The Bangor Daily News from Bangor, Maine • 13

iNORTHcKN MAINE FAIR EDITION BANOOR DAILY NEWS MARK SEPT 3rd to 5th IN RED ON YOUR CALENDER IRON HORSE 3 th F1rt Pa) frf" 10 (4q Mimnlrv thW Tn thU rum man the Iron Horn- did not Between ISOOOo and Ififloon ET'JStOH" h0rw 0 4t him Th' "rrm time mgnri tuprw until th nine of hit retirement wt hl owner M00 fktre he paid 1 dividend of nrtv percent and onre nne hundred percent- better Inveetment than tuoet bueinem men find However the horfie wu not pur-rltaaed a a buainen Inveetment but bv lovn of homes for the lake of aport TITte iron Horae" ha alway been good-natured "Pop- Willard aaid the animal knew hia work knew what waa expected of him He never liked the whip ana seldom received John Braden seldom sent off his stride He was easily handled Hand? playing or shout from the crowds never bothered him In the leaat and that was bow he came to be known as "the Iron Horse Other driver soon found that when John Rraden came Into the home stretch and shot In between the other mlklee it was best to get fTy advanced r- hit rnmorT w'en Si brief llf? fan mP Bot rij of the IH fB1U to help hP their Plaant mlle the ud the TTArttman mu rith 'h' rtor8 redos Iw Wlilard will never he Cm r- with the "Iron 'il known driver now victory hr i tT word 0" Ju" TO ith Of twenty-two melt remarkable man to remarkable John railliol held the rein of r' from 1921 to 1929 the twee winning KIN W500 95460 1100 I2S00 While Attending The NORTHERN MAINE FAIR and at all other times you'll find it worthwhile to patronise the Arrowhead Stores "WHERE SERVICE COURTESY MEET" Aroostook Wholesale Grocery Co PRESQUE ISLE ME rhoto by Studio i'rvstiu lala Central Fire Station and Part Equipment Presque Isle Fire Department nnonopncou IOOOOOOOOI Our Drinks out of hla way or taka tk ehanea of being In a vrreck One It waa In I Braden'a head to sda nothing could top him It took the quick eyee and the steady hand of Driver Willard to guide the "Iron Mr Wll- 1 lard 1 1 ways kind to horse would rather loee a race than damage Mai or a competing hone The remarkable race horse of "Way Down had one peculiar- he would never accept a floral 1 tribute On several occasion when I he won a free-for-all floral hone-1 shoe -were brought out In front of the grandstand The crowd were on their feet cheering John Braden hook his head eech time an effort was made to place the horseshoe around his neck He wpuid wall patiently however while the floral piece waa put over Driver Wlllard'a head In all hi races the Horse" would stand patiently waiting for other horse to "settle down before retting the word "go" In all races where much scoring was to be done before the racers could get away to a rood start Braden was not the offender Several times when a "bad acting horsey appeared Driver Willard would keep up the truck even when holding the pole position to let the "bid acting horse" get aiyv and save the amount of scoring In some of the race he won Braden would be a few lengths behind at the word "go" and Willard would nod to the starter to again rlv the word It never seemed to bother or hi horse where they were at the start They got where they wanted at the finish During his racing day the "Iron Horse" liked his food At each meal on the day of a racq he waa given two and one half quarts of oata and a half a pint of corn After the race he wag fed on bran and mashes Today the "Iron Horae" la as smooth and sound as the day he arrived In Presque Isle from Nashville But he seems to feel hi re llrement keenly He paws and scrapes with his forward hoofs on hi box stall as he looks over the half door-and see hla prodigy and other horses In their workouts John Braden In hts races wore light harness knee boots and quarter boots light hopples open bridle and common snapple bit checked not ton high Horse racing has always been a favorite aport In Maine and especially In Aroostook County Keen rival ry exists among the horsemen and the follower of the summer tracks In the towns of Presque Isle Moulton Caribou Fort Fairfield Van Burnt and the others t'p to 1920 In their different classes honors had been chiefly carried off by horse from serosa the International border by drivers and horse from the province of New Brunswick That year Power of Houl-ton purchased Calgary Earl 2:024 a handsome pacer Mr Power was reliably reported to have paid for Calgary Earl a horse expected to bring honors to Houlton With Mr Powers and hf Houlton followers In the field with Calgary Earl the Presque Isle horsemen not wishlwg to be outdone or kept outside the winnings held a meeting at the Mooseleuk Club early la 1921 to discuss the situation The urshot of the parley was that the members of ihe Mooseleuk Club appointed Frank Higgins well known Presque Isle citizen to discover a home to either hold Its own with or defeat Calgary Earl Grace Direct 2:014 was the first choir of Mr Higgins but an offer of 19700 waa refused and the Presque Isle scout selected John Braden 2:024 purchasing the home for liooo In 10 John Gentry the sire of John 5- 'Braden set the Maine Gtatg record for a mile track also a world's record at that time when he pared Maine BMmundeton Houlton Maine Woodstock and t'resque Isle Maine Four times John Braden raced against Margaret Dillon th Itttls wonder-horse of Southern New Eng land and won twice John Trader was foaled and hu thirteen ootts Some of hie prodigy have the earmark of pm ring and holding hla ability aa a racer The thousand of dollar spent In fruitless effort to strip the son of John Gentry of hie laurel In-eluded 99500 paid by horsemen of Caribou for the 1921 money winning champion of the Hay Bute Circuit Colonel Btdwell 2:034 Unable lo defeat 'FYaden with lltdwell the Carl tou horsemen purchased Roy Oral-tain 2:014 fmm Tommy Murphy's Grand Circuit liable for 99500 Houlton horsemen purchlsed Jack-son Grattan 2:014 for 911500 In 1923 at a meeting of the members of the Mooseleuk Club owners of John 'Praden a dividend of on hundred percent wa declared and th next year a dividend of fifty per rent Ifi those year the "Imn Horse" gave a check of one hundred dollar and In 192 a check of fifty dollars to the Anti -Tuberculosis Association He ha alao donated liberally to the Mooseleuk Club annual Santa Claus fund Th famous banquet tendered the "Imn Is talked over to this day In the North Country On Friday evening October 14 1921 the members of the Mooseleuk Club gathered In th dlntng room of th Presque 11 House the hotel of that town The banquet hall waa at-trectUwly decorated In the ancient daya of Knighthood when a feat of victory was held the armor of the knight errant whose feat of rhlvalry were being celebrated hung on the walla of th castle And so In this modem feast to the "Knight of th race th ham and other trappings of th "Iron Horae" worn tn Ms racing tournament and marked by hi Mil Itant victories were In evidence on the wall of the henquet mom Beside each plate waa a gwsii'ln steel horseshoe Walrsea attired In dainty white dresses worn broad bande around their caps Inscribed "John Braden 2:04" A Falrbank presided as mas ter of ceremonies After th guest were requested to stand the Ulna trlmi John Rraden waa led Into th room Thle wwtld have embarrassed per-hnre stampeded an ordinary horse Vet John Braden possessed brains trending and experience tn such measure that he was no morn dl turbed when he entered th hannuel hall with Ita glare of lights and It rotor and confusion thin he whll "under fir" before noisy and shouting throngs around the track and In the grandstands The "Iren Horse" played hi part as the gueet of honor at the banquet In true ehampt-'n fashion To words of praise by after dinner speakers he made grateful acknowledgment with a bow of his handsome Brad TWiring the various retimes the "Iron Horse" ete of the oat served him In handeome howl He shosred In every way hla Intelligent arprsqtai'nn ol the tumors conferred upon him 1-ator when John Braden was touched by Father Time his IToeque lair supporters purchased Bessie Mc-Klyo 1014 by Peter McKIvo as a successor to th "Imn This mare has given good account of her self but she can never take the place held by John Braden In the hearii of Presque Isle horsemen and track followers and otht rs John Willard who dmve John Traden lo so many rlciorte and right Into the hearts of the men women and children of the potato Grand Stand Reserved Seats -FOR- NORTHERN MAINE FAIR PRESQUE ISLE MAINE September 3 4 and 5 Now on Sale at THOMPSON'S PHARMACY PRESQUE ISLE MAINE Mail and Telephone Orders Attended To Secure your tickets now for the biggest fair in Maine HIT THE SPOT AND SATISFY Try CASCADE GINGER ALE ORANGE KIST BLUE BIRD CHOCOLATE SOLDIER SEVEN-UP WHISTLE EVERYONE IUINE THIRST QUENCHER Bottled By -lovis Morneault 1 PRESQUE ISLE TeL 324-2 a ml) at Rigby Park In 2:004 This was the nearest to the two minute mark that had been reached John Braden made It a father and von affair Saturday September 21 1922 when he eetabltahed the halt mile track record at Gorham Maine sinning the free for all In three straight heat The last heat was Tn former record waa 2:064 but Braden shared this with Margaret DtUon the Grand Clrcnlt "Money 'But this Is getting ahead of the brief chronological story of th life of the "Iron Horse" After hi purchase by Mr Higgins th new Preeque IMe standard bearer was boarded for the Winter at th stable of hi former owner John Thomas at Nashellle Tenn being shipped North early tn June Upon hia arrival In Aroostook County the new horse was placed In charge of "Pop" Wiflard th famous veteran driver By the time John Braden reached Arooatook County Jim 1 1921 Ihe total coat of the horse was 14900 the eight hundred dollars representing his keep In the South and transportation charges The followers of (he oval tn Arooatook County especially In Houlton and Preeque Isle were eagerly waiting to see John Braden In action against Calgary Earl Both town held Fourth of July celebration that yerr and the horsemen had to content Ihemgelv until a later date for the meeting of the pair On that Fourth of July John Braden appeared on Preeque 11 track for the first time and won the free-for-all over Zorn Donald Keith and Fern Hal In 1054 2 114 2-104 equalling the track record At Houlton Calgary Earl went on exhibition doing the mile In The long awaited dash between th pair took place on mutual ground at Woodstock on July 14 The story of the race waa told In the homeward journey of the first heat won by Braden In 2:04 new record for the Woodstock track It was Braden's race from the first score until the finish of the last heat and the 'Preeque Isle contingent went wild Two weeks later In an exhibition mile Braden lowered th St Stephen track record to and at Houlton on August 4 he again met Calgary Earl and won In straight heata th last mile In 2:04 a new mark for hla own thorough fure After that performance It was rraden all the way until at Moulton Fairs September 1 when he wae feated by Directum the Grand Circuit "Bear Cat a collision marring the race At Presque Isle Fair labor Day Week Margaret Dillon 2 014 the little queen of the South New England brigade lowbred colors In 2:054 9:054 2:054 the fitst being th fastest heat up to that time ever paced over a New England half mile track On September 14 1921 thee three horse again met thla time at Wood-stork In a matched race for a jurse of 93000 Thirty thousand person were gsthered for the con As the little "Imn I -taged a "come and romped home a winner In each" heat there 1 tremendous cheering for horse md driver During the thrilling three-cornered turf battle John 1 Braden equalled all track record for the Maritime ProMnee Times for the heata were 2:104 2:01 2:074 At the 1922 Bangor Fair Willard and Braden carried off the honors on the free-for-all day In the free-for-all John Braden won In three straight beats 2r004 2:04: 2 04 and broke the track record On that day "Pop" Willard drova three horses John Traden In th free-for-all Northern Mae tn th 2:15 mixed and Parraharoe In the named race Willard won each race In might heata thus making a record for a driver Driver Willard was brought before the grandstand where he waa presented with a beautiful ailver cup by President A Peekham of the Hanger Fair who said: "Mr Willard through you as repreaentatlv of th Preeque Isle driving club and In behalf of th Hoard of Director of the Bangor Fair It le a pleasure to present to you this token of appreciation of th brilliant performance of speed shown here today by jrosir noble pacer John Rraden breaking the Bangor track record Kindly accept with our beat wishes for future event" Three cheers were given by th thousands of spectator for Willard and three more for Braden At other tracks in later years where John Braden smashed th record stiver cup were also presented Theae now rest tn the Mooseleuk Club moms aa souvenir of the grand performance of th iron During his raring daya John Braden broke track records at Bfeow-hegan Maine Bangor Main Fredericton St Stephen Caribou Maine Charlottetown HflnBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOBBBBOBBBBBOBOBOBBePDBBB'BB'OQB clpal history RwHaerland (Geneva Jeune Genevoll) Friday September 9 Jugoslavia (Prince rater Birthday) Balurday Reptemhar 7 Brasil (Independence) India (Boabay Paral New Year Ganath Chaturthi and Bamvatssrll Sunday September 9 Bolivia Canary Islands (Orand Canary) Hungary Liechtenstein Lithuania Rou-manta Spain (Barcelona Bilbao half day) (Nativity) Monday September 9 Malta (Ob-eervatlnn of National Feast) Quaenaland (Friendly Societies Day) In th United Btatea: California (Admission Day Tuesday September 10 British Honduras (fit Cay Day) Wednesday September 11 Aby-slnna! (Abyssinian New Year Day 8) Federated Malay Btatea (Selangor Sultan's Birthday) Jugoslavia (UsekovanJ fl) Ronthara Rhodaala (Occupation Day) Thursday September 19 Abyw-atnla (Abyssinian Naw Year Day 8) Friday Beptember 19 India (Boa-hay Khordad Ral) Saturday September Id Greece (Holy Croaa) Nicaragua (Battle of Ban JacIntoJ Roumanta (Exhalation of th Cross) Syria (Holy Cross B) Sunday September 15 Coat Rica Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Salvador (Independence) Monday September 18 Brasil (State of Alagoaa commemorating notable event tn State or Municipal history) Moxlco (National Holiday) Rwltterland (Lausanne and Nan- chatol Jeune Federal) Tuesday September 17 China (Mid-Autumn Festival) Wednesday September II Chllqp (Independence! Thursday September It Chlla (Independence) Friday September 88 Braxllt (City of Rio de Janeiro Bang Holiday) (State of Rio Grande do Sul commemorating notable event la state or municipal history) Italy Tripoli (National Holiday) Uruguay (Italian Day) Saturday September 21 Hawaii (Regatta Day) Jugoslavia (Lady Day 8) Uruguay (Cabildo Ablerto) Monday Septamber 29 Japan (Rhtikl-Korel-sal Festival of tha Antnmnal Equinox) New Zealand (Dominion Dny) Tuesday September 94 Dominican Republic (Lai Merced) Peru (Kuestra Sen ora Us Mercedes) Rasta (Barcelona Our Lady of Merey) Thursday September 2 Victoria (Melbourne Show Day) Friday September 27 Ahyeslata (Feast of th Ore (X Jngn-sUvta (St Croaa 81 Saturday September It Csscfcd slavakta (Saint Wenial) Sunday September 28 China (Feklng Mid-Autumn Festval) EVERYDAY AHOUDAY Somewhere in the World a Celebration Going On That thar I a holiday nearly very day aemwhar la th world I shown by th following eompllad by th Guaranty Trust Company of New York: Monday September 9 Dominion of Canada Yukon Territory (labor Day) Syria (Laban Lebanon Martyrs) In th Cntttd State: every atat tn the Union and the Dlitrlrt of Columbia alao In Alaska Hawaii Panama Porto Rleo and th Virgin Islands (labor Day) Wednesday September 4 Near foundland (Lfhor Day) Thursday September 9 Brail (State of Amatnnna commemorating notable event la atat or muni- country la now driving Beeata Me- Kljo aa he la known by all first tnojt tha word at th age or twenty -two ysar on Jun 22 1279 Thlrty-neven years have slipped by Inc John Willard seated on a high wheeled sulky drove Prince to a straight heat win at Fort Fairfield Maine In 1291 Three minutes and one earned wu the time he mad that day for hla bast mil Almost a minute ha been clipped off that lime since that afternoon and John (Braden travelled the heat guided by "Pop" hands" 26(4 twice Mr Willard Is a product of th New England he love HI driving Ita hwn entirely on hla native eoil Brockton Mu Springfield Mans Rocheater Nashua and other New England communities have aeen him flerh by th wire but Maine and adjofhing Canadian Province have watched him and cheered him moet Even at hla present age Mr Wll-Isrd haa a large stable of hones under hla care and also a number of (111 which Re Intend to develop tn-tfkfast race horaea At hi comfortable home In Presque Isle with hla wife and children Mr Willard always welcome thoa Interested In horse and hone raring tnd tell some of hla eaperlence on the track He haa never been known to sell a race and few if any "wtsa ware ever able to lesm of the prospect of is horaea before any turf battle Enjoying good health MY Willard expect to be for boom ysar to come bring vary active esren In hi seventieth year But he never expects to drive a mor popular pacer and a non consistent winner than John Braden the beloved "Iron-Hone of-Way Don't Miss Northern Maine's 3 BIG DAYS Sept 3 4 and 5 Northern i Maine Fair and while attending the Fair goo'll save time end energy hy letting os take care el your automobile need We render a coqplete GAS and OIL GREASING WASHING VULCANIZING GOODRICH TIRES AND WILLARD BATTERY SERVICE Bill NEW FILLING STATION Presque Isle ifter Visited iorthern Maine Attended the Northern Maine Fair -Seen some of many actualities and opportunities may be interested in building and construction information always glad to furnish plans estimates or any other information to those contemplating building you ee the PRESQUE ISLE HIGH SCHOOL FORT FAIRFIELD DEPOT CARIBOU DEPOT CARIBOU HIGH SCHOOL You are seeing a few specimens of our work Ve Also Carry A Full Line of Building Materials In downing Contractor and Builder TEL 453-2 rTE ST PRESQUE ISLE reputation 'jrajsri Bftw i 1 1.