and city employee. He is credited with bringing air balloonists in 1905 to fly over Pine Avenue Pier to attract visitors. Squire worked hard to bring aviation to Long Beach as can be seen by the signed mail bag carried by Cal Rodgers in 1911 as he completed the first transcontinental flight in Long Beach.

He managed the first municipal market in 1913. It was also his idea to utilize tow ropes and lifeguards in red shirts with boats to help rescue the many who braved the strong ocean breakers.

He even set up the first “baby contest” to bring people to the Pike. Du Ree is the great grandfather of the current Fire Chief, Mike DuRee.

 gerrie@beachcomber.news

Category:

Add new comment

Beachcomber

Copyright 2024 Beeler & Associates.

All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced or transmitted – by any means – without publisher's written permission.