USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > New London's participation in Connecticut's tercentenary, 1935 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
Many among the gathering participated in the planting, being called upon to place a small shovel of dirt about the tree.
Donald Hayes and Hubert Kennedy, Boy Scouts of Troop 11 of St. Joseph's Church, were active during the program as aides to Ernest E. Rogers, General Chairman of the New London Tercentenary Organi- zation. They will continue as aides during the entire Tercentenary Cele- bration period.
ADDRESS
PROFESSOR GEORGE S. AVERY, JR. Department of Botany. Connecticut College
Somehow, as I see it, every tree is more than just a tree. Youth and old age and all the stages between, are there. Every twig is youth and vigor itself. The heart of every great trunk is old. A glance up trunk to twig is a glance through the years-a history of a lifetime. Happily, the lifetime of a tree can be extended. We have talked for years about increasing the average human life span by prevention of disease and the lowering of infant mortality. But for thousands of years man has known how to extend the life of trees. It doesn't depend upon infant mortality, and only to a limited extent does it depend upon disease.
The ancients knew how to graft one part of a tree onto another. The knowledge and continuation of this practice has been handed down to us, particularly as applied to fruit trees. But it can be applied to most any kind. If, when a tree becomes old, we graft a twig from it upon the root of a younger tree of the same species, or the same variety, the small tree thus formed will have a trunk and branches that are but a continuation of the individual from which the twig was taken. There has been no gap or bridge to be spanned by seed. If a twig, or scion, is taken from this tree when it in its turn grows old, and the grafting practice is repeated again and again from generation to generation-the life of the tree is eternal !
20
TERCENTENARY TREE DAY
This extension and perpetuation of the life of historic trees offers food for thought.
It is not a symbol of the Washington Elm that is being planted here today. It is not even a son, or a grandson, so to speak. It is the Washington Elm in almost the same sense as the original tree. Part of the living thing that was associated with the movements of General Washington in Cambridge, will in time cast its shadow on this historic mansion house.
Trees of the forest have always played a dramatic part in the economic life of men, and in their literature. In the southwest, trees have been the key that made possible the piecing together of the history of an Indian civilization. This time a single tree closes the gap of more than a century, and brings historic incidents together.
It is altogether fitting that in this Tercentenary Celebration, trees should play the same colorful part that they have played in the settle- ment and life of the white man in Connecticut.
Founder's Day MAY 6, 1935
E XERCISES for the observance of New London's 289th birthday were held at the statue of the founder, John Winthrop the Younger, in the old Town Plot at Bulkeley Place, as part of the program of participation in the celebration of Connecticut's 300th birthday.
A wreath was placed on the pedestal to the statue by Miss Ella V. Houlihan, Secretary, Council of Veteran and Patriotic Organizations. Albert R. Rogers, Director of Celebration for the Connecticut Tercen- tenary Commission, was called upon and responded briefly.
The committee commended Dr. Daniel Sullivan, the orator of the day, for his scholarly and ably delivered address.
Flags were prominently displayed about the city. A single session of the schools was held, enabling children to attend the exercises.
Descendants of Winthrop were among the persons grouped as special guests at the exercises. They included Henry C. Winthrop, John S. Winthrop, Mrs. Marjorie Winthrop Pendleton, Mrs. Mary A. Thomas, Mrs. Gertrude French, Miss Doris French, Miss Adelaide French, Miss Helen French, and Winslow Ames.
PROGRAM
FOUNDER'S DAY, MONDAY, MAY 6 HON. ERNEST E. ROGERS General Chairman New London Tercentenary Committees, Presiding Exercises, 3.00 P.M., d.s.t., at the Winthrop Statue
AMERICA U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
INVOCATION -- Rev. Dr. J. Beveridge Lee
GREETINGS-Hon Cornelius D. Twomey, Mayor of New London GREETINGS . George B. E. June, President, Council of Veteran and Patriotic Organizations
PLACING OF WREATH- Miss Ella V. Houlihan, Secretary, Council of Veteran and Patriotic Organizations
MUSIC - U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
22
FOUNDER'S DAY
PRIZE ESSAY: John Winthrop the Younger-Richard Ballman, Jen- nings School
ADDRESS: John Winthrop the Younger, Chemist and Physician- Daniel Sullivan, M.D.
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER-U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band BENEDICTION-Rev. Fr. James T. Butler
PARADE, 2.45 P.M., d.s.t., from Williams Memorial Park (Corner Hempstead and Broad Streets) to Huntington Street, to Bulkeley Place
Marshal: Captain L. B. McEwen, C. N. G.
U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
New London Nautical Academy
New London Council Girl Scouts
Pequot Council Boy Scouts
Pequot Council Sea Scouts
Junior Naval Militia Delegations from Veteran and Patriotic Organizations
PARADE PRECEDES EXERCISES
A street parade preceded the exercises. Units formed at Broad and Hempstead Streets, and with police escort and under the direction of Captain Laurence B. McEwen of the National Guard of the United States, proceeded down Broad Street to Huntington Street and along Huntington Street to Bulkeley Place and to the statue. The parade lineup was as follows:
Marshal-Captain Laurence B. McEwen
Aides-Lieutenant Hinton Smith, New London Nautical Academy ; Lieutenant W. Everett Eagles, Junior Naval Militia; Donald Hayes, Hubert Kennedy, Boy Scouts
Coast Guard Academy Band-Bandmaster Charles Messer, Leader; 32 musicians
New London Nautical Academy -- Cadet James Oatis, Company Com- mander: 35 cadets
New London Council Girl Scouts-Mrs. Earle E. Murphy, Leader; 100 girls
Pequot Council Boy Scouts-Scoutmaster Alonzo Burgess, 25 scouts; Detail of Sea Scouts
Junior Naval Militia -- 50 boys; Details from Veteran and Patriotic Organizations
--------
23
FOUNDER'S DAY
Portrait statue of John Winthrop, the Younger, founder of New London, May 6, 1646, erected in New London by the State of Connecticut, May 6, 1905.
INVOCATION
REV. DR. J. BEVERIDGE LEE
Our Father in heaven :
We are gathered here, at the end of three centuries of Thy guiding and guarding care, to thank Thee for our State.
For Thomas Hooker and for John Winthrop, and for their fellows who, under Thee, built our Commonwealth and enriched our civil life.
It is our earnest prayer that we in today, and they who shall follow us in tomorrow, may serve the State in such fellowship with Thee, and with their example, that the blessings inherited from the past centuries may be preserved to future generations. Amen.
24
FOUNDER'S DAY
OPENING REMARKS
HON. ERNEST E. ROGERS
General Chairman of New London Tercentenary Committees
This year, the State of Connecticut, comprised of 169 towns, is celebrating her 300 years of self-government. This day, New London, one of the oldest and most historic of these towns, celebrates her 289th birthday at the statue of her distinguished founder, John Winthrop the Younger, whose remarkable attainments and important services have never been surpassed by any of his successors.
In 1895, it was discovered by a New London citizen that there was no memorial in the State to the memory of our founder, not even a tombstone. He died on a visit to Boston and was buried in the tomb of his father, the former Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, in King's Chapel burying ground. In 1896, the corner stone of a proposed statue of Winthrop was laid in faith.
Thirty years ago today, it was my duty as Chairman of the State commission appointed by the Governor to procure this statue, and also as Chairman of New London's Committee of 259 to preside at the dedicatory exercises of the unveiling of this statue, provided by the State of Connecticut at the cost of $10,000.
Today, I congratulate the citizens of New London upon their civic pride and also upon their fine spirit of cooperation in connection with the Tercentenary Celebrations.
Mayor Cornelius D. Twomey was called upon and gave the greet- ings of the City of New London. He expressed pleasure for the oppor- tunity to participate in the exercises and commented upon the progress made here in the observance of the City's and the State's birthday.
GREETINGS
GEORGE B. E. JUNE President. Council of Veteran and Patriotic Organizations
As representative of the Council of Veteran and Patriotic Organiza- tions of New London and vicinity, I bring you greetings on this impressive occasion. The 15 organizations represented in our council. for the better advancement of American principles and ideals, truly honor John Winthrop and the founders of our fair City. In their sacri- fices while establishing a home in the wilderness we find increased
25
FOUNDER'S DAY
devotion to our principles and ideals, and renewed strength to combat those un-American doctrines that seek today to tear down those bulwarks our founders so patiently built up.
We look to the future, as John Winthrop and his band looked; and by ever keeping alive the love of home and civic pride that he and his followers so well exemplify, we know we cannot fail.
PRIZE ESSAY RICHARD BALLMAN
Richard Ballman, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Ballman of 19 Bayonet Street, read his essay on John Winthrop which was selected as the best in a contest among grammar school pupils. The youth is a pupil in the seventh grade at the C. B. Jennings School. The essay contest was conducted by Murphy-Rathbun Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The essay follows:
You have probably seen at some time or other the Old Town Mill, or, better still, have been in it. This mill, which was the first incorporated industry in Connecticut, was built by John Winthrop, one of the first and most famous settlers of Connecticut. Credit in building it should go to him, as he was the one who promoted it. We have many other reasons for being thankful to him. He has been called, and rightly so, the father of medicine in Connecticut. He compounded many original medicines which he first tried out on his family. Many of them did not work. His sister was always complaining of the pain the medicines caused her.
John Winthrop the Younger was born in Groton, England, in 1605. His father was also a famous man, and was called John Winthrop the Elder. John, the younger, studied law at Dublin University, and later medicine in London. He was admitted to the bar in London. In 1631 he married his cousin, Martha Fones. In the same year he moved to America, where his wife died three years later. He then married Elizabeth Reade, who was the step-daughter of the Rev. Hugh Peters. (The Rev. Peters was a member of the group who later persuaded Winthrop to accept the governorship of Connecticut.) Winthrop was a strong Puritan, and when he heard about the proposed settlement of Connecticut he became very enthusiastic. The colony was to be formed under what was called the Warwick Patent. This allowed the people to settle 120 miles south from Narragansett River, and west as far as the great South Sea, probably meaning either Lake Erie or Lake Michigan. Winthrop participated in the first unsuccessful attempt at the coloniza- tion of Connecticut in 1635 and 1636. He had expected to be the
26
FOUNDER'S DAY
governor of Saybrock, and plans had been found in his father's famous family history for a great fortified mansion, to be used as his gubernatorial home.
In 1635 he rendered a truly memorable piece of work for Connec- ticut. The first English fort, and consequently settlement, was to be built at the mouth of the Connecticut River. When the Dutch heard this they were greatly perturbed, and sent several ships to the mouth of the river to renew the tiny fort they had built there in 1624, and abandoned in 1626. When Winthrop was informed of this he im- mediately sent Lieutenant Simon Willard there with 20 men, to hold the fort. Willard and his tiny garrison successfully held it and drove off the Dutch fleet. This caused the prevention of a war with the Dutch, who probably would have ended Connecticut's settlement by the English once and for all. It enabled us to slowly extend our settlements farther and farther up the river, forming Connecticut. In 1646, Winthrop returned to Connecticut and settled Pequot, which is now called New London. After an absence of about a year he made Connecticut his permanent home. He lived there for several years with his family. A short time later he laid claim to a large territory west of New London, but succeeded in getting only a portion of this land. The piece allotted him was about 11,000 acres. The land was later appropriated by the State.
In 1651 the younger Winthrop and two other men were chosen district judges. In 1657 he was chosen the first governor of Connecticut, retaining the office the rest of his life, with the exception of the second year, when he was deputy governor. He rendered his greatest service to Connecticut in 1662. This was the gaining of a charter from Charles II, making the western boundary of Connecticut the Pacific Ocean. This does not seem wonderful until you realize that all the other colonies had restrictions on their boundaries. Winthrop also did many things for the colonies as a whole. He did much toward furthering the chemical industry in the early colonies, especially the making of soap. Our first governor was one of the most famous of the early scientists, and was a noted member of the Royal Society of England, to which group he was constantly sending mineral. specimens. When he first came into Con- necticut he used an old Indian trail. Along the way an old chief told him of a lead deposit near Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Winthrop secured the rights to a grant of land ten miles square in this region and obtained permission to work his claim. He also developed several copper mines in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1641 he went back to England, where he made an iron foundry. Winthrop's last work for Connecticut was when he acted as a representative in the congress of the United
27
FOUNDER'S DAY
Colonies, held at Boston. He died there April 15, 1676, after a short illness. Connecticut's first governor was buried in King's Chapel, where later his two sons were also laid to rest.
ADDRESS
DANIEL SULLIVAN, M.D.
An interesting address on John Winthrop the Younger, Chemist and Physician, was given by Dr. Daniel Sullivan of New London. Dr. Sullivan's address follows :
Today the person most naturally to come to our minds is John Winthrop, Jr., the first governor of Connecticut and the founder of New London.
Our thoughts wander over to that point of land known to us as Winthrop Neck and we follow up the cove (Winthrop Cove) to the Old Town Mill that was built and operated by him; a mill where wheat, corn, oats, and barley were ground in his day and up to a time within the memory of many of us.
Much has been written about the various activities of John Win- throp, Jr. Most writers have but casually mentioned him as a physician, so that today the average person thinks of him as having had but a passing interest in things medical. I assure you that he was an active practitioner of medicine. He is in much the same position as is his first medical biographer, Oliver Wendell Holmes, M.D., who has been and is so much written about as a poet and man of letters.
Many people who feel they know him well, do not realize that he, tco, was a physician, that he practiced medicine all of his life, that he occupied a chair in Harvard University as professor of anatomy, and that he wrote an epoch-making paper that explained to the world the cause and prevention of that dreadful, death-dealing disease, childbed fever. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a medical man first, a poet and man of letters second.
When John Winthrop, Jr., came to the colonies in 1631, he brought with him 1,000 volumes. To these he added during his life. Today there are 270 volumes preserved in the library of the New York His- torical Society. Of these, 52 relate to chemistry. Many of his papers are in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Many articles have been written about him as a chemist. Those which are available to me deal mostly with a description of his books on chemistry, tell of the importance of their authors and of the corre- spondence carried on with the leading scientists of the day. They do not convince me that he used his knowledge of chemistry to any great
-
.
VIEW'S OF FOUNDER'S DAY EXERCISES
,2
29
FOUNDER'S DAY
extent other than in the preparation of the medicines used in the treatment of his patients.
Of the 270 volumes, there are 33 on the subject of medicine. We find no evidence that he took any special training in medicine, so we conclude that he must have studied these books diligently, for he was well grounded in medicine as it was practiced at that time.
I say "at that time," because the modern conception of disease was not thought of. The science of bacteriology was not born. The connection between bacteria and disease unknown. Medicine was still in the dark ages.
But if the knowledge of modern medicine was not there, the spirit was. And in the case of John Winthrop, Jr., fully as strong, if not stronger, than many possess it today.
There are over 100 letters to and from his patients in our historical museums and libraries, which tell of the extent and success of his practice and of the love and confidence given to him. These letters have been located, studied, and reported by one of his medical biographers, a citizen of our State, Dr. Walter R. Steiner, of Hartford.
John Winthrop's residence was in New London and Hartford. Those whom he treated were scattered over the colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Long Island. He gave of his knowl- edge and remedies freely and willingly to the people and counted among his patients such notable men as Roger Williams, founder of the Rhode Island colony; John Mason, famous in the Pequot War; Thomas May hew, Governor of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket; Captain John Underhill of Long Island; George Hethcote from the Island of Bar- badoes: Edward Hopkins and John Hayes, carly governors of Connec- ticut ; Eton. Leets, Davenport, governors of New Haven colony, and many others of equal prominence.
His patients were not confined entirely to the notables, for we find that there were many deserving poor. It is believed that he never de- manded a fee for his medical services. If he did we find no record of it.
While he treated many by correspondence, we know that he made long journeys to meet in consultation with doctors of other localities or to see patients that he might treat them to better advantage. Distances were long in those days.
Do we not hear the Rev. Samuel Goodrich of Ridgefield complaining because the market was so far away? And the great distance complained of was 14 miles.
We read among many, the letter from John Higginson of Guilford asking him to come and treat his wife, another from Governor Eaton, who wants him to come to New Haven to see a member of his family.
-
--
30
FOUNDER'S DAY
We take it for granted that he attended to many of the ailing ones in his immediate vicinity. William Andrews of New Haven writes that, if necessary, he would be willing to come to Pequot for treatment. Others are sending members of their family for a stay in New London that they might be under his care.
Cotton Mather says: "Whenever he came, the diseased flocked about him as if the Healing Angel had appeared in the place."
That he was successful in relieving distress and effecting cures is abundantly testified to.
Today we are proud of our many miles of excellent hard surfaced and level roads. The modern doctor chooses to practice in the city, often giving as the reason that country roads are so bad, especially in the winter and spring.
Imagine what Winthrop encountered! Indian trails winding this way and that over hill and valley, through quagmire and swamp, through primeval forest that stretched for miles, and these trails obstructed when rivers, ponds, and brooks overflowed their banks or a windstorm felled the trees, and in winter by snow drifts. And there were no bridges in those days.
John Winthrop, Jr., the statesman, the first and many times later Governor of Connecticut. The diplomat who succeeded in obtaining a charter for this colony at the time when Massachusetts lost hers. The councilor whose advice was sought wherever he went in the colonies.
The pioneering business man who built and operated grist mills and salt works, developed and worked mines, built blast furnaces and foundries. Yet with all this ability he elected to practice medicine.
He must have loved the calling.
The exercises were concluded with benediction by Rev. Fr. James T. Butler.
National Maritime Day
MAY 22
Observed here on the nearest Sunday MAY 19, 1935
M ARITIME DAY was originated by A. E. Mackinnon, Secretary of the National Maritime League of New York, N. Y., and first celebrated two years ago in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, at the grave of Captain Stevens Rogers, the Sailing Master of the S. S. Savannah. the first trans-Atlantic steamship. Last year Governor Wilbur L. Cross was the principal speaker. This year Governor Cross, Governor Eugene Talmadge of Georgia, and Ernest L. Prann, Grand Master of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Connecticut, were the principal speakers.
National Maritime Day was inaugurated by the State of Georgia as the outgrowth of her Bicentennial and her request, influenced by A. E. Mackinnon and A. R. Rogers, was granted by Congress and May 22 was decreed a national observance day.
While the S. S. Savannah was financed by merchants of Savannah, Georgia, yet her officers and crew were from New London. She sailed from Savannah on May 22, 1819, for Liverpool.
There is a strong sentiment of friendship between Savannah and New London, and between Georgia and Connecticut. About 40 mem- bers of the Georgia Society of New York City formed a motorcade to escort Governor Talmadge to New London. The New York police escorted the party to the State line, and Connecticut State Police to New London. Governor Cross joined the party at New Haven. An informal luncheon for speakers and guests was held at the Mohican Hotel and soon after two o'clock the party left for Cedar Grove Cemetery, having been joined at the luncheon by Captain Randolph Ridgely, Superinten- dent of the United States Coast Guard Academy, and a native of Georgia.
At the Cemetery, Connecticut cadets of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, Charles Tighe, John Montrello, R. R. Smith, W. H. Buxton, W. B. Ellis, V. E. Bakanas, E. P. Chester, A. W. Johnson, and T. R. Sargent, Jr., were assigned as escort to Governor Cross and introduced to him. The Georgia cadets, G. F. Shumacher, R. M. Fenn, and R. S. Ison, were introduced to Governor Talmadge as escort.
32
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY
Governor Talmadge was introduced when called upon as a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. When presenting the dogwood tree he was assisted by Neil C. Kelly of John Coleman Prince Post, H. D. Rogers of Murphy-Rathbun Post, and Benjamin Stark of George M. Cole Camp. The tree was accepted by Mrs. Frederick S. Weld, Regent, Lucretia Shaw Chapter. Daughters of the American Revo-
-- Courtesy of the United States National Museum. Washington, D. C.
THE STEAMSHIP SAVANNAH. 1819
The first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Owned by the Savannah Steamship Company of Savannah, Georgia, with officers and crew from New London, Connecticut
lution, who hoped the tree, given as an expression of friendship between the states, would continue to flourish as a visible emblem of that friend- ship. The governors and Mrs. Weld joined in placing carth about the tree.
James Greig was presented as Master of Union Lodge of Masons and he placed a wreath on the grave of Captain Rogers, who was a former chaplain of that lodge. Lloyd E. Gallup, Master of Brainard Lodge of Masons was also introduced.
33
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY
PROGRAM
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 19
A. E. MACKINNON
Secretary. National Maritime League, New York. N. Y., Presiding
Exercises. 2.45 P. M., d.s.t., in Cedar Grove Cemetery
AMERICA-U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
INVOCATION-Rev. Oliver W. Bell, Associate Grand Chaplain of the Eighth Masonic District of Connecticut
GREETINGS -- Hon. Cornelius D. Twomey, Mayor of New London GREETINGS-Hon. Ernest E. Rogers, General Chairman, New London Tercentenary Committees
ADDRESS-His Excellency Wilbur L. Cross, Governor of Connecticut
MUSIC-U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
ADDRESS-His Excellency Eugene Talmadge, Governor of Georgia MUSIC-U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
ADDRESS-Ernest L. Prann, Grand Master of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Connecticut
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.