In 1917, The Ladies Improvement Club of Agness, Ore., organized a Fourth of July celebration for the people of Curry County.
Admission to the two-night, three-day affair was 25 cents, children under 12 free. This included a picnic lunch and fresh fruit.
A Methodist minister and accomplished artist, Melville T. Wire, arrived from Grants Pass, with an extensive exhibit of his etchings and watercolor paintings featuring Oregon landscapes. He delivered two opening-address speeches titled 鈥淭he Price of Success鈥� and 鈥淎merica in the World War.鈥�
The oratory was followed by games and races and presentation of comical plays titled 鈥淗iring a Servant鈥� and 鈥淪poopendyke鈥檚 Suspenders.鈥� After dinner, the 22-member Agness Orchestra played works that included vocal and coronet solos. The audience singalongs featured old favorites titled 鈥淗ome Sweet Home,鈥� 鈥淎merica,鈥� and the 鈥淪tar Spangled Banner.鈥� Dancing started at 10 p.m. for those who bought $1 tickets. The midnight supper cost an additional 25 cents.
The Curry County Reporter declared the event a success from social and financial standpoints, noting that the Ladies Improvement Club was pleased with the results.
Sources: Celebration at Agness." Ibid. 21 June 1917, p. 1; Allen, Ginny. "Melville Wire (1877-1966)." Oregon Encyclopedia, Oregon Historical Society/Portland State University, 17 Mar. 2018, oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/wire_melville_1877_1966_/#.XQkS2ohKiUl. Accessed 18 June 2019.
