Depue Illinois Labor Day Motorboat Races With Spectators 1916 Real Photo Postcard

Labor Day in 1916, celebrated on September 4th, marked a significant federal holiday in the United States, officially recognized since 1894. Depue, Illinois, a village situated on Lake DePue in Bureau County, was a typical setting for community gatherings of this era, especially for water-based recreational events. The image captures a large crowd of spectators on makeshift grandstands along the lake, suggesting a popular public spectacle, likely a boat race, a common Labor Day activity in lakeside towns.