USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Holliston > Holliston, Massachusetts bi-centennial celebration, 1724-1924 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION 6
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 5554
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GENEALOGY 974.402 H72H
THE HOLLISTON, MASSACHUSETTS BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
1724 - 1924
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To the Citizens of the Town of Holliston :
At a special Town Meeting, held on December 28, 1923, a committee was appointed to consider the action to be taken by the Town of Holliston in celebrating its two hun- dredth anniversary in the year 1924. At the Town Meeting of March 25, 1924, this committee made its report, and it was voted that a committee of twenty be appointed by the acting Moderator of the Meeting, Mr. Edward F. Dannahy, to be known as "The Anniversary Committee," to have in charge all details of the Celebration and to appoint such sub-committees as they deemed advisable. The sum of $1250.00 was granted for the purpose of the celebration.
This committee organized on April 15,1924. Sub-com- mittees were appointed. The dates of the Celebration were set, starting on August 30 and ending on September 2nd, 1924. A major program was outlined and work on this outline was pursued during the summer. The Anniversary Committee met each week. The sub-committees organized and worked on their respective activities. The magnitude of the undertaking was soon realized, but through the com- plete cooperation of all townspeople the observance of the Two Hundredth Anniversary met with complete success.
During the summer articles of historical interest appeared in local and Boston papers. A souvenir medal was struck off, the subject being the old Littlefield Tavern, a building of special historic interest. The Anniversary Committee prepared a booklet containing a brief history of the town, as given by Elbridge Cutler Whiting, at the Historical Exercises, and a program of the Bi-Centennial Celebration. On the Thursday evening prior to the Cele- bration a part of the musical program of the Pageant and a brief forecast of the events were broadcasted from the Herald-Traveler Studio, through Station WBZ. On the eve of the Celebration an auto parade toured the surrounding towns. During the Celebration the town was decorated; all organizations kept open house; and points of historic interest were appropriately marked.
On Saturday, August 30, the Celebration opened with a ball game and sports on the recently completed athletic
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field on Green Street. In the afternoon and evening a moving picture, "The Courtship of Miles Standish," was given in the Town Hall.
On Sunday, August 31, a dress rehearsal of the Pageant was held in the afternoon. In the evening the Historical Exercises were held in the recently remodeled Town Hall.
On the morning of September 1st was held the Parade, starting at 9.30. A band concert followed, filling the noon hour. In the afternoon the Pageant was given in the fields to the west of Highland Street, a performance attended by the largest throng ever assembled in the history of the town. In the evening the concert and display of fireworks, on Flagg's Field, ended a most memorable day.
The Celebration ended with a community dance, held in the Town Hall, on the evening of September 2nd.
On October 22nd and 29th, 1924, the moving pictures taken during the Celebration were exhibited in the Town Hall. On December 30th a Community Dance was held as an appropriate closing of the Bi-Centennial year of 1924.
A preliminary report of the proceedings of the Bi-Cen- tennial Celebration was submitted the Town in the Town Meeting of March, 1925, and published in the Town Report of 1924. At this meeting it was voted that a committee be appointed to publish a complete report of the Bi-Centennial, and the sum of $250.00 was granted for this purpose.
In accordance with this vote the following report is submitted. In it has been incorporated the "Souvenir Pro- gram," issued in connection with the Historical Exercises, and the official program of the Pageant. This material was already in existence. Addition has been made of a com- plete report of the other events of the Celebration, together with views of the town and the Celebration.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. KEARNS, Chairman CHARLES D. FISHER F. MARCUS LELAND MARY E. DRISCOLL, Secretary JANE COMEY WILLIAMS HENRY M. CUTLER ERNEST H. CHASE
PRELIMINARY EVENTS
On Thursday evening, August 28, a special program, arranged by George E. Spring, musical director of the Pageant, was radiocast from the Herald-Traveler-Westing- house studio of WBZ, at the Hotel Brunswick, at 9 o'clock. The entertainment included selections from the musi- cal numbers of the Pageant, and a short talk upon the Celebration and Pageant by Mr. Henry M. Cutler. The Pageant choruses were rendered by a double quartet made up of the following: Mrs. Ella E. Lang and Miss Hazel Watson, sopranos; Mrs. Beula C. Spring and Miss Frieda Leland, altos; George E. Spring and Bayard S. Stone, tenors; Fred Gustafson and Charles Adams, basses. Miss Isabelle G. Twitchell, soloist, and Miss Laura Gustafson, accompanist, completed the company. The program follows:
"The Singing Skewl" Chorus
"Grandmother's Attic" Miss Twitchell
"Dearest Spot on Earth to Me" Chorus
"Cousin Jedediah" Mr. Gustafson
"Two Centuries in Five Minutes", Mr. Henry M. Cutler Chorus
"Strike the Cymbal"
Miss Watson, Mr. Spring
"Bonny Sweet Bessie"
"Invitation" Chorus
"The Bull Pup"
Chorus
"Jerusalem, My Glorious Home"
Chorus
Word of the reception of this program, an event unique in the musical history of the town, was received from for- mer residents and friends from points as distant as St. Louis and Erie, Pa. In editorial comment on the following day, the Boston "Herald" said, "The Holliston Pageant Singers at WBZ last night gave proof that their earnest efforts have been devoted to making their town's Bi-Centennial an occasion long to linger in the memory. The double quartet was exceptionally good."
On Friday evening a parade, in two sections, of dec-
orated automobiles toured the surroundings towns. The first division, under Mr. Henry M. Cutler, covered the towns to the west, establishing cordial relations especially with the police force of Hopkinton. The second division, led by Mr. Alfred Lyons, proceeded through Framingham and the towns to the East, returning safely after temporarily losing itself in the untracked wilderness of Medfield. Fliers were distributed, speeches made at the various stops and music provided by bugles and cornets.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
On Saturday the athletic games were held on the Green Street Grounds, recently laid out in a sub-drained baseball diamond, with tiers of stone seats against the slope of Powder House Hill, by Arthur A. Williams.
The first event was a modified Marathon race, starting at East Holliston corner, the course being to Framingham and return to the finish at Green Street. Five runners started, but owing to the heat only three finished. The race was won by George Fagin of Hopedale, in one hour and twelve minutes. Amostos Sturgis of Natick finished second and Frank Young in third place.
The one hundred yard dash, for local runners only, was won by William Meader, in 12 1/5 seconds. J. Binstock finished second, and B. Gates in third place.
The one hundred yard dash, open to entries from towns within ten miles, was won by E. Dowling, of Framingham, with T. Phipps, of Hopedale, second, and S. Curtis, of Framingham, third, in the time of 11 1/5 seconds.
The relay race of eight hundred and eighty yards was won by Hopedale, (Fagin, Fitzgerald, Phipps, Simmons) ; Holliston, (Meader, Carr, Binstock, Stotmitz), second ; Sherborn, (Clark, Coolidge, Carter, Davitt), third.
The fifty yard dash for boys was won by Clarence Sibley, with Howard Vernon, second, and William Honey, third, in the time of 8 seconds.
The fifty yard dash for girls was won by Oleva Corey, with Grace Chesmore, second, and Louise Ferguson, third, in 9 1/5 seconds.
The ball game, the first played on the new field, was between teams representing Holliston and the mother town of Sherborn. The first ball was pitched by Charles D. Fisher, Esq., and the game was won by the Holliston team, the score being 9 to 0.
In the evening there was an exhibition of the moving. picture, "The Courtship of Miles Standish," in the Town Hall, with a special performance in the afternoon for the children.
THE GENERAL COMMITTEE
REAR ROW
JANE COMEY WILLIAMS WALTER F. WENTWORTH WILLIAM H. CROCKER
CHARLES J. FLAGG
AGNES G. NEWELL CHARLES D. FISHER
J. LESTER SHEA LEWIS T. HOLBROOK CORNELIUS DRISCOLL MIDDLE ROW JOSEPH P. DEXTER FRONT ROW JOSEPH H. DEWING MARY E. CUTLER JOHN B. KEARNS
F. MARCUS LELAND WARREN E. COOLIDGE JACOB BINSTOCK
HENRY M. CUTLER
MARY E. DRISCOLL DENNIS MOYNIHAN
THE TOWN HALL NOON SEPTEMBER 1, 1924
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
On Sunday morning special services were held in the churches of the town. Following those in the Congrega- tional Church a procession was formed, proceeding to the Burying Ground beyond the Town House, where the graves of the Revs. James Stone, Joshua Prentiss, Timothy Dickinson and Josephus Wheaton, former pastors of the church, were decorated with appropriate services.
The Historical Exercises, originally scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, August 31, were postponed until the evening of the same day to permit the attendance of those participating in the Pageant, a dress rehearsal of which was held during the afternoon.
The Exercises, held in the Town Hall, were presided over by the Hon. Charles D. Fisher. Following instru- mental music and a solo by Mrs. Marguerite Barbour, of Framingham, Mr Fisher spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen :
The Town of Holliston considers it a great privilege and pleasure to welcome you, not only to this service, but to all the events of the celebration of our Two Hundredth Anniversary. We extend to you our hearty hospitality and sincere friendship. We confidently hope that you will long recall this Celebration with unmixed pleasure.
Of our town I need say but little upon this occasion. My love for it is shared by each of you, a love inspired not only by its beauty, but by the many associations accumu- lating through the years. In these associations Holliston is especially rich; through them we are especially fortunate. The deepest and most enduring ties of life are those of the family. And we are, here in Holliston, one family, closely knit, with that respect and trust of one another which comes only from the intimate sharing of daily life and com- mon interests.
It is the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of this family that we celebrate. These hills, these pleasant meadows and woodlands and waters are the town, and yet
they are not the town; they are the scene, and not the Pageant. They remain; we pass, our episode completed, and leave the stage for others. It is, rather, our people who constitute this town, this family ; our people who lived in and loved this land before us; our people who live here today, working and living in harmony and mutual helpfulness; our people who shall, we trust, succeed us, holding the town and each other in undiminished affection and respect when we shall no longer fill this scene.
Today, at this Anniversary Celebration, we pause and look both ways. We survey the Past, with its two centuries of honorable history. It is our duty and our privilege to honor the men and women who made this history. To remember is good; to look forward is perhaps better. It is our higher duty and our greater privilege to pass on to the Future, strengthened and undiminished, remembrance of the steadfast endeavor which created this town, sustained it through trials, and shall preserve it, under God, through the coming years.
In introducing Monsignor Supple, the Chairman said:
Across the sea lies the beautiful island known as Ire- land. In two successive years, 1846 and 1847, it suffered two crop failures. Bitter and almost unheard of misfortune ensued. Starvation, death from disease, and emigration of the physically fit decreased the population by a third in those two years. At this time the contractors for the build- ing of our railroad were struggling with the Phipps Hill cut, a monstrous undertaking with the pick and shovel, the best implements then available for the purpose. Naturally, our poor immigrants were attracted to Holliston by this public work. It was a fortunate choice for them and for the natives. They brought with them stout hearts, hard and willing hands, an unbounded cheerfulness and the well known adaptability of the Irish to their surroundings. They found here hands as hard as their own, an aristocracy of blacksmiths, wheelwrights and dirt farmers, a community where the pick and shovel were in no sense badges of inferiority, and where the transition from these humble instruments to the farms and work-shops was neither radical nor difficult. As soon as the public work was done they rapidly scattered among the farms and workshops. Here, too, they made good. These immigrants have largely passed on, and we have today the second and third gener- ations. They are to be heartily congratulated for their great success. You will find all the so-called professions represented by them; skillful musicians, successful business men. We are fortunate in having with us this evening one
of this successful second generation. Perhaps he will tell us in detail some of the achievements of his generation. I take pleasure in presenting the Rev. Monsignor Patrick J. Supple, of Boston.
In response, Monsignor Supple spoke as follows:
I esteem it a high and happy privilege to speak on this historic occasion, when Holliston, my native town, is cele- brating the two hundredth anniversary of her birth as a township. From the earliest years of consciousness I have loved to look upon this place, as it lies nestling in the valley, surrounded on all sides by enfolding and protecting hills. All the indelible memories of youth and earlier manhood are centered here. The first intimations, those mysterious whisperings of the soul, that come from a higher sphere, that shape one's course in life and open up before him his future vocation, here had their beginning and inspiration. To me Holliston is more than a mere birthplace. To me it is sacred ground; for here were born and matured the most precious things that have come into my life.
Here, too, my mind began to unfold under the generous porticoes of Holliston's temple of learning-her schools. I went through every grade, graduating from her High School, forty-three years ago. They were good schools. They were thorough, they were comprehensive. They afforded ample opportunity for all pupils to fit themselves for any college in the land. Nor must I forget, on such an occasion, to make special mention of the Superintendent of Schools, in those days, Mr. Charles Wilder, a name ever to be revered and honored by the townspeople of Holliston. He gave freely and unselfishly of his time and of his efforts for many years for the welfare of Holliston's schools. His deep personal interest, shown by his ability to call every pupil by name, his frequent visits, his kindly concern in the progress of each scholar, made us all feel that each one of us had in Mr. Wilder, not a mere school official, but a personal friend, who took the deepest interest in our wel- fare; and all this was to us an inspiration and an incentive.
I would be recreant to a solemn duty, which I feel incumbent upon me, if I should fail to pay tribute on this occasion to the people from whom I have come, the Irish Catholics of the town and their descendants, who first coming here in great number in the forties of the last cen- tury have for almost eighty years formed an integral and substantial part of Holliston's population. When the first Irishman came to Holliston is uncertain. But in my reading I have gleaned this one fact: that in 1778 there was a certain John Barry of Holliston, Massachusetts, in the
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Continental army under Washington; and I have no doubt he was one of the Barrys of Wexford, of the fighting race, who together with many others of like origin scattered through the colonies, not forgetting Dillon's Irish Brigade in the army of Rochambeau, did their part in achieving American Independence.
But in the grim years, beginning in 1846, when the gaunt figure of famine stalked throughout the length and breadth of their native isle, the Irish began to come to the town in ever increasing numbers. They were an honest, sturdy, industrious and God-fearing people. They came here to make a home for themselves and their families. Like the first immigrants of every race, who have come to our shores, they had to begin at the lowlier and more laborious tasks of life. They built our first railways, they worked on the highways, they dug the trenches, they worked on the farms, they were the "hewers of wood and drawers of water." Many of them found employment in Holliston's principal industry of those days; and taking out the uppers and sole leather from the factories made the boots in the little shops adjacent to their homes. They were singularly pure and upright in their marriage relations and reared large families. Deprived of educational advantages them- selves, they had a singular respect for learning; and they cherished as much as any other people the laudable ambi- tion of giving their sons and daughters the education which was denied to themselves. In one generation the descend- ants of people like these all over the country are occupying the higher posts in the political, social and business life of this free Republic. They are standing shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Americans of different racial origin, their equals in ability, in merit, in the finer things of mind and heart that give character and stability to our American civilization.
There is only one conclusion to be drawn from all this: the resurrection of the Irish in America in a single gener- ation is one of the striking phenomena of modern history; and argues centuries of culture behind this race, which, suspended for a few generations under the paralyzing grip of tyranny and oppression, blossomed forth and came to full flower and fruitage under the genial rays of liberty shining from free America's skies.
We had one singular advantage here in Holliston, which I feel bound to recall at this time. We had the same spiritual guide for over forty-one years-the revered Father Quinlan. He loved Holliston with genuine love and took a deep interest in her welfare. Though offered promotion and a larger parish many times he preferred to stay here and his memory is held in benediction by the flock over
which he ruled so long. He could be stern enough when upholding the austere moral standards of the Church, but his habitual attitude was one of graciousness and kindness. He was so unselfish, so modest, so humble, so interested in the advancement of any one of his parishioners that his whole life was a constant sermon and an enduring inspira- tion to those who gladly followed his leadership.
Need I say in this presence that America and her free institutions has no better friend than the Catholic Church. When the great Leo died, twenty years ago, after publish- ing those luminous encyclical letters on "Authority," "Human Liberty," "The Constitution of Christian States," "The Condition of the Working Classes," Harper's Weekly, none too friendly to us in former days, felt constrained to say in its editorial comments that the Catholic Church was the sheet anchor of society and the breakwater against Socialism, Anarchism, and all the other perverse social theories that were aiming at the disorganization of society and erecting upon its ruins the communistic, omnipotent State. So today, on this second centenary of Holliston's history as a town I cannot forbear to say that the greatest bulwark against the organized forces of disorder that would overthrow this great American Republic is the Catholic Church and her loyal adherents.
Nor may I allow this occasion to pass without specify- ing and emphasizing the admirable spirit of concord and good will that has always prevailed among the different classes of Holliston's citizens. There has always been here a broad tolerance, a kindly spirit, a mutual good will that have made for a peaceful town and equality of opportunity. Never representing more than a third of the population, yet year after year you have given us a representative on the highest governing boards of the town. It is good to treasure those things on an occasion such as this and to hold up these ideals of fairness and liberal dealing for future gen- erations to follow.
I have but one wish for Holliston today. May she flourish and wax strong in each succeeding generation and may the spirit of concord and good will that has ever ani- mated Holliston's citizens find here a hospitable home in all the years that are to come.
The Chairman then introduced the next speaker:
Following the Civil War, Holliston suffered keenly for many years. Its money had been given for war purposes with a free hand, and the debt of the town had been largely increased. The substantial business of the war period had passed. No new business was forthcoming, and the rem-
nant of the Old Guard came near surrendering. There were signs of improvement in the 90's of the last century, but these signs did not become well developed until the beginning of the present century. The building of the Milford and Uxbridge Street Railway was a valuable adver- tisement for the town, passing, as it does, through our unusually attractive main street for a distance of some five miles. Naturally new people have been attracted to the town, and large numbers have in recent years settled with us. It is interesting to observe how heartily they have adapted themselves to their new environment and what great interest they show in public affairs. A lady has been invited to speak of the merits of the newcomers. Her hus- band was a valued citizen, a native of the town, and she herself has been so long a citizen of Holliston that she can with the utmost propriety speak of the good qualities of the newcomers, without the slightest fear of the charge of self praise. I present Mrs. Florence N. Claflin.
Mrs. Claflin spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman, Fellow-townsmen and Friends:
Perhaps the reason I have been chosen to speak tonight, for the new-comers, lies in the fact, that, long antedating my actual residence, indeed for 38 years,-I have known and loved Holliston. In my remarks, therefore, I shall not be deemed guilty of transgressing the Scriptural injunction to "let another man praise thee, and not thine own lips."
How we have thrilled, as we have listened to the simple story, ably told, of the beginning of Holliston,-to the record of the first settlers, and the part they had, in the making of the town.
We point with pride to their descendants, "acting well their part" also, in the continuity of town affairs and growth. It is something to have been born and bred in such a community, much more to have the impetus of the known example of generations of one's own. The newer- comers congratulate this group of our citizens. We're somewhat like little Mary, who came in one day from play, crying bitterly. When asked the reason for her tears, she replied, "The little girl next door says I haven't any ances- tors, because we only moved here last month."
But pause a moment-a comforting thought comes. Were not the first settlers themselves new-comers, children, many of them, of the original new-comers, who, to their credit, be it said, and with that integrity which has ever characterized the New Englander,-paid for the lands they procured from the Indians.
New-comers they certainly were, in the sense at least, that breaking away from old and known parts, - they assumed new duties and responsibilities of town and church government, constituting for them, a new life.
If it is true, as some one has said, that "there is no place that has not felt the tread of some New England child, no enterprise that has not felt his hand," it is equally true that there is no New England city, town, or hamlet, that has not received direct and lasting benefit from its influx of new-comers.
As it is easy for the individual to follow the path of least resistance, so there is danger of a community becoming too satisfied, and-resting back on the achievements of its forebears,-falling behind in the march towards newer heights and ambitions, expressed in expansion, higher standards of beauty, education, business. Progression is more essential than ever before-for the "shrinkage" of the world, brought about by radio, rapid transit, and a host of other marvellous inventions,-makes for greater com- petition, more diversified world standards. No wonder the dear pastor added to his weekly petition, "Oh, Lord! Make my people dissatisfied."
In laying the foundation of our town, 200 years ago, the first settlers "put off the old and put on the new," and this has been the aim of each succeeding generation.
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