The Wheelbarrow Parade

Small-town living at its finest is on display in the following article from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. When Billie Banfield's presidential candidate of choice, Al Smith, lost to Herbert Hoover in the November 1928 election, he found himself pushing his pal down Main Street in a wheelbarrow in the midst of an impromptu parade. The Banfield family operated Cuba City's Northwestern Hotel, which stood where Mound City Bank is today.

Cuba City Observes Wheelbarrow Parade

 Cuba City, Wis., Nov. 10--Special: Jake Bennett, of Prairie du Chien, representative for a Dubuque wholesaler in southwest Wisconsin, laid a wager with Billie Banfield, of the Northwestern hotel of Cuba City on the election. In the event Smith was elected president then Bennett was to wheel Banfield down Main street in a wheelbarrow. In case Hoover won, Bennett was to do the riding and Banfield the pushing.

Banfield announced Thursday morning he was ready to carry out his part of the bet. A wheelbarrow was secured. This was ornamented with pictures of Hoover and a sign on which was printed: "Four more years of prosperity. Banfield holds his job."

The high school and Cuba City military bands were tipped off and appeared on the scene. The fire bells were rung, bringing the entire populace out onto the streets, where it was explained to them what was about to happen, and they congregated about Banfield and Bennett and the phaeton. At a signal the band paraded down Main Street, followed by Banfield and his fare. Back of the wheelbarrow came a Dubuque-Madison bus blowing its horn all the way and adding to the din and excitement. The procession arrived at the Northwestern hotel, where the band played several tunes, the crowd cheered and Bennett and Banfield shook hands and slapped each other on the shoulders. It was the best election aftermath the native of Cuba City had ever seen.  

--Published in the Telegraph Herald (November 11, 1928).