September, 1946 - Milwaukee Road Archive

gauchos. The ladies. impersonated
senoritas by donning white
blouses, colored full skirts, flowers
for the hair and much jew- .
elry, with a sprinkling of high
combs and mantillas. In the
stores the atmosphere was even·
more authentic as some of the
clerks conversed in Spanish with
.the customers.
The three - day celebration _
opened on Saturday, ]uly27,
with a costume parade, which
featured visiting bands and a
drum and bugle corps. Included
.among the highlights of the days
which followed were rodeos, a
band concert, an air show, radio
broadcast, ball game, dancing
and the crowning of Miss Janice
Bakke as Fiesta Days queen. The
fiesta ended on Monday evening,
with a spectacular display of
fireworks.
Many Guests Attend
Among the many distinguished
guests who came to
Montevideo to attend· the celebration
were Dr. Alfonso Grana,
a medical instructor at the University
of Montevideo, Uruguay,
now doing research work
at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
Minn.; W. J. Shorter, vice-president
of Swift and Company in
Montevideo,. Uruguay; Dr. Wil-·
liam Schurz, acting chief of the
American Republic Division, Department
of State, Washington,
D. c.; Senor Cesar Montero de
Bustamente and Senora Montero,
official Uruguayan representatives;
Governor Edward
Thye of Minnesota and Dr.
Asher Christensen, former cultural
rela tions officer of the Department
of State in Argentina.
Perhaps the most interesting
feature of the entire Fiesta Days
Above: Fiesta Queen Janice Bakke, who was crowned under the Uruguayan !lag during the parade which opened the three.day festivities. Janice
is the daughler of Conductor Fred Bakke. employed on the R&D Division. Below. lell: The Montevideo City Band marching in fiesta garb. All the
Uruguayans dressed like Americans, while virtually every resident of the Minnesota city broke out in Spanish attire. Asked how the ·people of
.Montevideo. Uruquay, would dress if they were honorinq an American city, the Uruquayans replied, "Why, like cowboys, of course;" Below: A section
of Montevideo's Main Street cleared for the parade and for the coronation of the queen under the Uruquayc:m. flag.
September, 1946 5.