USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Vernon > A century of Vernon, Connecticut, 1808-1908 > Part 13
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MONDAY, JUNE 29.
AFTERNOON-Opening exercises at Vernon Center (mother settle- ment of the town), in historic Congregational Church, built in 1826, with following program: 1, Music; 2, Invocation ; 3, Address of welcome by Parley B. Leonard, Esq., first selectman of the Town of Vernon; 4, Reading of Act of the General Assembly creating the Town of Vernon, by Francis B. Skinner, Esq., town clerk; 5, Music; 6, Historical Essay by C. Denison Talcott, Esq .; 7, Music ; 8, Reminiscences, by Captain Charles W. Burpee of Hartford; 9, Centennial poem, by Prof. Thomas D. Goodell of New Haven; 10, Music ; 11, Commemorative address by Hon Charles Phelps, President of Vernon Centennial Committee ; 12, Benediction Following the exercises in the church there will be a Band Concert and social gathering on green in front of the church. EVENING-Grand Colonial Ball in Town Hall, under auspices of Sabra Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R. Grand Ball at Turn Hall. Opening of Electrical Display and Illuminations ;
CHARLES BACKOFEN, Treasurer of Committee on Advertis- ing, Publicity and Printing.
PROFESSOR THOMAS D. GOODELL. Member of first graduating class of Rockville High School. Wrote com- memorative poem for Vernon's cen- tennial celebration.
CAPTAIN CHARLES W. BURPEE, Of Hartford. Former Rockville boy who took part in literary exercises during centennial week.
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Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway, on East Main Street.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30.
AFTERNOON-Automobile Hill-Climb Contest, Vernon avenue, at two o'clock. Athletic sports, including foot races, sack races, climbing greased pole, etc. Ball game on Union Street grounds, Rockville vs. Middletown, champions of Middlesex County League. Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert; Vaude- ville, and Midway.
EVENING-Meeting of Alumni of Rockville High School, with grand reunion. Reception and banquet tendered by Fayette Lodge, No. 69, A. F. & A. M., to M. W., Edward Fuller, M. W., Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut. Ball in Town Hall. Electrical display and Illuminations ; Band Concert ; Vaudeville, and Midway.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1.
AFTERNOON-Fifers' and Drummers' convention and contest. Ball game on Union Street grounds, Rockville vs. Bristol Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway. EVENING-Grand pyrotechnical display, furnished by Clarence D. Holt, former Rockville resident. Band Concert; Midway, and Vaudeville ; Electrical display and Illuminations.
THURSDAY, JULY 2.
MORNING-Baseball game on Union Street grounds between Rockville and Springfield State League team, (game will be preceded by parade of the players of the two teams in autos, headed by band).
AFTERNOON-Baseball on Union Street grounds, Rockville vs. Springfield State League team. Balloon Ascension; Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway.
EVENING-Rockville Baseball Association's reception to players, entertainment, and ball, in Town Hall. Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway; Electrical Display and Illumina- tions.
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FRIDAY, JULY 3.
AFTERNOON-Grand military, civic and industrial parade, ending with Centennial Drill under the direction of Moritz Kem- nitzer. Band Concert; Balloon Ascension; Vaudeville, and Midway. German Entertainment at Turn Hall. EVENING-Grand military ball at Town Hall. German enter- tainment at Turn Hall. Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway; Electrical Display and Illuminations.
SATURDAY, JULY 4.
MORNING-Parade of Antiques and Horribles. Band Concert. AFTERNOON-Firemen's muster. Baseball, Rockville vs. Stafford. Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Midway. EVENING-Firemen's ball in Town hall. Band Concert; Elec- trical Display and Illuminations; Private Display of Fire- works; Vaudeville, and Midway. Exhibit of historical relics and curios each day. Industrial exhibit each day.
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Some Press Comments
TOWN AND CITY CREDIT TO OLD CONNECTICUT.
Bristol celebrated her centennial in 1883. Now it's Vernon's turn. That is really the ancient and official town name, but Rockville is the modern expression. "Old Home Week" has meant something there this week, and its observance has been carried out in a spirit of genuine hospitality and hearty welcome. We extend our congratulations to Vernon-Rockville. Both town and city are a credit to old Connecticut. Progress and enterprise and many other good things dwell there .- Bristol Press.
IT IS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN
There is no overestimating the value and importance of these centennial and bi-centennial celebrations through the state. They revive patriotism, encourage public spirit, and make in many ways for good citizenship and human progress. The town of Vernon is now engaged in this stimulating sort of entertain- ment. Elsewhere this morning we publish the addresses of yesterday, each of them worthy of a wide reading. The historical sketch by Mr. Talcott covers most interestingly the development of the place and its progress into a most important manufac- turing center. Captain Burpee tells entertainingly of various occurrences in the life of the town. And State Attorney Phelps, with his commemorative address, sounds the call to duty in an impressive and noteworthy oration. All the literary exercises are evidently on a high plane, and the occasion is a memorable one. Rockville, the industrial center of the town of Vernon, is one of the greatest woolen producers in the world and the quality of its goods is proverbially fine. The citizens who have grown rich with its development are constantly doing in one way and another for the town, steadily making it a better place to live in and sharing their success with their fellow-townsmen .- Hartford Courant.
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OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS.
Vernon's big centennial celebration came to a close Saturday night, and it is now a matter of history. It will be remembered as the greatest and most successful event ever taking place in the town. Hereafter when occasion arises to fix the time of any particular event reference will be had to its having been before or since the Vernon centennial. The attention of the entire state was centered on Vernon and Rockville last week. The magnificent scale upon which the town observed its 100th birthday will be the talk of everyone within a radius of many miles for a long time to come. Visitors were amazed at the elaborateness of everything; things were conducted on a scale that would have done credit to a place four times our size. The decorations and attractions were far beyond the expectations of the hosts of people who came to attend the festivities. Former residents who had not been in this city for years, came back for "Old Home Week," meeting old acquaintances and reviving old times and incidents. It was a great time for Rockville and everybody who had anything to do with planning and carrying out Vernon's centennial ought to feel proud of the magnificent success achieved .- Rockville Journal.
EXCELLED ALL RECORDS AND EXCEEDED ALL ANTICIPATIONS.
The big centennial celebration is now a matter of history, and Vernon (Rockville) has excelled all records and exceeded all anticipations. This might sound egotistical were it not a fact that it is the plain truth, corroborated by every one who witnessed the celebration. Today the town of Vernon stands higher in the estimation of the public than it ever stood before. As we look back it is difficult to name an event which should have been omitted or a feature which should have been added. A week's celebration has been held, covering every point which such a celebration should cover, dignified and formal, where dignity and formality were appropriate, informal, happy and homelike at all other times. From the outset doubt had been expressed whether a town the size of Vernon could keep up the
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pace for an entire week of carnival. There is no longer any doubt. From the very first day of the celebration until the last day the pace was maintained. The populace and outsiders crowded the streets day and night throughout the entire week and joined in the rejoicings with the abandon of New Orleans at the Mardi Gras. There was something doing every minute. It was indeed a strenuous week, and when the windup came late on Saturday night there were undoubtedly a whole lot of tired people in Rockville, but not one of these regretted that the cele- bration had taken place, although possibly some of the number, if they were going to do it all over again, would bring it to an end in three or four days, instead of continuing it for a week.
Aside from the entertainment and enjoyment features of Ver- non's centennial celebration, there have been other features which cannot fail to benefit the town. Rockville is known today from one end of the state to the other. Indeed, her name is being mentioned and her praises sounded throughout New England. Every person who has visited the city from near and far, (and there have been people from every part of the country here during that week) has advertised Rockville, has had a good word to say of the civic pride and public spirit of her citizens. Although small in size, everyone today is satisfied that Rockville can do big things-things that cities much larger could not do one whit better. Without desiring to boast, it can truthfully be said that Rockville's centennial celebration will compare favorably, yes hold its end up, with any of the big celebrations that have been held hereabouts in the last twenty-five years.
Nature has done much for Rockville. Conditions here are ideal for such a celebration as was planned for the centennial of the town of Vernon. There isn't another city in Connecticut better adapted from a show standpoint for a centennial celebration than Rockville. With its beautiful greensward in the center, its triple- terraced streets, and its ideal spot for a midway, (East Main street), everything can be seen to advantage. It wasn't necessary to turn Rockville upside down to convert it into a show place. The spectacular and show features were kept within a very limited area. The center of Rockville certainly looked grand. It
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was a delight for visitors to walk up and down the main street and pass along the midway by night, and thousands and thou- sands who did it night after night were carried away with the effect produced by the decorations and illuminations. . They did not tire of them, and kept coming night after night. Ask any "Old Home Week" visitor what he thinks of Rockville and you'll get an answer that will make you feel proud. It's the unanimous opinion of all who spent any time in the city during "Old Home Week" that Rockville's welcome and hospitality were of the 18 karat kind and all wool and a yard wide. There was nothing lacking in welcome and hospitality and the city never looked prettier.
By way of review, it should be said that Vernon's centennial celebration was not only carefully planned and well financed, but splendidly conducted, with every contingency provided for and no detail, however minute, escaping attention. Of course it isn't likely that everyone was satisfied with everything that took place or some things that didn't take place, but generally speaking there was little criticism and practically no fault-finding. The townspeople marveled at the magnitude of the celebration once it was under headway. . To the men who labored so hard and faithfully, not only during that week, but during the eight months of preparation, they did not hesitate to award a full measure of credit, realizing that it was a big undertaking that demanded self-sacrifice and called for ceaseless toil. It's a good thing for the town that Vernon had the men capable of carry- ing out the undertaking and willing to do the work necessary to make it a success. It was new work to most of them, but they never faltered, and from the outset displayed a spirit of enthusiasm and resistless energy that spelled success. Judging by the verdict of those of the city's guests during the week, who have travelled much and participated in such events, the great enterprise was a success.
Some special points should be noted regarding the celebration. Perfect order was maintained during the entire week. Over 100,000 people occupied our streets, and there was no disturb- ance, no violence or theft, no accident of any kind, and a notice-
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ableable absence of drunkenness. That such admirable order prevailed is a credit to our town and its visitors, and this com- munity owes a debt of gratitude to the committee on public safety, of which Mayor Forster, as chief of police, was an active member, and to the police department. Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Edward J. Kane and his men for the discipline and order they maintained during the week of immense crowds. Taking everything into consideration, it is certainly marvelous that there wasn't trouble during the week. Captain Kane and the men under him were onto their jobs, so to speak, every minute, day and night. Both the active head of the police department and the officers seemed to take pride in their work. They did really more than they were called upon to do, realizing that it was an unusual time-a time when too much care could not be exercised. The good nature of the thousands of centennial celebrants materially aided the police in their work, but they controlled the situation from start to finish in great style .- Rockville Leader.
LONG LIVE ROCKVILLE AND VERNON.
The Vernon centenary and "Old Home Week" festivities at Rockville are bringing great throngs of people there. The weather has favored Vernon and Rockville splendidly in this celebration. Manchester has contributed a generous quota of visitors to all the attractions at Rockville this week. Wednesday night the fireworks display brought record crowds to Rockville. The display was a credit to Rockville. We certainly take off our hats to our enterprising neighbors in Rockville. Their celebration is a grand success and they are covering themselves all over with glory. Long live Rockville and Vernon .- South Manchester News.
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