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Firefighters’ Masquerade Ball Honors Washington’s Birthday

A lively community celebration on Washington’s birthday brought a colorful mix of costumes to Koehler’s hall.

The firemen's masquerade ball, given at Koehler's hall on the evening of Washington's birthday, went off with much spirit. The hall was brightly decorated with flags and they, combined with the gay, pretty and grotesque costumes, gave color and animation to a very lively ball. One of the most amusing of the disguises was that worn by the man who represented 'my old mother and me'; the Siamese twins were simple in anatomical structure compared to this complex creature. Another pair, who created a great deal of fun, was the Dutchman and his fat frau, dressed in flowing garments of mother and father Hubbard cut, who clattered about on great wooden shoes. Topsies, clowns, Chinamen, devils and representatives of all nations danced together in harmonious American fashion. A number of people from Hoquiam, Cosmopolis and Montesano attended the ball and many others from Aberdeen who came as spectators remained to dance. The music was unusually good and a generous supper was served downstairs in the old Dunbar store. The firemen were at very little expense, and realized a handsome sum financially. There are few, if any, places with as good a volunteer fire department as Aberdeen, and every one rejoices with them in their merited success.

“Topsies, clowns, Chinamen, devils and representatives of all nations danced together in harmonious American fashion.”

— Printed in Aberdeen Herald (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893
Then · 1893133 years apartNow · 2026

Volunteer fire departments remain the backbone of many small Washington towns, though the masquerade balls that once funded them have largely faded into historical obscurity. The social cohesion of late 19th-century Grays Harbor relied heavily on these shared civic festivities.

The original page

Aberdeen Herald (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-02-23. Library of Congress, Chronicling America.

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About this story

From
Aberdeen Herald (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, FEB 23, 1893, Page 2
Text
Cleaned up from the page — spelling and layout repaired — not a word-for-word transcription. The page itself is above, for exact wording.
Rights
Public domain
Place
46.97546, -123.81553 · placed automatically
The paper in the Library of Congress catalog ↗