USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, Connecticut : with an account of the centennial celebration May 14 and 15, 1895 : also a sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled by local families > Part 11
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SCHOOLS OF PLYMOUTH.
methods used by the present principal, Fred Howard Davis, of Lyons, N. Y., who has had charge the past two years. Mr. Davis was prepared for college at the Academy of Canandaigua, N. Y., in the class of '87, and graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., class of '92.
The High school has thirty-three scholars, an increase dur- ing the past year of from sixty-five to seventy-five per cent.
The Grammar school has twenty-five scholars, and is taught by Miss Margaret Pinney of Bloomfield.
Mrs. Emma Clark of Terryville has charge of the interme- diate department, and has about thirty-five scholars. Miss May Bunnell of Terryville has thirty-five pupils in the primary department.
The village has the reputation of producing more scholars fitted for college than any other village of its size in the state.
Jane K. Johnson is said to have taught a longer period than any teacher since the school was established, serving twenty-four terms in different departments.
The kindergarten department is presided over by Miss Edith Scott of Glens Falls, N. Y., and has about thirty pupils. The object of this training is to develop the various faculties of the child's mind, to put it in working possession of all its pow- ers, rather than to impart general information. The child is here taken through progressive periods of physical and mental development with a view to stimulate independent thought by means of independent action on its own part.
Elocution is another improved feature of this school, as each pupil is required to give one rhetorical exercise as often as once a month, and once in six weeks in the High school for general rhetoric.
.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE
TOWN OF
PLYMOUTH
CONNECTICUT,
MAY 14 AND 15, 1895.
CHAPTER IX.
.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Preliminary Meetings Held and Plans Perfected for the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Town of Plymouth-Complete Account of the Exercises, Including the Speeches of Judge A. P. Bradstreet and Other Orators of the Day.
T HE first step towards the centennial celebration of the incor- poration of the town of Plymouth was taken at the annual town meeting holden at Terryville, October 3, 1892. On motion of George Langdon it was voted: "That the selectmen be directed to appoint a committee of three to inquire into the matter of a celebration of the Centennial of the town's organiza- tion in 1895, and report to the next annual meeting."
In accordance with that vote, on December 6, 1892, the selectmen appointed E. L. Pond. George Langdon and J. C. Fenn a committee to consider the advisability of holding a cen- tennial celebration in 1895, and report at the next town meeting.
At the annual town meeting held October 2, 1893, the fol- lowing report was submitted :
" The committee appointed by the selectmen to inquire into the matter of celebrating the centennial of the town in 1895, beg leave to report as follows :
" We believe that a public celebration to commemorate the One Hundredth Anniversary of the town's existence, carefully and wisely conducted, could not be other than a success. To gather the scattered fragments of its history into tangible form and arrange a programme suitable for the occasion calls for energetic work and an expenditure of money. But if entered into by all good citizens with the enthusiasm and disposition to help which the occasion would demand, we believe it could be made not only instructive but of permanent value. We therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution :
" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the selectmen to arrange for a public celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the town in 1895, and that a suitable appropriation be made to defray the expense of the same."
EDGAR L. POND, GEORGE LANGDON, Committee. JASON C. FENN,
This resolution was accepted and it was moved and voted that the sum of $100 be appropriated to defray expenses.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
October 13, 1893, the selectmen appointed Edgar L. Pond, George Langdon and Jason C. Fenn a committee on the cen- tennial celebration. Messrs. Pond and Langdon declined to serve, and Richard Baldwin and Byron Tuttle were appointed to fill the vacancies.
On June 7, 1894, the committee asked that the selectmen appoint additional members, and proposed the names of B. B. Satterlee, George Langdon, B. J. Holt, A. C. Bunnell, Walter F. Tolles, Abel S. Beardsley, James Terry, E. S. Beach, A. W. Welton, H. G. Burr and Charles S. Smith, which names were approved by the selectmen.
The centennial committee met in Terryville, June 23, 1894, and elected permanent officers. The meeting was called to order by Jason C. Fenn. Byron Tuttle was elected chairman, Richard Baldwin first vice chairman, George Langdon second vice chairman, Jason C. Fenn secretary, Jonathan Starr treasurer.
Committee on Invitation .- George Langdon, Jason C. Fenn, Abel S. Beardsley (resigned), Charles S. Smith, Arthur C. Bunnell.
Committee on Oration and Addresses .- Byron Tuttle, Abel S. Beardsley (resigned), Richard Baldwin.
Committee on Loan Exhibition .- James Terry, A. W. Wel- ton, Arthur C. Bunnell, Richard Baldwin, B. B. Satterlee. B. J. Holt, also the board of selectmen.
Voted, That the day of celebrating be the third Wednesday of Mav, 1895.
Voted, That the loan exhibition remain open through the week.
Voted, That the matter of inviting the original towns be referred to the committee on invitations.
Voted. To appoint a musical committee; and Henry G. Burr, Carlisle H. Baldwin, Charles H. Beardsley and Otis B. Hough be that committee.
Voted, That the committee on the different committees be empowered to fill vacancies.
Voted, That the clerk notify each member of his election.
At the annual town meeting in Plymouth Center, October 1, 1894, it was voted that the town appropriate for the use of the centennial committee a sum not to exceed $300, to be audited and approved by the selectmen
The second meeting of the centennial committee was held October 15, 1894, at the Town Clerk's office in Terryville. The meeting was called to order by Byron Tuttle, president.
It was moved that the meeting May 15. 1895, be on Ply- mouth Hill. Moved to amend by striking out Plymouth Hill and insert Terryville. An informal ballot was called for on the amendment, which stood eight to eight. A formal vote on the question was taken, and decided to hold the celebration in Terry- ville, twelve to four. An attempt to make the vote unanimous was unsuccessful.
Voted, To appoint a committee of three to investigate souvenir spoons and decide on some design.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Jason C. Fenn, Richard Baldwin and Abel S. Beardsley (resigned) were appointed and requested to report to next meeting.
Matter of committee on entertainment was deferred.
Committee on tents and accommodation was appointed as follows : E. S. Beach, Jason C. Fenn, A. C. Bunnell.
It was suggested that next meeting be in the evening at Ply- mouth Center at call of secretary .
Charles S. Smith was appointed by committee on invitation to see to sending out notices.
The third meeting of the centennial committee was held at the office of Byron Tuttle, Esq., November 23, 1894.
Voted, That a committee of six ladies be appointed, three from each village, they to appoint any person they may choose for chairman, also to appoint such sub-committee as they may see fit, to provide entertainment for invited guests.
Voted, That Mrs. George Langdon, Mrs. Edwin M. Tal- madge and Mrs. Bennett H. Sutliff be the committee for Ply- mouth Center.
Voted, That E. S. Beach consult with Terryville committee and furnish names of three Terryville ladies to the clerk to act on this committee on entertainment, and that he call the first meeting.
Voted, That a sub-committee of three be appointed to investigate arrangements for feeding others than invited guests.
Voted, Jason C. Fenn, Byron Tuttle, Edward S. Beach, be that committee.
Voted, That this meeting recommend to the committee on orations and addresses and the musical committee, the matter of public centennial exercises, Tuesday evening, May 14, at the Congregational Church in Plymouth Center, and report to next meeting of this committee, which is to be at Town Clerk's office, Terryville, at call of president and clerk.
As proposed at last meeting, E. S. Beach reported to the clerk the names of three Terryville ladies to act with the ladies from Plymouth Center on the entertainment committee, namely : Mrs. Richard Baldwin, Mrs. Elvira Rouse, Mrs. Judah W. Clark, and the clerk called them to meet November 27, at Terryville, at which meeting Mrs. Elvira Rouse was chosen president and Mrs. R. Baldwin secretary.
At a meeting at Town Clerk's office December 6, 1894, it was voted to add two to the committee on invitations. Andrew S. Gavlord and Byron Tuttle were appointed.
Voted, That the centennial committee on orations and addresses, with the music committee, be instructed to provide for the opening exercises of the centennial celebration at the Con- gregational Church, Plymouth Center, Tuesday evening, May 14. Meeting adjourned to Monday evening, December 10, 1894, at office of Byron Tuttle. At this meeting the committee listened to a plan submitted in person by Francis Atwater, of Meriden, Conn., pertaining to a souvenir book, and it was
Voted, That this committee authorize Francis Atwater to prepare
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI.
and execute a souvenir of the celebration to be held in Plymouth May 15, said souvenir to be in pamphlet form containing histori- cal and other matter, also pictures suitable to the occasion. In consideration of the presentation of 1,000 copies free to this committee, it is agreed that no other publication in conflict with this will be authorized.
Voted, That the secretary be instructed to draw up card of invitation and present it to next meeting.
Meeting at office of Byron Tuttle, January 22, 1895, it was voted to add to the committee on orations and addresses Edgar L. Pond, George Langdon, Henry E. Stoughton, George C. Clark. Abel S. Beardsley having declined to serve, his name is to be dropped from this committee.
Voted, That Bela B. Satterlee be appointed a special com- mittee to furnish Francis Atwater with material for the centennial souvenir.
Voted, To add the names of eight ladies to the committee on loan exhibition, namely : Miss Anna Talmadge, Mrs. L. H. Ploucquet (who resigned), Miss Nellie Langdon, Mrs. Juliett B. Atwood (who resigned), for Plymouth Center; Miss May Clark, Miss Minnie C Bates, Miss Gertrude Ells, Miss Laura Grannis, for Terryville.
Meeting February 11, 1895, at office of Byron Tuttle. It was voted to invite the selectmen of the town of Watertown and Thomaston to appoint a committee to unite and co-operate with Plymouth in the centennial celebration.
Toted, Mrs. Arthur M. Gordon (resigned), and Mrs. Oscar D. Beach as members of the loan committee.
March 9, 1895, Watertown replied that they had received the invitation and had appointed H. F. Davis, H. T. Dayton and C. B Mattoon a committee to co-operate with us. Thomas- ton also reported that they had accepted and had appointed a committee. Waterbury was also invited but did not respond.
Meeting at Town Clerk's office March 9, it was voted to have steel engraved invitations, and order 150 with envelopes (later order was increased to 500). Wording was also adopted. Dinner cards were agreed upon at this meeting, also price fifty cents for souvenir book.
Meeting March 16, H. E. Stoughton, Edgar L. Pond and E. C. Goodwin were appointed on the general executive com- mittee, as Abel Beardsley, Arthur C. Bunnell and B. J. Holt were unable to serve. E. Clayton Goodwin was elected chair- man on tents and accommodations. Z. F. Grannis and Henry E. Hinman were added to this committee.
Miss May Minor and Miss Lilla Markham were appointed on loan committee, Mrs. Gordon, Ploucquet and Atwood having resigned.
At a meeting held April 15, Edgar L. Pond, George Lang- don and Henry E. Hinman were appointed auditors. Richard Baldwin, J. C. Fenn and E. M. Talmadge were appointed to take charge of sale of spoons. The musical committee were
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allowed $300 for general expenses, and $50 to get up a musicale in Congregational Church at Terryville.
April 29, Edgar L. Pond was appointed presiding officer of the entire exercises, both evening and day. A request was made that six special constables be appointed. Andrew S. Gaylord was appointed to take charge of the sale of books. George Langdon and Jason C. Fenn were appointed to take charge of registration
The following programme was adopted for the exercises of the celebration :
The exercises on Tuesday evening, May 14, commenced shortly after eight o'clock in the Congregational Church on Ply- mouth Hill. The edifice was profusely decorated and a large black shield with the dates " 1795-1895 " in gilt, hung high upon the wall back of the platform.
At 6.30 the lamps had been lighted, and seats filled rapidly for the purpose of witnessing the first scene in an historical event. The church walls soon enclosed a vast and interested audience, stated by one, who claimed to have counted them, to number nearly 700. At any rate the church was crowded- densely packed to the doors. Men and women, natives of the old town who had spent their lives in faraway states and had wandered to all parts of the earth, returned to pay a fitting tribute to the founders of the town and to help in celebrating its one hundredth birthday.
The soft light shed its rays upon young men and women just on the threshold of life, full of vigor, and animation, who had come to join in the celebration ; upon the older and more sedate members of the community who had tasted the first fruits- of life's successes and failures, and upon the gray hairs of grand- fathers and grandmothers who, though past the zenith of life and now on the downward plane, had come to renew their youth for a brief period in recollections and reminiscences of the past.
Six pieces from Colt's orchestra of Hartford, and Mrs. W. H. Sparks as pianiste, furnished the instrumental music, while the melody from the chorus of 100 voices rolled forth under the magic apple tree wand in the hands of Director Baldwin. The music soared to the summit then dropped to the softest depths, but always in perfect time, now falling, now rising, and thunder- ing out over the audience until the selection was finished and the last chords were lost in rounds of applause. Then must the tiresome work of rehearsals have been amply paid for in the satisfaction that they-each and every one-had been the means of giving pleasure and winning such approbation.
When every one was seated and the musicians were ready George Langdon stepped upon the platform and spoke as follows :
The chairman of the committee having charge of this Cen- tennial Celebration has requested me to call your attention to three things : First, that applause be done only by clapping of hands : second, that you put on your glorification spectacles and think that Plymouth is larger than the state, larger than the nation ; yes, larger than the empires of the world, for a few
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
hours, for the sake of broadening the horizon of our lives, and making us to think that even a little country town in a hundred years can reach out to the furthermost parts of the earth ; and to encourage those who are younger in life to feel that life means something, even here in an ordinary New England town. Therefore by music, by speakers, by the illustrated printed page, your committee have endeavored to lead you in this way to glorify Plymouth for the sake of honest, true, manly pride. We also ask you to register your names, all of you. You will find a register in the porch to-night, and on the morrow you will find one in the post office here, and at Terryville to-morrow at some place to be made known to you. The further announcement I have to make is that the committee have unanimously elected Edgar L. Pond as chairman of these Centennial services ; a true son of Plymouth. His father was a Plymouth man, his grand- father was a Plymouth man, and his great-grandfather came to Plymouth. My friends, he has not only got a good ancestry, but has got a good record.
One thing more. This mallet was made from an apple tree that was planted by Rev. Mr. Todd, the first minister in this town of Plymouth, on Town Hill. It is to be sent to one of the descendants of Mr. Todd. I thought it might be pleasing to you to know this incident. The leader of the music has some- thing from the same tree, which will give inspiration for these good friends who are to lead us to-night. I therefore for the committee give these exercises into the hands of Mr. Pond.
E. L. Pond-The duty of a presiding officer, as I under- stand it, especially upon an occasion like this, is not to talk, but rather to so direct that others may have an opportunity. We think it is about time. We will proceed to the programme.
" Unfold Ye Portals," from "The Redemption" (Gounod), by the Centennial Chorus.
Reading of the 90th Psalm by Rev. Wm. Alfred Gay, D. D., who offered prayer as follows :
" Almighty God, our heavenly Father, to-night as we come before Thee we thank Thee for the record of the hundred years whose completion we meet here to celebrate. We thank Thee, our heavenly Father, that Thou art the God of communities ; that Thou, who holdest the nations in the hollow of Thy hand, takest an interest in all the humble affairs of every community. O God, we come here to-night to rejoice, and we would rejoice in Thy presence. We thank Thee, our Father, for the many noble characters which have been developed in the town of Ply- mouth within the last century. We thank Thee that so many influences have gone out from this little corner of the American Republic to bless and to assist the multitudes of this land.
We rejoice, our Father, that we are permitted to enter upon this glad celebration, but we desire to implore Thy bless- ing upon us, even as Thou hast been with us during these hundred vears. Vouchsafe Thy blessing, we pray Thee, and Thy benediction, not only upon all the exercises of this evening, but upon all the services of this week. Grant, Almighty God,
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-
in this sanctuary, in this community, where Thou hast so often revealed Thy power, that in these exercises we may glorify Thy great and holy Name.
The Lord bless us in our singing, the Lord guide us in the instrumental music, the Lord be with us in the addresses and in the reminiscences which may be given to us from time to time, and as we shall separate and go to our homes far and wide, as well as in this locality, may we realize that we have obtained from these exercises new inspiration for the duties of life. And to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit shall be all the praise, through Christ our Redeemer. Amen."
Rev. C. H. Smith made the address of welcome, and spoke as follows :
"Mr. Chairman, Friends, Fellow-Citizens and returning Wanderers from the Four Quarters of the Earth: One of the precious memories that is dear to every loyal son of New England is the recollection of the great festal days, when the- Thanksgiving season comes round. The dear old mother in the home was many days before preparing for it. The brick oven was heated, the toothsome dainties were prepared, and when the auspicious morning had arrived and the children returned, she stood at the doorway with the silver already upon her brow. She clasped the hand; they kissed her withered cheek, and it was the sweetest of all the things of the year-the great home- gathering of the children in the father's and mother's house. So, to-night, in a certain sense you come here, returning like children. Plymouth has upon her brow the silver of a century, and it has been entrusted to me by the committee to extend to you the word of welcome ; to give you the friendly salutation, to extend to you the kindly benediction, that in the services of this- hour you may rejoice with us in the mercy of God through the century, and in the loving kindness that has been in the hearts of men for all these years.
We bid you then first of all welcome to this edifice, to the church of which it is the property-a church that antedates the civic life of the community for more than half a century-for our church is not a hundred years old, but it is 155 years old to-night and has been for seven days. I welcome you on behalf of all these sacred and holy influences ; because of what the Church of God has been in this community in the century past. At this altar the children received the hand of benediction ; before this altar there stood the noble man and the fair maid, as their lives were united and they went out into the world and to its battles ; here within these walls have lain in silent state some of those who were very precious to your hearts. In behalf, then, of all the godly memories that your hearts are cherishing this hour, I welcome you.
I bid you welcome, to-night, also to the homes of this- people, to the houses of this community. There are tender associations for some of you in them. As you return to the old home you will tread the threshold that was worn by impatient feet as you rushed out to your play. You will look again on the-
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI.
old apple tree, covered to-night with its wonderful crown of snowflakes, and you will think: "I never had such apples as those I ate when I was a boy." We welcome you, then, to the homes that were dear; are dear still to you.
We also welcome you to our hills and valleys. Well may this beautiful valley of ours be called the Switzerland of New England. Many a noble son has gone forth from this community with high aspirations because of the voice of Nature that sounded in his ears. As he looked out over the hilltop and down into the valley, the pointing spires of the hills seemed to lead his soul nearer to God, and the music of the rivulet and the rill and the river, as it went on with its sweet harmony to the sea, sang in his heart some message of the love of the eternal Father. I want, then, in welcoming you back to-night to bid you remember the hill and the valley : that it extends its arms to you, all Nature bidding you welcome.
And certainly we should be recreant to the beautiful and illustrious history of the past, did we not also bid you welcome in behalf of the sacred city of our dead. It is certainly no word of derogation to the sons that now live, to say that of the noble men and saintly women who walked these streets in days gone by, and whose ashes rest in God's Acre, there were none nobler, none truer, none more faithful to their duty, to their trust, to God. So to-night, with the sacred memories of the fathers rest- ing upon you, I bid you welcome.
We extend to-night-this town of Plymouth-the hand of welcome to our mother and grandmother, I think we ought to call her, the fair Queen City of our Naugatuck Valley, the shimmer of whose product with its light of gold encircles the world-we extend to-night the hand of welcome to her who was for a little time our mother-the town of Watertown and her citizens.
We won't forget also to welcome our baby, and are glad to see she has come back, got to be a pretty good-sized child- Thomaston-you are likely to get to be bigger than we are, we hope you will be as good, but we know you never will.
We remember to-night that from this community of ours have gone out into the broad earth, to the westward, northward, southward and eastward, the brave sons and fair daughters, who have proved themselves true to their noble ancestry ; who have proved themselves true to the fair past of this community, and as their thought comes back to us and as some of them return to us from hillside and plain, we bid them to-night welcome. Friends, one and all, in the name of the committee I bid you welcome."
Mr. Pond-About twenty years ago this old town of Plymouth, whose one hundredth anniversary we are now cele- brating, met with a great accident. At a certain point about half way up the hill from Thomaston-I suppose climbing the hill wore on the people to that extent that it could hold out no longer, and although the good people on the hill tried in every wav to hold the town together, they finally had to vield to the inevitable and it broke in two at that point, leaving Thomaston
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a full-fledged town of her own. We congratulate our friends in the valley upon the success that has attended their labors in endeavoring to govern themselves. But to-night we would pre- fer to remove that stone which marks the boundary line-we would suspend the rules, so to speak, for the next twenty-four hours, and prefer that the line should be as it was ceded to us from Watertown one hundred years ago. We believe that the Thomaston people would gladly accede to this request, for they certainly have shown sympathy with the management in this Centennial Celebration. We note that their singers are seated by the side of those of Plymouth and Terryville in this chorus, and I see before me many men who if they were called upon to vote in the room below, as they did in former years, would be obliged to climb up the hill in order to cast their ballot. But more than this, we have called upon one of Thomaston's most distinguished citizens to prepare for us the principal address of the evening. You will note upon your programme the address " Manufacturing and its Progress," and I have the pleasure of introducing as the speaker. Judge Albert P. Bradstreet, of Thomaston.
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