Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Indiana Weekly Messenger
Wednesday, August 17, 1892
The Lutheran Picnic
The Lutheran picnic excursion to Idlewild last Thursday was an immense affair. Nearly 20,000 persons were on the grounds, coming from various localities in the Western part of the State. An extra train left Indiana at 8:10 oclock, a.m. Two engines were attached to the coaches, which were jammed full of people. The platforms of the cars were crowded, and when the train slowly steamed away more than two hundred people were left on the station platform. Many of these waited for the regular train leaving at 9:10, and its two coaches were filled to the roof and even the engine hauling the train was invaded by the picnickers.
Scores of people at Homer City, Rughs and Blacklick were unable to secure passage and returned home disappointed. On the grounds at Idlewild during the day rain fell, seats were unobtainable and shelters were crowded most uncomfortably. Hundreds left the grounds and journeyed on the Ligonier to secure rest and something to eat and drink.
It was nearly eleven oclock on Thursday night when the Indiana excursionists got home. They were tired and weary. The ladies skirts were bedraggled, babies were crying, men were bad-tempered, and altogether it was not a good-humored throng that gladly left the over-crowded cars. Many of the picnickers lived a dozen miles away, and the midnight ride home was not at all pleasant.
Nobody in particular is to blame for the discomforts of the day. The railroad people had no reason to think that their provision of cars was not ample, and the local promoters of the excursion were simply amazed at the last moment by the overwhelming throng of people who came in from the country.
But notwithstanding the discomforts and inconveniences incident to the occasion it is a pleasure to state that there were no serious accidents on the trip and that the grumbling was mostly good-humored.