50 YEARS AGO
July 6th, 1967
Saturday will be the big day for the Blue Jeans Festival. The flea market will begin at 10 a.m. at the Riverfront Park. Serving of the ox roast will start at 11 a.m. and continue until sold. The Historical Society will also sell pie and cake. Members of the society are asked to donate pies or a cake. The parade will form at the new high school. At 1:30 p.m. it will proceed down First Street to Front Street and turn left on Front to Fourth, out Fourth to Mulberry and back to the school. Judging of events will take place as the parade passes the River Park. The pet parade will be at 3:30 p.m. in front of the platform on the corner of Main and Poplar. Square dancing will be an added attraction on Saturday night, together with the music of Glenn Canyon and his band, and the Conaway Party Barn dancers.
Scribblings by Dorotha Stegemiller: the Blue Jeans Festival was begun after our Sesquicentennial celebration and is an annual smaller-scale sequel of the spectacular affair. “For the residents of Rising Sun and Ohio County in Indiana, July 4, 1964 meant more than the 188th birthday of our Country. This was the day designated as the beginning of a week’s celebration, commemorating the community’s 105th birthday-an appropriate time to relive the yesterdays of our forefathers. So on the appointed day, ladies in old-fashioned dresses and bonnets and men in top hats, bow ties, and sporting an assortment of beards, gathered at the playgrounds for ballgames, the customary fireworks display, and the crowning of the king and queen. This honor was bestowed upon Rex and Mae Noble. With the crowning of these two most gracious people to reign throughout the week, the Sesquicentennial of Rising Sun-Ohio County was off to seven unforgettable days. Sunday dawned clear, cool, and beautiful. The sun rose over the Kentucky hills as it did many years ago when John Fulton established the town on the bank of the Ohio River. The American flag and a special “Centennial” flag were raised at the city building. Morning church services where well attended, with many dressed in the clothes of yester-year. In the afternoon and estimated 4,000 viewed a water ski show at the river. And in the evening a community church service was held at the new high school auditorium with Dr. Charles F. Murphy of the Walnut Hills – Avondale Methodist Church in Cincinnati as the speaker. This ended the first day of the week, one of entertainment and heartfelt thanks for “150 years of peaceful progress”. During the week excitement never ceased. A carnival with 50 rides spread over four city blocks. Horse drawn wagons, surreys, and a school bus (also horse drawn) were available for tours around town. Store windows were delightful with antique displays, a flea market was something to behold, and the museum at the library was fascinating. Boat cruises were taken aboard the Jubilee I, a small paddle wheel excursion boat out of Cincinnati. Pet shows, 4-H revues, amateur contests, band concerts, and other programs afforded good times for all. Despite the fact the last day was very hot and humid, 30,000 people crowded the streets to view the biggest parade ever witnessed in this town of about 2,000 inhabitants. For two hours and fifteen minutes they watched and cheered bands, floats, beautiful horses, and of course, this being an election year, the many state dignitaries who suddenly had become aware of the smallest county in Indiana. Saturday evening a teen-dance with WLW-TV star, Bob Braun, was given for the kids at the school gym and on Main Street the “grown ups” had an old-fashioned square dance. So ended a week of fun and good times, of reminiscing and realization of how times greatly change.