“Shop Boys Have Big Time” A Growing Tradition in Sandwich
By the summer of 1915, what had begun the year before as a successful gathering of Sandwich Manufacturing Company employees had already taken on the character of a tradition.
On Saturday, August 14, 1915, the company held its second annual picnic at the Sandwich Fair Grounds. If the first year established the idea, the second confirmed its success. The Sandwich Free Press reported that the outing was “the best one ever held by the shop men,” with several hundred in attendance.
From the early morning hours, employees, families, and friends made their way to the fairgrounds. This time, the effort to bring people together was even more deliberate. The company arranged three free buses, while employees who owned automobiles offered rides to others, ensuring that as many people as possible could take part.
The result was not simply a company outing, but a full community gathering.
A Day Designed for Everyone
As in the previous year, the program was carefully structured to include participants of all ages. Children’s races, women’s contests, and men’s competitions filled the day, alongside familiar favorites such as tug-of-war, sack races, and novelty events.
The Sandwich Union Band provided music from the amphitheater, adding a festive atmosphere that carried through the afternoon. A shared meal under the shade of the fairgrounds once again brought the crowd together at midday, reinforcing the social nature of the event.
The Free Press made clear that this was no casual affair. The scale of participation, the organization of events, and the provision of transportation all point to careful planning and a growing commitment by the company to create a shared experience for its workers and their families.
Notably, the expense of the picnic was borne by the factory itself, evidence that the company saw value in fostering goodwill and connection among its employees.
The People Behind the Picnic
Among the details recorded in the account is a glimpse of the individuals who helped make the day possible.
C. C. Jones, the company’s secretary-treasurer, was unable to attend due to business obligations. His absence was noted as “the only disappointment of the day,” and he was credited as being largely responsible for the spirit of good fellowship between management and employees. His role suggests that events of this scale did not happen spontaneously, but were the result of intentional leadership and organization.
Competition and Camaraderie
Athletic events once again formed the heart of the day’s activities. Departmental pride was on display, particularly in the contests between divisions such as the Foundry, Machine Shop, and Gas Engine Works.
A morning baseball game between the Moulders and the Gas Engine Works opened the day’s events, with pride, and a cash prize, on the line. The Moulders emerged victorious, continuing a pattern of strong showing from that department.
The afternoon concluded with another ball game, this time between the Moulders and a picked team. The Moulders again claimed victory, winning by a score of 12 to 5 and securing what the paper described as the championship.
Participants and Winners (1915)
The Sandwich Free Press recorded a selection of the day’s events and winners:
Boys’ Fifty-Yard Race (15 and under)
Ivan Cook — first
Howard Mitchell — second
Tug of War — Foundry vs. Machine Shop
Won by the Foundry
Girls’ Fifty-Yard Race (15 and under)
Clara Johnson — first
Catherine Fanning — second
Ladies’ Ball Throwing Contest
Mrs. Frank Crothers — first
Mrs. Henry Williams — second
One Hundred Yard Married Ladies’ Race
Mrs. Henry Williams — first
Mrs. Grover Creasy — second
One Hundred Yard Dash — Free for All
Jay Means — first
Paul Brandenberger — second
Egg Race — Ladies
Mrs. Grover Creasy — first
Mrs. Ralph Parris — second
Seventy-Five Yard Fat Men’s Race
James Fish — first
Paul Everts — second
Championship Tug of War — Moulders vs. Gas Engine Works
Won by the Moulders
One Hundred Yard Foremen’s Race
Fred Schuning — first
George Tucker — second
Tom Scott — honorable mention
Old Men’s Race (60 years and over)
Tom Scott — first
G. H. Prentice — second
Wm. Morrill — honorable mention
Three-Legged Race
Brandenberger and Sturm — first
Clarence Miller and Jay Means — second
Standing Broad Jump
Ed Roach — first
Paul Brandenberger — second
Ladies’ Nail Driving Contest
Mrs. Lillie Boyce — first
Mrs. Herbert Bergreen — second
Sack Race
Sturm — first
Bergreen — second
Wheelbarrow Relay Race
Brandenberger and Means — first
Heusinger and Schuning — second
Girls’ Potato Race
Catherine Fanning — first
Clara Johnson — second
Fat Ladies’ Race
Mrs. Heusinger — first
Mrs. Todd — second
A Tradition Taking Shape
With successful picnics held in both 1914 and 1915, the Sandwich Manufacturing Company appeared to be establishing a tradition, one that brought together not only employees, but families, local businesses, and the wider community.
Whether the picnic continued in later years is not yet fully documented. What is clear, however, is that in these early years the event reflected something larger than recreation. It demonstrated a deliberate effort to build connection, strengthen morale, and reinforce the ties between industry and community in Sandwich.
In these gatherings, work and leisure met, and for a day, the factory became something more than a place of labor. It became a shared experience.
Related
Sandwich Manufacturing Company
Research & Sources
Sandwich Free Press, August 19, 1915.
Sandwich Argus, July 1, 1914.