1904 Labor Day Association History
Princeton, Indiana Celebration, Gibson Fairgrounds
Weather: Pretty & bright.
The Celebration was held during the Gibson County Fair — it started on the 1st day of the Fair. The Fair and the Association work together, the Association has a Parade and its own events to celebrate Labor Day. Many FREE exhibits, amusements and attractions will be offered.
Special trains were scheduled from Vincennes, Hazelton, Ft. Branch, Owensville and Evansville, Indiana. The Vincennes train brought over 1,000 Labor Day supporters.
William Van Stone, Labor Day Association President & Chief Parade Marshall, met and led over 1,000 supporters from the train depot to the Public Square. They then marched to the Masonic Building near the Square for the laying of the Masonic corner stone.
The Parade covered 25 blocks and had 24 floats in it as well as 1,200 Union delegates.
Speakers for the Celebration are: W.H. Raney, Professor H. R. Smith, J. W. Purcell of Terra Haute, Indiana, and former Princeton Mayor, C. W. White.
Admission is FREE to the Fairgrounds along with FREE ice water.
Parade line up:
Color Guard
Chief Parade Marshal — William Van Stone Assistant Parade Marshal — John DeCratos
Assistant Parade Marshall — John Mallet
Princeton Mayor, A. P. Twineham
Princeton City Council
Princeton Fire Department
Princeton Police Department Labor Day Association Officers:
President, William Van Stone
Vice President, Ralph Burton Treasurer, John Butterworth Recording Secretary, J. C. Roberts
Speaker Carnages:
Professor H. R. Smith
Former Princeton Mayor, C. W. White
J. W. Purcell
W. H. Raney
1st Regiment Band of Vincennes, Indiana
Painters Union # 373 of Petersburg, Indiana
Painters Union # 378 of Vincennes, Indiana
Plumbers Union # 424 of Vincennes, Indiana
Hunters Band of Vincennes, Indiana
Team Drivers Union
Teamsters Union # 30
Iron Workers Union # 3 of Vincennes, Indiana
Carpenters Union #658 of Vincennes, Indiana
Brewery Workers Union # 52 of Vincennes, Indiana
Iron Molders Union # 400 of Vincennes, Indiana
Princeton Band
Ladies Retail Clerks Union
Retail Clerks Union # 143
Cigar Makers Union # 64
Electrical Workers Union # 243
UMWA Locals
Coal Miner’s float
American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor, Owensville, Indiana
Consumer Gas Company
Watt & Mitchell Brick Mason’s float
Princeton, Indiana Brick Works – 2 floats
Brick Masons Union
Hod Carriers Union # 59
Plasterers Union # 114
Greer-Wilkerson Lumber Company – 2 floats
C. W. White Lumber Company of Princeton, Indiana – 2 floats
Carpenters Union # 812 of Princeton, Indiana
Typographical Union # 395 of Vincennes, Indiana
Bartenders Union
Barbers Union # 51
Lucas Band
Boilermakers Union
Retired Boilermakers Union & mule
Railroad Carmen Union
McGregor & Company float
Harvey Lucas float
W. L. Berlin Dairy
Blacksmith Union
Butchers Union # 246 of Princeton, Indiana
Coopers Union # 246 of Princeton, Indiana
Iron Vents Union # 243 of Evansville, Indiana
Machinists Union
Millers Union

1904 Parade Route: starting on West Emerson, East to Hart Street, Soth to State Street, East to Main Street, South to Broadway, West to Hart, North to State Street & West to Fairgrounds.
———————————————————————————————— Other Celebrations were held in Washington, Linton and Bicknell, Indiana. They all had a UMWA presence as well as an American Federal of Labor involvement.