The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on July 7, 1905.
Was a Grand Success
Such Was Luverne’s Celebration of the Glorious Fourth
6000 People Were in Attendance
Notwithstanding Preceding Unfavorable Weather Conditions, Luverne Observes Our Nation’s Birthday With a Notable Successful Celebration—Occasion Graced by Presence of Governor John A. Johnson Who Delivers Inspiring Address—Splendid Program Carried Out to the Satisfaction of All
Despite a week of almost continuous rain which fell with unknown persistency up to the very dawn of the Fourth, Luverne celebrated our Nation’s birthday, carried out the elaborate plans that had been arranged and made the day one long to be remembered by the thousands of people whose faith in Luverne’s ability to provide entertainment notwithstanding unfavorable conditions led them to become our guests on this glorious occasion.
Happy Change in Gloomy Prospect
The closing preliminary arrangements for the celebration were made by those in charge with a marked depression of spirit. The heavy rains which had fallen practically every day of the preceding week and during the early part of Monday night seriously threatened the success of celebration and aroused grave doubts that any part of the splendid program prepared could be given. But the breeze which sprang up from the northwest Monday afternoon cleared the skies late in the night and Tuesday morning gave assurance that the rain was over and that the celebration could go forward.
Changes in Plans Required
But the change in the weather had been too long deferred to make it possible to carry out the program without changes in the original plans. Monday morning it became apparent that under the most favorable weather conditions that could afterwards prevail it would be impossible to hold the patriotic exercises, the picnic dinner and the vaudeville show in the park, as the heavy rains had so swollen the river that the park was almost inundated. The river continued to rise rapidly and by night Monday it was found necessary to also abandon the Driving park for the purposes of the ball game as the river overflowed the roads making it impossible to reach the grounds. Accordingly a pavilion with seats under the trees was erected at the Central school grounds for the patriotic exercises and the vaudeville show, arrangements were made for those who wished to have their picnic dinners on the school and court house grounds, and a ball ground was laid out in a grass plot in the Parriott addition.
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