07/04/2025
Twining dedication 65 years ago. Sixty-five years ago this weekend, on July 4, was a huge day in Monroe because native son Nathan Twining came back to Monroe for the dedication of the General Nathan F. Twining Park. Twining was born here on October 11, 1897 to C. W. and Maize (Barber) Twining and attended school here until the family moved to Oregon early in 1913. He graduated from Portland’s Lincoln High School in 1917 and was appointed to West Point. Because more officers were needed for World War I, he graduated from the academy in 1919. By the time of the park dedication Twining was serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the position to which he had been appointed by President Eisenhower three years earlier.
Advertisements in the Monroe Evening Times three days earlier stated that it would be a “Free Old Fashioned 4th of July” with the F-86 Jet, which remains in the park, to be dedicated. There was also an F-102 Jet flyover, a performance by the Truax Air Base Drill, and a giant fireworks display. The attractions were to start at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. with the park dedication ceremonies to start about 4 p.m. Obviously, an event of this magnitude took a lot of prior planning, with George Wells serving as the general program chairman.
“A beaming” Twining was “cheered and applauded” at the dedication. “It would be difficult to decide who was more delighted with the occasion — the crowd of more than 6,000 people at the park ceremony or the distinguished native son.” The weather was perfect and the program was “timed and carried out precisely” by the Jaycees and others. Twining prefaced his formal address with personal recollections and emphasized that he and the rest of the Twining family will always consider Monroe “their No. 1 hometown.”
Mrs. Twining had planned to make her first visit to Monroe, but was taken ill and ordered by her physician to remain in Washington. Twining’s entourage included his assistant, Col. George Eckhardt, who arrived on July 1 to confer with the committee heads, Lt. Col. Thomas Gribbin, Gen. James Sherrill, and Major James Root.
Twining and his party were met at Truax at noon on that Monday by his sister, Phoebe Chadwick, Mrs. W. B. Gnagi, John F. Kundert, Mr. and Mrs. George Van Wagenen, of Minneapolis, George Wells, W. A. Bender, and E. C. Hamilton. They were escorted here in a motorcade, which arrived at the Idle Hour Mansion shortly after 1:30. A reception was held for public officials and organization leaders at 2:00. Twining then fielded questions at a press conference at 3:00, before resting in a motel room until time for the parade to the park.
“From the moment that the official cavalcade of cars left the Idle Hour Mansion for the parade to the park until the closing of the dedication program, everything went like clockwork.”
“A telephone call to Truax alerted the four F102 jets waiting for the two flyover salutes to Gen. Twining and the first pass was made with a thundering roar at three minutes after 4 p.m. The second came as the group was gathered on the speakers stand.”
The dedication opened with an invocation by Rev. Mouw, retired Air Force chaplain, followed by the presentation of the Sabrejet plane contest trophy by Major General Jensen of Truax. The flag and flagpole for the park were presented by Mrs. W. L. Maske in the name of the Women’s Relief Corps. Lt. Stanton Steuri took the colors to the flagpole for raising.
Jaycees president John F. Kundert turned over the F-86 Sabrejet memorial to the park board, which was accepted by president A. Lee Mitchell. Mayor Orville Evans accepted the park in the name of Twining and then introduced Twining. George Wells closed the ceremonies.
The Twining family then returned to the Idle Hour Mansion. Twining and his sister went to her apartment where they rested until they left for a private dinner, which was held at the Monroe Country Club and hosted by Mrs. Gnagi.
The final event of the day was the fireworks display, which was witnessed by more than 10,000 persons. Police Chief Henry Hefty said he had never seen traffic as heavy — except for Cheese Days. “He said cars were parked bumper-to-bumper along Highway 81; the parking lots were filled to capacity and all other roads in the area were jammed with vehicles. Spectators lauded the hour-long display despite the somewhat chilly evening air, and the children were delighted.” Remember that the bypass had not yet been constructed, so the highways were different than they are now.
The General traveled back to Truax for his 10:00 a.m. flight to Washington D.C. the following morning. He was accompanied by Mrs. Chadwick, Mrs. Gnagi, the VanWagenens, Kundert, and Wells.
A few sidelights were shared in the Times the following day. The big yellow convertible that Twining and Phoebe Chadwick rode in the parade was brought from Chicago for the event. Joe Dearth convinced the vice president of the Chrysler Corporation for the Midwest area to give up his personal car for the weekend. Twining’s staff rode back to Truax in it.
The General’s aides and assistants were given early morning tours of the Borden plant and Swiss Colony by Ray Kubly.
Jaycees donated the profits from the concession stand to the Park Board for purchase of playground equipment.
The Red Cross only treated three people at their first aid station that day. Most serious was Dennis Drye, who had to be taken to a doctor for five stitches in his head after being hit by the heel of a child in a swing.
— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 608-325-6503.
