Allegheny County PA Archives- News: Belgium King visits Oakdale, 1919 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Victoria Valentine, , Jan 2009 Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ ________________________________________________ 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