The Woodward News

Features

June 28, 2009

Recalling an earlier celebration at Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach Park has hosted numerous celebrations in its 80 year history. Next weekend the tradition will continue with Let Freedom Ring 2009.

Let Freedom Ring 2009 was begun as a celebration for the rededication of the park. It will be a time to remember the other gala events that have occurred at Crystal Beach in the past. A celebration that is unique in the park’s history happened on June 1, 1933.

On that day Crystal Beach officially opened its waters to fishermen. According to newspaper reports at the time about 300 people were on-hand that day to fish for trout and catfish.

However, this number paled in comparison to the number of people who came out to witness the final event of the day.

Local businesses had agreed to shower a couple with gifts if they agreed to get married at Crystal Beach to cap off the first day of fishing at the lake.

Instead of having one couple, two came forward to tie the knot. Lyle Baird and Eva Ames of Sharon and Emory Davis and Dorothy Lee Bussell of Woodward were the two lucky couples.

Merchants had pledged $100 in gifts to a couple during the original promotion. When two couples decided to accept the invitation, some businesses generously doubled their gifts.

The wedding was conducted by the Rev. P.W. Botts. The ceremony began at 8:30 p.m. “at the new pavilion in the midst of a great crowd who had gathered to witness the final event of the day,” as the Woodward County Journal for June 5, 1933 put it.

About 4,000 people were on-hand to be witnesses to the event The Woodward Daily Press reported in its June 2, 1933 edition.

The pavilion mentioned in the Woodward County Journal article featured an enclosed band stand and a performer’s pavilion. It was also home to the Bathing Beauty contests for “unmarried ladies age 5 and under,” that was typically held on July 4 in the 1930s. It was not until 1937 that the current bandshell was constructed at Crystal Beach Park.

As for the wedding, the County Journal reported that “the double wedding was anything but a farcical affair as many spectators had anticipated.”

Silver Aces provided the wedding music and also played at the reception. Ernest Brinkman of the Woodward Floral Company was mentioned as having conducted the wedding march. He also “beautified the large stage with a variety of well placed potted plants,” the Daily Press reported.

After the ceremony, the two couples were introduced to the crowd of 4,000 before heading to a reception for family and intimate friends.

“Woodward merchants started the two couples off on a happy married life with many of their initial bills paid,” the Daily Press reported. Besides paying the bills, Woodward businesses donated the following:

• Swansons donated the wedding ring.

• Wilbur Davis gave the newly weds 10 rides on “The Mary Lee.”

• Harold’s Bakery provided $1 worth of baked goods.

• The Bank of Woodward provided $2.50 to start a savings account.

• Two companies gave three pounds of coffee each.

• The Woodward Theater donated a week pass to each couple.

• Dean Music Store put $10 down toward a new piano.

• Polly Ana served the wedding supper.

• The Baker Hotel provided the bridal suite.

• The Woodward Daily Press gave a year’s subscription.

• Free car washes, tire work, a carton of cigarettes and an alarm clock were also given to the couples.

L.D. Baird, the son of Lyle and Eva, is still living in Woodward and is married to Betty Baird. Like his father, L.D. served in the United States Navy before retiring.

Although research was conducted, no records of Emory and Dorothy Lee Davis was unable to be found for inclusion in this article.

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