Rose Festival (Portland, Oregon) letter, April 15, 1909

by Seneca Stouts

Portland, Oregon Apr. 15, 1909.

To the Members of the Oregon State Pioneer Association.
GREETING.

The Third annual Rose Festival which takes place in Portland the week of June 7-12 is going to be beyond all question the finest series of spectacular events, of street parades, picturesque pageantry, and other forms of diversion and entertainment that has ever been arranged for in this part of the country. The Festival therefore desires that each and all of you builders of Oregon be with us and play some part in making it a most brilliant success.

There is one particular way in which you can do this and without much sacrifice, if indeed, any. As a special attraction for you, one and all, the Festival has planned to give up the first day of the week, Monday, June 7, to the observance of "Home Coming", when all loyal Oregonians wherever they may be, may come here, partake of our city's hospitality and join hand and heart in glad reunion.

The programme for that day is in the hands of a special "Home Coming Day" Committee which is now working out the details of the day's ceremonies. So far, it has been decided to celebrate the formal opening of the Festival with a magnificent street parade in the evening, in which the military organizations fraternal, secret and all other kindred societies are being invited to take part with marching bodies, drill teams etc. We believe it will be one of the greatest street pageants ever held here and we want you all to see it.

May we not look for you here at that time? There will be many other intensely interesting attractions to entertain you while here. It may not be possible for you to change the date of your next annual reunion, but will it not be possible for you to arrange your affairs so that you can come here a week earlier and have impressed upon you something of the magnitude of the great metropolis as it now is and give some idea how it has grown from the little hamlet it was in the days you gave your hearts and strength to the conquering of the wilderness out of which our fair city has emerged.

Brothers and sisters, won't you give this your most serious consideration.

Yours truly,

Seneca Stouts Chairman.
"Home Coming Day" Committee,
Portland Rose Festival.