November 11, 1918. A reporter at the Bradford Era heard the news first, at 3:16 a.m. World War I was over. Germany had surrendered. The armistice had been signed at 5 a.m., Paris time, and all hostilities would cease at 11 a.m. — on ‘the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.’
He quickly sent the word to Chief Henderson of the Bradford Fire Department who immediately rang the fire bell. By 3:30 a.m., nearly every bell, whistle, and siren in Bradford was proclaiming the news. It was reported that “it was but a few moments before many citizens were on the streets, fully intent upon doing their share in the general jubilation and from that early hour this morning the exuberance of denizens of the city found outlet in every imaginable form of noise-making device, from the human voice to locomotive bells mounted on auto trucks.” Bradford was happy. Deliriously happy.
By 4 a.m., the Citizens band had assembled and an impromptu procession consisting of scores of automobiles decorated with flags of the United States and the allied nations, tri-colored bunting, and festoons of paper, trite mottoes hurriedly written on cardboard, colored lights and horns, sirens, bells, whistles, and other sounds, all followed by hundreds of joyful people, figuratively if not literally, dancing in the streets.
Men, women, and children, many who had quickly dressed to join the celebration, joined in as the parade passed. A locomotive bell, mounted on a truck, drove through the streets, continuously clanging to wake anyone who had not yet heard the news. As the morning went on, men on their way to work threw down their lunch pails and joined the marchers. Grandmothers held the hands of their grandchildren, mothers carried their babies, little boys darted here and there, and everyone, everywhere, was smiling.
By lunchtime, hundreds of automobiles from surrounding towns came into the city, gaily decorated, and the speeding of cars, cheering of humans, and general bedlam continued practically without interruption until suppertime around 5 p.m. – but it roared back again in time for the evening parade and speeches on the public square.
An official parade was quickly approved by City Council for that evening. Colonel A.D. Burns, acted as chief marshal, with city officials, United War Work Campaign officials, post office officers, and attaches, the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic), the UVL (United Veterans League), the USWV (United States War Veterans), Victory Boys, Victory Girls, a number of civic organizations, and sixty motor driven floats assembled on Chautauqua Place. The Citizens’ Band of Bradford and the Italian Band of Lewis Run furnished the music. The marchers went down Main Street to the Erie railroad tracks then reversed, “counter marching” to the Public Square where exercises were held with Mayor North.
During his speech, city councilman Asher Johnson asked for “cheers for little Belgium, which held back the Germans for two historic months while the rest of the world prepared their defenses; for France, which fought for four years and was bled white; for England, which poured blood and treasure into the fray; for Italy, which abrogated an unholy alliance to enter the contest on the side of freedom, and finally, for the United States, and its flag, which turned the tide of battle for world democracy when Germany had brought the other nations to their knees.” The crowd gave prolonged cheers as each country was named and deafening cheers were heard when the role played by the United States was announced. The crowds around the square and on the side streets then joined together and all sang “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner.” More than a few wept.
On a rather humorous note, the city however, was still under quarantine for the Spanish
Influenza, which had run rampant through the town — and bars and meeting places were closed to the public by order of the Board of Health to prevent the spread of the disease. But that morning, quite accidently in a moment of happiness and without proper authorization, Mayor North ordered the quarantine ban lifted. Bars flung open their doors and people had even more reason to celebrate. Many took advantage to raise a glass or two to ‘world peace’ perhaps a little too freely. By five o’clock in the afternoon, following reports of fist fights, public rowdiness, and a woman performing a lewd dance in the street, Mayor North hastily reversed his order and all bars and places of entertainment were closed once again. ‘Decent rejoicing and thanksgiving’ sniffed city officials, was encouraged, not drunken orgies which were an affront to the community.
But no matter how it was celebrated, The Great War was over. Bradford soldiers would return in May, 1919 and everyone believed that ‘The War to End All Wars’ proved that there would never again be a world war. History would prove them wrong.
Officially, Armistice Day was created in November 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed each November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day, to honor all veterans.
(Sally Costik is curator of Bradford Landmark Society.)
