USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Suffield > Celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Suffield, Connecticut, October 12, 13 and 14, 1920, with sketches from its past and some record of its last half century and of its present > Part 5
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Major William Alcorn, of New Haven, brother of State Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn, spoke of his boyhood days in Suf- field; of the service of his father for four years and three months in the Civil War, his own service of one year on the Mexican border and two in France, and the service of his son and nephew in the navy. "Whenever our country called," he said, "Suffield was ready. When I came up this morning and saw that honor roll on the green, my heart swelled with pride for old Suffield, and I felt that she had done in this war as she always had in the history of the United States."
He spoke eloquently of the service in France of the American army in which so many races were mingled. When an Italian regiment marched by, they were all Italians, the French regi- ments were all French, the British regiments were all British; there were all kinds in the American army, but they were all Americans. They could be distinguished always, because their shoulders were up and they carried themselves in that peculiar manner that distinguished them as Americans always.
"In these reconstruction days, my friends, in the days fol- lowing this great war, you have a greater duty imposed upon you than those who fought over across. You have, as the orator this morning stated in response to the address of welcome, a different population in the town of Suffield. Faces are strange
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in our familiar town. Strangers and foreigners are coming to our land, and it is upon the shoulders of every man, woman and child in the United States today to stand firm and fast for America, to love and teach Americanism every day of their lives, in their private home, on the public streets, in their inter- course with everybody, so when the Yanks are gathered to- gether, they will be not only Yanks in name, but they will be true Americans.
The Toastmaster than said: "I agree with my friend, Major Alcorn, with all my heart. Instead of being filled with alarm because we have representatives of all nations, I rejoice at it. It is a great compliment to America, not because so many people are born here, but because so many people come here by their own free choice. I am perfectly certain we can make Americans out of them all, good Americans, for they came here because they knew that this was the best country in the world for opportunity, and if men are not all equal, all have, so far as possible, an equal chance; certainly it is more possible for people to succeed and go further under our government, under the American flag, than under any other government or envi- ronment in the world. So if Suffield has some Polish farmers, I am glad of it. Someone has got to be a farmer, if we are to live. We cannot all sit in the city offices and go to the movies. The county of Michigan where I spend three months every year, is filled with Polish farmers; they are hard workers; they work the way my father used to work; they really work; they get right down to the soil. Some of them stand only about a foot above it at their full height. The whole family work. It is a mighty good thing we have all these contributory streams from Europe and they would become good Americans by choice.
Now, I was perfectly delighted to find two things this morn- ing. One was that Mr. Lewis, who delivered the address in 1870, is still alive and well, although he is on the other side of America, and the other is-I have met his son. I have just enough of the dramatic about me to think it is highly dramatic that in 1870 Mr. Lewis gave the historical address and Mr. Phelps gave the historical poem, that the son of Mr. Lewis and the son of Mr. Phelps are here today. I wanted him to stick close to me to be photographed as the Heavenly Twins, but we
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are both too modest for that. I am going to ask you to listen to Mr. Reed Lewis.
Mr. Lewis said: "I wish I might turn the tables today and deliver a poem, as Mr. Phelps did at the celebration fifty years ago, but I am unable to do that. Fifty years ago my father, a Suffield boy, delivered the historical address, from which he has quoted this morning. Today my father is in California and is, I know, thinking of this celebration and what we are doing. Both as his deputy and in my own right, I am glad and proud to be here and to have a small part in your celebration, for I count myself, although not a native son, yet a son of Suffield through my father and through my many forbears who are sleeping on your gracious hills. I can look back in direct line to at least two of the first selectmen when your board of select- men was organized nearly two hundred and fifty years ago.
"Such anniversaries as these, it seems to me, not only renew the pleasant association of olden times and their memories, but they also bring us the inspection of the past and serve the one further purpose, to gather from them something of hope and wisdom for the future. Again, today we are wont to say or think we have arrived; we are prone to believe that the present day conditions and our institutions as they exist at this moment represent a happy compromise, but, as we turn back on such an anniversary as this, we see how great the changes have been in fifty, one hundred, two hundred years, and we realize that change is the law of life. Conditions are changed between these anniversaries, so they must change and develop in the future.
"Fifty years ago when my father stood here, Suffield had just successfully completed its contribution to the great Civil War and the saving of the Union. Before the people who were here at that time, there extended, could they have seen it at that time, a half century of national growth and prosperity, the like of which they had never seen. Today we, too, have just com- pleted a successful part in a great war; we, too, are looking ahead to fifty years of national prosperity, I believe, but more than that, to a new era of international understanding and friendship. I believe we look forward to a new day in world affairs when there will be a great association of nations which will represent the community of interests of all mankind, not
SCENE OF THE PAGEANT. An Airplane View, Showing the Gathering People, Stony Brook and the Meadows Stretching Across to Suffield Center
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only here in Suffield and the rest of our United States, but other parts of the globe.
"Suffield, it seems to me, is itself the symbol of that new community and interweaving of interests and relationships. I think of all the sons of Suffield who have gone forth to serve in other fields, perhaps outside of the State. If I may cite myself as an example, three of the last four years I have spent in government service in Russia, from the deserts of Central Asia where camels are the common beasts of burden, to the frozen north and, as I read this morning some of the names on your roll of honor, I saw that many of the honored sons of Suffield today are of foreign parentage, and that foreign lands are contributing to your present population and well-being; and it seems to me that Suffield thus typifies that new kind of community of interests, and the hope of world brotherhood which we may look forward to. So, at an anniversary where we celebrate the great achievements of the past, it is perhaps fitting we should also pause and give greeting to the great future in which Suffield and ourselves and our sons and daughters are to have a part."
At this point Professor Phelps announced that he was obliged to leave for New Haven to keep his engagements and, in intro- ducing the next speaker, Mr. George S. Godard, Connecticut State Librarian, left these parting words:
"In saying goodby today, which is, I hope, only au revoir. I want to thank you again with all my heart for the honor you have done me in asking me to come here and make the historical address. Suffield has always been very close to my own heart, because, as you know, my father was born here and I still have so many relatives and dear friends here. I feel from now on it will be even closer. I feel everybody in Suffield is somehow or other my cousin, my family friend, and I feel I really belong here. I have been in some of your houses today. I have looked over the wonderful Hostess House with the extraordinary col- lection of beautiful furniture. I shall always feel, no matter where I am that there is something here that no other town can mean to me. So it is with a thankful heart and great happiness in coming here that I say goodby, not only to the family, God bless them all, and Mr. Fuller, who took me in,
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and that big fellow, Harmon, and to Father Hennessey, that good old Methodist that I brought up, and all the rest of my individual friends, but I say only temporarily, I am sure, goodby to the town."
Mr. George S. Godard, State Librarian, urged the desira- bility of putting into shape and keeping accessible the early town and family records that are fast passing out of existence. He asked all to aid him in his work of preserving the records of the towns of Connecticut, and last but not least the records of the last war.
The last speaker, Mr. Seymour C. Loomis, of New Haven, spoke pleasantly of the significance of the celebration, of the old associations of the town and of their values.
The Community Dance
No event lent itself more fully to both the spectacular and social features of the celebration than the Community Dance on Tuesday evening. The idea developed not only from a desire to provide such an occasion for a mingling of people with no restrictions upon admission, but from an appreciation of the facilities that the broad concreted expanse in front of the Town Hall and in the broad street above and below, offered for an outdoor evening event under suitable illumination. Nothing but a clear beautiful night could be lacking for such an occasion, and fortunately such was provided.
The long and broad concreted space was swept for the occa- sion and then sprinkled with many hundred pounds of corn- meal, and transformed into ample room for a host of merry dancers. The space was roped off and about it gathered a great multitude of people, either to participate in the dancing or to enjoy the unique and beautiful spectacle of hundreds of couples swinging gaily under the festoons of electric lights to the fine music of the 104th Regiment Band. The rhythmic motion, the changing colors up and down the brightly illumined street created a wonderful scene and old and young, native and foreign born, entered into the brilliant occasion with zest and enjoyment.
WEDNESDAY, THE SECOND DAY
Organ Recital and Address by Dr. Stephen S. Wise at Second Baptist Church
The celebration of the second day began at 10 o'clock in the Second Baptist Church which was filled to overflowing, many standing in the aisles and doorways. Prayer was offered by Rev. E. Scott Farley, pastor of the church. Professor William C. Hammond of Holyoke, one of New England's foremost organists, opened the exercises with a splendid program of recitals upon the organ, and Miss Marie Roszelle, whose mother was formerly Miss Belle Wilson of Suffield, gained much applause by two vocal selections.
At the close of the musical program, Mr. George A. Peckham introduced the speaker of the day, Rev. Stephen S. Wise, Ph.D., LL. D. of New York City. His subject was "Pilgrim's Progress, 1620 to 1920," and it was peculiarly suited to the occasion inas- much as the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims coincides with the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Suffield by men of the same stock and simi- lar religious and political purposes. An abstract of Dr. Wise's address follows:
The year 1492, as the elder among you may recall, was not celebrated in any such way as the year 1920 is being celebrated. The year 1492 was observed after the lapse of four centuries with joy and amid thanksgiving, and yet in a spirit wholly dif- ferent from that which waits upon the tercentenary of the Pil- grims. We could not help recalling then, as now, that 1492 marked the adventure of a man, but 1920 commemorates the adventure of an age. For 1620 is the year which chronicled the Homeric daring and nobleness of a whole generation-a genera- tion which set out, not to find the gold of India, but to build the streets of the New Jerusalem.
The Pilgrims were pioneers and they and their children have never ceased to be pioneers spiritual. The America of the Pil-
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grims was a spiritual achievement, the America of the Civil War was a spiritual deed. The America of the future-will we dare spiritually to pioneer in its upbuilding?
The two prime purposes of such a commemoration as this are to preserve the good of the past and to build for a better future. There is much to keep that was. There is more to achieve that ought to be. Piety and pride alike lie back of your quarto-mil- lenary celebration-pride and gratitude for what was, pride and hope for what is to be. Pride of ancestry is a great quality when greatly and nobly used. One likes to hear about the sons of one group and daughters of another and the great grandchildren of yet another, provided each fitly honor the rock whence they were hewn, and be not bent upon self-glorification.
Because I am a Jew, I can sympathize with those who would magnify the distinction and the nobleness revealed by their fathers. Ancestry is never to be viewed as a privilege, but ever as a responsibility. Let us think of our soldiers of the World War which we helped to win. No one would say that these were less noble than were the battlers of the Revolution, and yet will the great-grandsons of the young Americans of 1917 and 1918 be entitled to any special credit and distinction because their great-grandfathers were of the heroes of the World War? Para- phrasing the word of Mark Twain spoken before the New Eng- land societies, what shadow of right have you to celebrate in your ancestors gifts which they alone did exercise but not transmit? As the grandsons and great-grandsons of the war of 1917 and 1918, these will be entitled to the privilege of serving and battling as did their sires, to the distinction of being braver and nobler than were their heroic ancestors.
The progress of the Pilgrims to a new world ranged from 1620 to 1920-up to this time; 1920 is no more a goal than 1620 was a starting point. The progress of the Pilgrims began when men first pioneered in behalf of a nobler life, a larger truth, a broader charity.
We cannot today stand where stood the fathers of New Eng- land or the founders of the town in which you dwell. We cannot think as did the fathers of the Republic. We cannot be where Washington was nor stand where Lincoln stood, but we can aim
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to be where they would have been were they living today. We can in spirit be again what they were.
The Pilgrims of 1620 did not leave England behind. They brought England with them and transplanted England to a new world and built an England new. The Englishmen who came to build a new England were truer to the old England than those they left behind. These brought to the New World the English mind, its qualities-and, some will add, its defects. But its qualities far outranged its defects. They brought the spirit of England-what Rupert Brooke called "the English air." I remember to have heard William Stead say that the American Revolution was not as against or away from England, but in the reaffirmation of English principles forgotton for an hour by Eng- land's un-English rulers.
In order to be true to England, the Pilgrims or England's emi- grants had to leave England behind them. Out of England, they came immediately after that age in which England had been at its greatest-the England of Elizabeth and Shakspere- and the foundations which they laid of the America which was to be were English through and through. Theirs was the courage of the pioneer, the fineness of justice and the nobleness of verac- ity.
I urge today that it was England that laid the foundations of New England, that Englishmen give to our country its bent and inspiration, that they flowered in that perfect product of the blending of the old England and the new England (despite Low- ell's "Nothing of Europe Here")-Abraham Lincoln. This, I urge, because there are those who would move us to forget the debt we owe to England, the bond that links us with England and the common aims of the two great English-speaking peoples of earth.
The year 1920 would lose much of its highest value to America if it failed to establish a finer amity and a more brotherly under- standing between the two great commonwealths which more than any other nations have it in their power to keep and to deepen the peace of the earth.
The progress of the Pilgrims must be from the making of the new England the foundations of which they laid, to the estab- lishment of the new America, which their children's children
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are called upon to build. Ours is a republic, which cannot truly endure unless the Pilgrims of 1920 share the passion of the Pil- grims of Plymouth Rock for the res publica, or for the common good.
The new America must be more completely and truly and holily democratic than it has been before, its people, self-gov- erning outwardly and self-disciplined inwardly-a democracy belonging to no party and no class and no sect but served as a veritable religion by every party and every class and every sect within the limits of the land. Over and above all, the Amer- ica for which all Americans ought to be must be for all the world, keeping the world to the noblest ends of peace.
In 1620 the Pilgrims took themselves away from the Old World. In 1920, the children's children of the Pilgrims take themselves back to the Old World. Then they left the Old World in order to serve God and conscience. Now, in truth, they must go back to the Old World at the bidding of God and conscience to serve the Old World.
"Mayflower, Ship of Faith's best Hope!
Thou art sure if all men grope;
Mayflower! Ship of Charity!" All is true the Great God saith; Mayflower, Ship of Charity!
With the singing of "Blest be the Tie that Binds," and the benediction the people scattered for the noon hour and to join the many who were coming into the town from neighboring places to witness the Pageant of the afternoon.
THE PAGEANT OF SUFFIELD
Written by Prof. Jack Crawford of Yale University and Produced by Suffield People
The spectacular event of the celebration was the historical Pageant written by Mr. Jack R. Crawford, Assistant Professor of English in Yale University, and enacted by townspeople on the south banks of Stony Brook a little above the Old Boston Neck Mill Dam which, according to tradition, was first con- structed by Major John Pynchon in 1687 to secure power for a corn mill he had engaged to build to promote the settlement of the town. Aside from its historic significance, the place was peculiarly suited for such a pageant. From the level and nar- row meadow through which the tree-bordered stream runs, the pasture ground rises gradually and evenly, thereby providing a natural amphitheater for the spectators to view the scenes en- acted on the level stretches below.
To the left of this natural stage lines of cedars were stuck into the ground closely together, providing a screen from which the actors in the various scenes issued, and behind which they retired as each episode ended. It was a beautiful day and the afternoon sun, as it hung above and sank towards the crest of the higher ground to the south, shaded the audience while it fell brightly on the brilliant and quaint costumes of the actors in the historic scenes and lit the autumn foliage of the graceful old trees, mirrored in the smooth waters of the brook in the background. On the brook at times wild duck disported, flying occasionally up the stream and returning to again add to the picturesque features of the living pictures of long ago. The gleaming paddles of the canoes of the Indians, as they came to confer with the white men in Puritan garb, added to both the beauty and realism of the scene. The setting was ideal, the pageantry spectacular and graceful, the action excellent.
Nearly six hundred men, women and children of the town took part with spirit and ability. The costumes were designed by
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Miss Mary McAndrew of New York, and were mainly made for the occasion by the women of Suffield, the exception being the typical costumes of the men of Puritan and Revolutionary times provided by a Springfield costumer.
As the hour for the opening of the Pageant approached, the people gathered on the hillsides where a host of ushers led the way to the seating of a multitude that numbered nearly 7000. Ample space was provided in adjacent lots for the parking of automobiles and all arrangements for so large a gathering of people were carefully made and successfully carried out. Previ- ous to the opening of the scenes, Shorts' band gave a pleasing concert. The prologue of the pageant covered the inception of the Pilgrim Idea in Holland and an allegorical representation of the wilderness to which they came, while the succeeding episodes represented the epochal incidents in the two hundred and fifty years of Suffield history.
SYNOPSIS OF THE ACTION I PROLOGUE-The Idea Goes Forth Scene-Leyden, Holland, 1620.
CHARACTERS
JOHN ROBINSON, a Pilgrim preacher, from Scrooby, Notting- hamshire. Mr. Howard Henshaw
JOHN CARVER Į Pilgrims Mr. Howard D. Sikes
EDWARD WINSLOW } Mr. Samuel H. Graham MILES STANDISH, a soldier THE STRANGER Mr. Howard C. Cone Rev. E. Scott Farley Miss Lucille Wilson A BALLAD SELLER
Dutch peasants, strolling actors, market women, acrobats, boatmen and exiled Pilgrims from England.
PILGRIMS. Mr. Leroy Sikes, Mrs. Charles S. Spencer, Mrs. James Spencer, Mrs. George L. Warner, Mrs. Frank Smith, Mrs. Frank King, Mrs. E. G. Hastings, Miss Alice Prout, Miss Madeline Spencer, Mrs. Howard Sikes, Miss Talulah Sikes, Mr. George Sheldon, Mr. George Warner, Mrs. Frank Reid, Mrs. David L. Brockett, Frank Smith, Shirley Reid, George Trues- dell.
DUTCH PEASANTS. Isabelle Greer, Mrs. Henry Phelps, Doro- thy Brown, Lilla Brown, Mrs. Earl Spaulding, Mr. Charles Chaplin, Mrs. Charles Chaplin, George Chaplin, Mr. Bert Gil- lette, Mrs. Bert Gillette, Anna Gillette, Mr. Samuel Adams,
A PAGEANT SCENE. Showing the Natural Setting on the Banks of Stony Brook.
PAGEANT GROUPS. Above, Pilgrims and Dutch; Below, Flower Maidens in the Welcome to Washington.
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Mrs. Samuel Adams, Louise Adams, Mr. George Parks, Mrs. George Parks, Ruth Brown, Eunice Brown, Robert Adams, Elizabeth Jones, Geraldene Jones, Florence Smith, Mr. Charles E. Haskins, Mrs. Charles E. Haskins, Mrs. O. L. Allen, Wallace Rhaum, Louise McComb, Mrs. Bridge, Thelma Bridge.
MARKET WOMEN. May Horsefall, Mary Roche, Mrs. Patrick Keohane, Minnie Wilson, Mrs. William S. Fuller.
ACROBATS. Capt. H. A. Lorenz, Henry Dewey.
STROLLING PLAYERS. Emerson Carter, Karl Anderson.
A fair is in progress outside the walls of Leyden. Groups of Dutch peasants are making merry among the stalls and booths. A ballad seller passes among the peasants, singing. Strolling players and acrobats pass. The whole populace is rejoicing.
In the midst of the pleasures and confusion of the fair, a sol- emn chant is heard in the distance. John Robinson and his little band of Pilgrim exiles from England appear and come forward. With Robinson are John Carver, Edward Winslow and Miles Standish. The Dutch peasants make way respectfully for the Pilgrims. The latter kneel in prayer a moment and then John Robinson addresses his flock.
He reminds his followers that they are met to take solemn counsel among themselves. It is now twelve years since they came to Holland seeking liberty of conscience and the right to worship God in their own way. The truce between Holland and Spain will soon expire, and Robinson fears that once more fire and sword will ravage the land, thus imperilling the Pilgrims. He points out that it is not possible to return to England, for there they would again meet persecution. Robinson has, there- fore, summoned his followers and proclaimed a day of humilia- tion to seek the Lord for his direction.
But far across the seas, the old Preacher says, there lies a new world where men may live in freedom. It is, therefore, his thought that a band of volunteers might venture overseas to make a home for the others. One or two murmur at the dangers of the voyage; others, more numerous, proclaim their trust in Robinson.
At this moment there enters the mysterious figure of The Stranger. Robinson and the Pilgrims are amazed, for they know not this man. The Stranger bids Robinson to send his followers on the voyage without fear. Although they shall encounter
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