History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 50

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 50

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11. Liberty piece.

17. Bomb-shell.

18. Liberty tree.

19. Anchor of hate.

20. Independence.

21. Grand finale, "Milford."

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The concert by the two bands was indeed pleasing, and added greatly to the enjoyment of the evening. As a finale to the exercises, it was, in conjunction with the fireworks, exceedingly well arranged, and gave general satisfaction.

GENERAL DEPORTMENT.

The general good order that was preserved during the day added much to the enjoyment of the occasion, and there were but few ex- ceptions to the good behavior. The selectmen who were in charge of this department were very ably seconded by the force of constables, who, without attempting to display any petty authority, yet, in every possible way, smoothed all useless obstacles to the public enjoyment. Everybody on the streets, especially strangers, felt the good impres- sion made by the Milford police ; and many complimented the force, which, we are assured, will compare favorably with any in the Com- monwealth.

II. - THE MUNICIPAL CENTENARY. PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS.

At a town-meeting held Nov. 4, 1879, it was voted that a com- mittee of ten be appointed by the moderator to take into consideration the matter of celebrating the centennial anniversary of the incorpora- tion of the town of Milford, and report at the next annual meeting ; also, if they recommend snch celebration, to report a plan therefor, and take any preliminary steps they may deem necessary. The fol- lowing gentlemen were appointed : T. G. Kent, A. C. Mayhew, Rev. J. T. Canavan, Gen. W. F. Draper, A. J. Sumner, C. F. Claflin, G. W. Johnson, James Bergin, Z. C. Field, and Samuel Walker.

At the meeting March 1, 1880, M. P. Callanan was chosen in place of Rev. Father Canavan, who resigned on account of leaving town. Four others were added to the committee ; and at the April meeting the selectmen, town-clerk, and treasurer were also added.

Twelve hundred dollars was appropriated at the April meeting to defray the expenses of the celebration. The committee reported that " the charter of incorporation was granted April 11, 1780; but we recommend that the anniversary be held June 10, 1880, as more likely to be comfortable and propitious weather."

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

COMMITTEES.

The following committees had charge of the arrangements : -

General Committee. - T. G. Kent (chairman), Dr. Geo. L. Cook (secre- tary), Hon. A. C. Mayhew, Gen. Wm. F. Draper, G. W. Johnson, C. F. Claflin, James Bergin, Z. C. Field, A. J. Sumner, Samuel Walker, M. P. .Callanan, Benjamin Ward, Dr. Charles Mackin, D. J. Cronan, James R. Davis, Lewis Fales, Ethan C. Claflin.

Invitations. - A. J. Sumner, A. C. Mayhew, T. G. Kent, P. P. Parkhurst, David Nelson.

Reception. - Nelson Parkhurst, James H. Barker, T. B. Thayer, Samuel Walker, Hon. A. C. Mayhew, B. D. Godfrey, S. C. Sumner, Geo. W. John- son, James Bergin, George Thayer, Ezra Hunt, S. W. Hayward, B. H. Spaulding, E. L. Wires.

Entertainment. - Mrs. M. J. C. Russell, Mrs. Nelson Parkhurst, Mrs. O. B. Parkhurst, Mrs. B. D. Godfrey, Mrs. Angenette Thayer, Miss Mehita- ble Cleveland.

Procession. - Julius M. Woods, H. J. Bailey, H. B. Thayer, D. J. Cro- nan, W. H. Carpenter, P. M. Hunt, T. C. Eastman, Joseph F. Hickey, M. W. Edwards, Chester L. Clark.

Salute. - Capt. Wm. P. Miller, Arthur E. Sumner, Maj. A. E. Mathews, Benj. Ward, Sullivan S. Jones, Elias Whitney.

Decorations. - L. H. Cook, Charles F. Chapin, John O'Leary, M. A. Blunt, Gen. Orison Underwood, Jesse A. Taft, Lewis Fales, H. B. Thayer, Adin Ball, D. B. Rockwood, Edward Simonds.

Floral Decorations. - Miss Helen Eames, Mrs. Augustus C. Jones, Miss Helen M. Pond, Mrs. Luther P. Jones, Mrs. Emeline Coffin, Mrs. Geo. L. Cooke, Mrs. Patrick Gillon, Mrs Jane Whiting, Mrs. G. G. Parker, Mrs. W. F. Draper, Misses Anna M. Bancroft, Mary Ferry, Annie McGowan, Anna McGlynn, Mrs. E. C. Claflin.

Tent. - Willard Bragg, Z. C. Field, G. W. Johnson, H. B. Hero.

Dinner. - Charles F. Claflin, A. A. Taft, Dr. Charles Mackin.

Tickets. - Ethan C. Claflin, Herbert Parkhurst, Clark Ellis, Henry Scott. Band. - John S. Mayhew, E. Mann, G. W. Bailey, M. P. Callanan. Vocal Music. - C. J. Thompson.

Printing and Press. - C. A. Sumner, Everett Cheney, James F. Stratton, Lewis Hayden.

Finance. - Chas. F. Claflin, George Draper, John P. Dauiels, I. N. Crosby, E. D. Bancroft, A. Wheeler, P. Lynch.

Toasts. - Charles A. Dewey, T. G. Kent, G. G. Parker, Dr. J. Allen Fay, Leander Holbrook.

Museum and Family Relics. - Mrs. Samuel Walker, Mrs. John Corbett, Mrs. C. J. Thompson, Miss Louisa Thayer, Mrs. Augusta Woodbury, Mrs. Charles F. Claflin, Mrs. Geo. W. Johnson, Mrs. A. B. Vant, Mrs. Z. C. Field, Mrs. J. B. Leonard, Mrs. B. E. Harris.

In Charge of Park. - Ezra Hunt, W. H. Carpenter, Elias Whitney.

----

BLINDS

GLASS PAPER HANGINGS

PUIT PAINTS & OIL

TOWN HALL

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Railroad Trains. -- A. C. Mayhew, Z. C. Field, Samuel Walker, I. N. Davis.

OFFICERS.

President of the day, Hon. A. C. Mayhew. Vice-President of the day, T. G. Kent. Chief Marshal, Gen. W. F. Draper.

The rain on Monday and Tuesday somewhat dampened the enthu- siasm, and delayed the decorations ; but Wednesday's sunshine gave the work of preparation a boom, and matters speedily progressed.

RELICS AND ANTIQUITIES.

The interior of town-hall was beautifully decorated with a centre- piece on the ceiling, from which streamers of bunting ran to the sides in festoons. Along the sides bunting was suspended, being looped up at intervals, and having flags of different nations hanging between the windows. Over the platform was a painting draped with lace and the national flags. The windows were curtained with the standards of different countries, and the gallery was beautifully decorated with flags, lace, and cambric. On the gallery over each door were the ancient and modern names of the town, Wapowage and Milford. Portraits of old residents, whose descendants are numbered among the most prominent citizens of the town, were grouped upon the walls. Among the portraits, which were oil-paintings, were the following : Sarah Brown, great grandmother of the Parkhurst family ; Mrs. Amasa Parkhurst, Henry Nelson, born 1786 ; Catherine Nelson, born 1789 ; Rufus Chapin, born 1787; Dr. G. D. Peck and wife, and their son Andrew J. Peck ; Pearley Hunt and wife, and their son Hiram, eighteen years of age; Mr. and Mrs. Darius Sumner, Rufus Thayer and wife, his father and Arba Thayer, brother of Rufus (Rufus Thayer was the father of Otis Thayer, and his many descend- ants are living in town to-day) ; Mr. and Mrs. John Claflin, the parents of Aaron Claflin, whose name is held in such high esteem by his townsmen ; Mrs. John Parkhurst.

Among the many antiquities were a pair of Indian snow-shoes, worn by the ancestors of Sarah Jones about two hundred years ago ; foot-stoves a hundred years old; wedding-boots of Gershom Twit- chell ; an old queen's-arm musket and equipments carried in the Revolutionary War ; the first sign for a tavern ever put up in Milford, bearing the date 1747 .. The letters were obliterated, but an anchor was plainly visible. Among the most noticeable relics was a quilt made from the coats worn in the Revolution. A blue-and-white plate, three hundred and forty years old, which has been in the Ide family

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

for five generations, contributed by Mrs. Joseph L. Clark ; a baby- slip worn by the wife of ex-Gov. Claflin sixty years ago; a tumbler bought the day war was declared in 1812; a horn drinking-cup carried through the Revolution by Col. Samuel Jones, used in the war of 1812 by Capt. Henry Nelson, and carried through the late Rebel- lion by Henry Nelson Parkhurst ; a junk bottle given to Mrs. Lydia Corbett for a wedding present, a hundred years ago, filled with molasses ; plates and other pieces of crockery from sixty-three to two hundred years old, contributed by Mrs. Dea. Belknap, Mrs. Emory Sumner, J. D. Bailey, Mrs. A. P. Glines, Mrs. C. F. Blood, Mrs. J. B. Bancroft, and Mrs. Samuel Walker ; a pin presented to Lydia Gray in 1812 on a small pen-wiper, contributed by Mrs. A. J. Sum- ner, was a small article, but received more than passing notice.

Among the many ancient books were almanacs 1754-1794, the property of John Goldsmith ; a Bible belonging to Isaac L. Haven, printed in 1683 ; a Bible which has been in the Clark family for a hundred and three years ; a Bible printed in 1750, loaned by Mrs. A. P. Glines ; a dictionary of 1777; an arithmetic used by I. C. Haven in 1822; a religions work a hundred and sixty-three years old, contributed by Almon Thwing; a Bible belonging to H. E. Rockwood, printed in 1637, the oldest book in the whole collection ; the sermon preached at the installation of the Rev. Caleb Alexander in Mendon, April 12, 1786 ; Mr. Frost's two sermons preached Dec. 8, 1767 ; the " Address of the Convention for forming a new Consti- tution of Government for the State of Massachusetts Bay to their Constituents," 1780; an almanac of 1789, containing a foot-note stating that Nov. 6 George Washington passed through Milford ; a copy of the " Massachusetts Centinel," Dec. 6, 1788 ; the account- book of Major Levi Chapin, one of the first blacksmiths in town, 1794 ; a copy of "Tom Jones," printed in 1797. All these latter- mentioned books are the property of H. E. Rockwood of Milford. Centennial china, bearing the inscription " Milford, 1780-1880," con- sisting of vases, cups and saucers, pitchers, pin-boxes, jewel-cases, lunch-plates, toothpick-holders, trays, and butter-plates was for sale.

The oldest oil-paintings were those of Caleb Cheney and wife, painted in 1787. Both are in a good state of preservation.

Portraits of Col. Sullivan Sumner and wife, and coats-of-arms of the Parkhurst and Jones familics, were on exhibition.

Among the articles that interested the fair sex, was a pair of stays, style of 1780 ; a veil worked by Sarah A. Peck in 1835, contributed by Mrs. L. N. Richardson ; clothes worn by the children of Ezekiel and Mary Wight Jones at their baptism in 1782; wedding-shoes

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worn by Tabitha Bullard in May, 1766, made of white satin with painted toes, and much larger than those worn at the present time ; an infant's cap worn in 1821; a sampler worked in 1805 by Lydia Perry, and a collar worked by the same person in 1813, and one worked in 1838. Mrs. A. P. Glines also contributed a lace-frame used in 1829 ; a blue satin bonnet worn in 1850; kid shoes worn in 1815, by Annis Perry ; towel spun and woven by Tabitha Bullard in 1765 ; part of a wedding dress worn in 1765, by Mrs. Anna Williams of Marlborough ; bead pockets worn fifty and sixty years ago; back and side combs worn fifty years ago.

The articles worn by the Revolutionary heroes, and carried through the war, were numerous and interesting. Among them was a waist- coat worn by John Corbett, a runlet, the sword worn by Capt. Ezekiel Jones at the battle of White Plains, the sword of Capt. Samuel Fisher, a runlet carried by Joel Hayward.

What interested the military of the present time were knapsacks used by the Lafayette Guards and the Milford Artillery ; a sword and belt carried by an officer of the Lafayette Guards ; a powder-horn carried through the old French War, by a Mr. King of Mendon ; and an artillery hat worn by a member of that old company.

Straight-back chairs, belonging formerly to Rev. Amariah Frost and Rev. David Long, a tape-machine which has been in the Haven family for several generations, a spinning-wheel belonging to the Corbett family, and a child's stand, were very attractive to lovers of old furniture and implements.

A copy of " The Boston News Letter" No. 1, dated April 24, 1704; the select popular Whig songs of 1840; and a copy of the " Milford Transcript " published June 21, 1848, were noticeable. The "Transcript " was in a frame with " The Milford Journal " of June 2, 1880 ; and the advance in journalism during the last thirty years was made prominent to even the casual observer.

Among the many articles of general interest found in the town which are relics of former times, were Indian arrowheads and a stone axe ; a bayonet bearing the date 1767 ; an old padlock ; a drinking- cup found in the Hopedale cemetery, and a small cannon ball which was dug up on Prospect Street; and an Indian-corn powderer. Trousers, a hat, and shoe-last of the style of 1780 attracted much attention. A boot made in Milford forty-two years ago; the first carriage-maker's tools used in Milford by Dea. Peter Rockwood ; old- fashioned spoon-moulds ; shoe-buckles ; tinder-box, steel, and flint ; a grease-lamp ; hand-made spikes from the "Old House " at Hope- dale ; foot-stoves, tin lanterns, and a bellows owned by Elihu Perry in

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1787, were noticeable articles that the younger people took delight in gazing upon.

AT THE DEPOT-GROUNDS.

There was a vast crowd who anxiously awaited the slowly-arriving trains. The Providence and Worcester road brought five cars, the Hopkinton eight cars, and the Boston and Albany thirteen cars. The latter train was late in arriving, reaching here at 9.45.

On arrival of the Governor and staff, a salute of seventeen guns was fired at the foot of Claflin Hill ; and the Governor was escorted to the Mansion House, where breakfast was served to himself and staff and a number of prominent gentlemen from abroad, as also several leading citizens of Milford.

THE PROCESSION.

Agreeably to general orders No. 1 of Chief Marshal Draper, the line was formed with the right resting on Congress Street, and the various organizations took position on the intersecting streets. The proces- sion moved about eleven o'clock.

The procession was formed in the following order : -

Platoon of Police, under command of Oliver D. Holmes. Gen. Wm. F. Draper, Chief Marshal. Col. P. A. Lindsay, Chief of Staff. Aids. - Col. J. H. Barker. Lieut. A. S. Tuttle.

Geo. A. Draper.

M. W. Edwards.

Chester L. Clark. James F. Stratton.

L. B. Chapman. Charles A. Claflin.

Eben S. Draper. Charles H. Messinger.

Milford Brass Band, 26 pieces; T. W. Keane, Leader.

Battalion of 6th Regiment, M. V. M .; Major Parsons commanding.

Aids. - Capt. H. E. Fales, Asst. Surgeon Chamberlain, Paymaster Holt, Lieut. Geo. P. Cooke, Adjutant.

Co. M, 6th Regiment, M. V. M .; Capt. Henry J. Bailey; 40 men. Bearing flags of the Old Sixth, presented to the Regiment by the loyal ladies of Baltimore. Company F, 6th Regiment, of Marlboro; Capt. Page; 41 men.

American Brass Band of Providence, 25 pieces; D. W. Reeves, Leader.

MILFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Asaph Withington, Chief Engineer. Washington Engine Co. No. 1, 45 men; D. R. Johnson, Foreman.

Wide Awake Hose Co. No. 1, 18 men; C. E. Moorhouse, Foreman. North Star Engine Co. No. 4, 40 men; E. Kinsman, Foreman. Steamer Company Milford No. 1, 14 men; A. D. Reed, Foreman.

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Excelsior Hook-and-Ladder Co., 19 men; Patrick Baxter, Foreman. Aaron Claflin Steamer Co. No. 2, 14 men; E. G. Bell, Foreman. Quinshepaug Encampment No. 20, I.O.O.F., of Milford; 60 patriarchs; W. H. Carpenter, C. P. Delegation from Wachusett Encampment of Worcester and Palestine En- campment of Woonsocket, I.O.O.F. Worcester Brass Band, 26 pieces; T. C. Richardson, Leader. Grand Officers I.O.O.F.

East Weymouth Drum Corps, 7 pieces; C. W. Bailey, Leader and Conductor. Weymouth Lodge No. 15, K. of P .; G. P. Lyons, Marshal. Damascus Lodge No. 50, K. of P., of Worcester; F. E. Hall, Captain; 30 men. Blake Lodge No. 49, K. of P., of Worcester; 20 men; J. W. Hadley, Captain.

Bay State Lodge No. 51, Knights of Pythias, of Milford; 80 men. P. M. Hunt, Grand Chancellor. Grand Officers, K. of P., of Massachusetts. French Band of Worcester, 23 pieces; E. D. Emory, Leader. Hibernian Guards of Worcester, 30 men; John Landers, President. Division No. 7, A.O.H., of Milford, 50 men; P. P. O'Donnell, President. St. Mary's Temperance Society of Milford, 40 men; W. J. Pyne, President. Centennial Band of Franklin in continental costumes; 10 pieces; George I. Partridge, Leader.

Post 22, G.A.R., of Milford, A. A. Burrill commanding; 60 men. Post 43, G.A.R., of Marlborough, Wm. S. Frost commanding; 60 men. Marlborough Brass Band, 25 pieces; A. D. Baker, Leader. Gov. Long and staff. Orator, poet, and other speakers. Citizens and visitors in carriages. Cavalcade of the Milford Athletic Association, 22 horsemen; Reuben Car- penter, Commander.

TRADES OF THE TOWN.

Gile, Blake, & Co., clothing. Paine & Brown, needles; R. C. Huzzey, S. Jefferds, boot and shoe machinery. W. H. Rooker, doors and eave-troughs. Bartlett & Ellis, stoves and hardware, 2 teams. A. S. Tuttle, furniture. Hopedale Machine Company. H. L. Patrick, ice, 3 teams; groceries, 2 teams. Boston Grocery Store, 2 teams. I. C. Soule, groceries. L. Hazard, bottler, 2 teams. J. F. Stratton, bottler. P. Gillon, bottler, 2 teams. W. A. Aldrich, sewing-machines.

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E. Trowbridge, organs and pianos. Singer Sewing-Machines, 5 teams. E. J. Prentice, hay and flour, 3 teams. J. E. MacEwen, wood. Welcome Soap. R. Carroll, granite, 3 yoke oxen. Field & Crosby, coal and lumber, 7 teams.

As Gov. Long arrived opposite the Mansion-house park, the school children, to the number of about two thousand, and under the direc- tion of Dr. William J. Clarke, sang "The Fatherland," after which Judge C. A. Dewey, chairman of the school committee, spoke as follows : -

"Gov. LONG, - In behalf of the school children of the town of Milford, I present to yon the scholars of the public schools, with their teachers, who would be pleased to have you address them on this occasion."

His Excellency the Governor arose, and spoke in substance as follows : -

GOV. LONG'S ADDRESS. A

MR. CHAIRMAN, SCHOLARS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MILFORD, AND TEACHERS, - We have come together, with others, to celebrate the centennial birthday of the town ; and among the many pleasant things, I have seen nothing more pleasing, more attractive, and more significant, than the bright and intelligent faces I see before me. We have come to celebrate the past hundred years, to hear about the men and women who have lived during that time; but before me I see the people of fifty years to come. Children, as I think of all the advantages we possess, and opportunities given to our people, I feel great confidence for the century before us. I solemnly and earnestly trust you will prove faithful to the advantages offered you. Improve the advantages you have obtained ; be good scholars, and fashion yourselves in the years to come so you will become noble men and women. The Town, a hundred years hence, when pointing to the noble and faithful citizens, will be proud to say that you were edu- cated in the public schools of Milford.

He was heartily applauded. The children then sang " America," and the procession moved on.

The route of march was from Main to Chapin, South Main, Main, South Bow, Jefferson, School, Pearl, Main, around Park Square, Congress, Pine, Spruce, to the town-park.

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THE DECORATIONS

were abundant, and many of them of an elaborate character, under the efficient and experienced supervision of Col. William Beals and Messrs. Lamprell & Marble of Boston, whose work gave great satis- faction. Never before has Milford presented so gala an appearance, and we must probably wait another hundred years for its repetition. Below we give a list and description of decorations, which we have aimed to have as full and complete as possible : -

The decorations at the town-house surpassed all others ever at- tempted on the building. Over the door to the police headquarters was "Wopowage, 1780," and over the door to the judge's office, "Milford, 1880." Both were in the midst of flags and banners, and over the entrance to the hall were the American flags and festoons of bunting. At the window under the tower was a state seal, and from that to the sides of the entrance, streamers of red, white, and blue gracefully depended. Lines of flags were suspended from the seal to Church Block and to the trees opposite the Milford Hotel.

The armory of the Milford Light Infantry bore a large painting of a soldier, surrounded by the national colors, in the centre of a large American flag. From the eaves of the building the red, white, and blue fell in graceful festoons, and a profusion of bunting ran from the roof to the awning-frames, making a fine display of harmonious colors. Strings of pennants and flags were stretched from the Pearl- street corner to the town-house.

Blunt's Block, facing Lincoln Square, was a grand mass of color. A line of "red, white, and blue " ran along the entire top of the building ; streamers of bunting floated from it to the awning-frames, while the flags of different nations were suspended between the win- dows. In the centre of the building was a painting of "Old Time," between national emblems ; and near each end of the building were beautiful mottoes, one being "Sons and daughters, welcome home," the other, " 1780 Centennial 1880." Red, white, and blue bunting was tastefully looped up just over the lower windows. From a pole bearing a " liberty cap " to the extremities of the roof were streamers of flags. Col. Beals did the work.

Post-office Block was decorated with a life-size figure of the " Father of our Country " between national flags ; bunting ran from the eaves to the lower story. A large American ensign over Washington, and flags from the windows in Masonic Hall, added to the neat and beau- tiful array of color. Just over the windows of the lower story, in bold gilt-and-red letters on a blue background, was " 1780, Milford's Centennial, 1880."

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

Grant Block was decorated by Lamprell & Marble, with pyramids of bunting, while loops of the same ran along the awning-frames. The "Stars and Stripes " over each doorway in the block, with shields and flags between the windows, made a rare display. Red, interlaced with white bunting, extended the whole front of the build- ing just over the lower windows, and flags depended from the eaves. A fine string of flags was stretched over South Bow Street from Grant to Bank Blocks. Over the entrance to the hall of the G. A. R. were the letters " G. A. R." and a medallion.

Bank Block was neatly decorated with two pyramids of bunting, and festooning over the lower windows and along the awning-frames. The dates 1780 and 1880, between American flags on the front, showed off to good advantage. A line of flags extended from the building to the Mansion House. Over the entrance to the press head- quarters was a shield in the centre of a stand of colors. At the top of each pyramid and in front of the windows of Pythian Hall were knights in armor.

The Mansion House was a centre of attraction, at least for the lines of flags. Over the piazza on the south side was a pyramid of red, white, and blue, with festooning around the piazza. The State seals of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut were on the building. The piazza on the east side was handsomely fes- tooned with our national colors.

Washington Block was festooned with the tricolor over the store- windows of Fred Walker and M. E. Rice. Over the entrance to the hall was a painting of Gen. Putnam, and stands of flags were placed over the entrance to the stores.

The building containing the stores of E. Cheney, William Reynolds, E. C. Morse, and R. C. Eldridge was draped with the red, white, and blue just under the eaves ; shields between the upper windows, and flags over the doorways.

Over Post-office Square was a handsome centre-piece from which four lines of flags diverged to the buildings on the corners of the streets.

Oddfellows' Hall was decorated with three pyramids of red, white, and blue, surmounted with emblems of the order. Before the central window of the hall was a tent, from which the " All-seeing Eye" kept " watch and ward."

Thayer's Block was decorated with three pyramids. Strings of flags ran across the street to Oddfellows' Hall. Red and white bunting ran over the lower windows and along the awning-frames. Alhambra Block, opposite, was similarly decorated, and presented a handsome appearance.

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The A. O. H. hall was beautifully decorated with a mammoth national flag, with streams of bunting from the roof to the awning- frames. Before the central window of the hall was the harp of Ire- land standing in front of the rising sun. "Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity - A. O. H. No. 7," was in the centre of the front. From the hall-windows the flags of Ireland and America swung in the breeze.

Steamer house No. 1 was beautifully decorated with a large Ameri- can flag over the doors, with a large United States seal in its centre, and shields and a star at its corner ; while party-colored flags ran over the roof, and made a fine appearance.

Excelsior hook-and-ladder house was trimmed with flying pennants and flags from the flagstaff on its front. A large American flag from the peak over a stand of colors, with bunting over the doors and the word " Welcome," made a handsome display.

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History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 50

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co. Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328