On October 25, 1919 Narberth hosted a parade, reception, dinner and dance to honor her returning service men who had served in 1917-18.
The date was squeezed amid an outpouring of observances and remembrances. The Narberth post of the recently founded American Legion formed on September 26. Ardmore's Welcome Home was held the previous Saturday, October 18, itself postponed to avoid Pennsylvania's October 11 "Victory Day". In announcing the date, Narberth's Soldiers' and Sailors' Reception and Memorial Committee pleaded "It is to be hoped that other organizations will not arrange conflicting dates, as the committee has practically no choice in selecting this day."
Our Town reported that 85 uniformed veterans of the "Civil War, Indian War, Spanish War and World War" marched in the parade. "A photographer took pictures of the soldiers and sailors in one group and the Red Cross workers in another, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and several views of the main streets in the town. These are exhibited in the window at Smith's drug store and can be bought at a fair price."
Naming the soldiers and sailors
You can see this photograph at Narberth's American Legion Post. Our copy came from the collection of Victoria Donohoe, now preserved at the Lower Merion Historical Society. Accompanying it was a name key "supplied by Matt Callahan to J. R. Keim". Callahan is either the father or son who lived at 109 Conway in 1919. Jonathan Keim is the 6 or 7-year-old boy standing with his family on the porch of 202 Dudley, the right half of the house in the background. Using census and other records, we have been able to correct several spellings and add missing first names.
