Allegheny County PA Archives-  News: Belgium King visits Oakdale, 1919

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Victoria Valentine, <vvalentine4@comcast.net>, Jan 2009

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/newspapers/belgian-king-1919.txt

A great honor was bestowed upon the people of this vicinity on Thursday 
morning, October 23, 1919, when they awoke and found King Albert and Queen 
Elizabeth and Crown Leopold (sic) of Belgium had spent the night in Oakdale. 
In order for them to arrive in Pittsburgh on scheduled time their special 
train was held on the siding near the Railroad Station and this gave the 
people a great opportunity to see the Royal Family. Everyone had the 
pleasure and honor of shaking hands with the Crown Prince Leopold, as he 
stood upon the platform of the train, but King Albert did not appear until 
the train was again in motion and moving slowly toward Pittsburgh. He then 
appeared on the platform and saluted the great crowds. Owing to a severe 
cold Queen Elizabeth did not come out of the train but could be seen through 
the windows. Large bouquets of pink and white roses were thrown among the 
crowds which were soon gathered up and cherished as souvenirs. Almost all 
business places in the town were closed in order for the various clerks to 
have the pleasure of seeing the Royal Family. The school children numbering 
about four hundred marched from the school to the train. We must 
congratulate one of our school boys, Wayne MCKISSICK for being on the alert. 
He was first to shake hands with the Crown Prince and the only one to shake 
hands with King Albert as the train was slowly moving. Wayne ran down the 
track and the King reached over the rail and shook hands with him. Both 
King Albert and Crown Prince Leopold were tall and slenderly built, light 
hair and a fair complexion and cheeks of roses, a beautiful picture that one 
will never forget as they stood on the platform of their special train. 
There were children from babes in arms to elderly people supported with 
canes and crutches to see the members of this Royal Family.
 
*Oakdale column