USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > Ludlow: a century and a centennial, comprising a sketch of the history of the town of Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 9
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15 From Report of Water Commissioners, 1875.
16 Hon. Chester W. Chapin.
17 Revs. Simeon Miller, and Damas Brough.
18Rev. Lorenzo White.
19 Hon. G. M. Fisk.
20 Hon. Edwin Booth.
21 Hon. G. Pillsbury.
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HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
founder received honors at home and abroad ; these, with others whose names could readily be recited, show that the town need not be ashamed of those who have gone from her midst.
But the age is progressing, and the world calling for men and women. However the world may have excused Ludlow from giving in the past a larger quota to her ranks of workers, the excuse is no longer tenable. To the young men and women of our town there is the highest incentive for intellectual and moral attainments. With the broad acreage of our domain, handed down from sturdy ances- tors, is given the means of acquiring an education as good as the land affords. Let us find more Ludlow boys and girls in halls of learning, in seminaries, in colleges, in universities, in technical schools. To this end let the managers of the affairs of the town see to it that no pains are spared to secure the broadest and firmest foundation for a scholastic training, in the excellence of her own schools. The town can vie with any in her manufactures and her crops; let none excel her in giving opportunities for the development of the noblest of citizens.
We must turn our attention to other matters, closing here the annals of the town. If there could be a histori- cal society organized at once, to collect data that may be yet accumulated from the fading records of the past, an- other annalist would have reason to thank any who would interest themselves in that direction. Who has a sufficient love for the memory and traditions of noble ancestors to endow with a small sum such an institution ?
THE CENTENNIAL.
PROSPECTIVE-ACTUAL-AFTERPAST.
THE CENTENNIAL.
-
PROSPECTIVE.
THE annals of the Bay State had for years declared that in the year 1774 the towns of West Springfield, Ludlow, Leverett, West Stockbridge and Barre, Mass., and Edgecomb and New Gloucester, Me., then of Massachusetts, had been granted their distinctive title to separate existence. This fact had from time to time attracted the attention of the denizens of Ludlow, and awakened some comment upon the question of a celebration when the century should have rounded itself. The commemora- tive exercises at the sister town of Wilbraham in 1863, of course attracted more or less attention in this adjoining place. But there appears to have been no agitation of any account until perhaps three years ago, when Mr. Ambrose Clough, a connoisseur in lo- cal history, called the attention of some of his fellow-citizens to the fact that the town was approaching its hundredth birthday, and should not allow the occasion to pass without giving its children an invitation home again. Others were evidently much interested in this historical fact and heartily seconded the efforts of the gentleman named. Indeed, the approaching milestone in the race of life seemed to throw its shadow in advance in the vision of many a citizen, particularly the elderly ones of the town. Nothing was done, however, until the Spring of the year 1874, when the Selectmen received the following petition :
" TO THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF LUDLOW :
We, the undersigned, inhabitants and legal voters in the town of Ludlow, petition your honorable body to insert an article in your war- rant, to see if the town will take any measures to celebrate the Centen-
13
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THE CENTENNIAL.
nial of the town ; also to appropriate money for the same, and to pass all necessary votes.
LUDLOW, February 25th, 1874.
(Signed)
AMBROSE CLOUGH,
B. F. BURR, J. P. HUBBARD, ALBERT FULLER,
GILBERT E. FULLER."
As a result of this petition the article desired appeared in the warrant for the Spring meeting of the town. Its insertion seems to have awakened a little feeling, but not in any way marked, as the citizens very unanimously voted to observe a day of fes- tivities. The following makes evident the result of the agita- tion so far:
Original meeting, March 9th.
" Voted that the town celebrate its Centennial.
" Voted to choose a committee of seven to carry out the design of the town, and that this committee report at the adjourned meeting. Ambrose Clough was chosen chairman of the committee, and the other members are John P. Hubbard, George R. Clark, B. F. Burr, Rev. C. L. Cushman, Rev. Alfred Noon and F. F. McLean.
" Voted to appropriate two hundred and fifty dollars for the same."
Adjourned meeting, April 6th.
" Voted to appropriate one hundred and fifty dollars in addition .to that appropriated at the March meeting, for the Centennial Celebra- tion."
Let no one think the work of these parties was a sinecure.
The first meeting was held at the house of the chairman on the evening of March 16th, but adjourned, with little result, to the house of Major Hubbard on the 23d. On that evening Mr. B. F. Burr, the ready writer of the town's records, was chosen Secretary. From that date the committee met fortnightly, and then weekly, at the town house, until after the Centennial.
In the preliminary arrangements for the celebration of course many things were planned which could not be consummated. The first choice of the committee for the literary orator was Rev. J. W. Dadmun of Winthrop, once pastor of the M. E. Church, but home duties prevented his coming. The next vote
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ORATORS AND COMMITTEES.
on this matter was one of invitation to Rev. Prof. G. Prentice of Middletown, Conn., also a former pastor of the church just named. At first the gentleman was inclined to accept, but finally found his labors at the University where he is, of such a character as to interfere with the plan of coming here. The third choice rested upon Prof. Lorenzo White of New Salem, a former resident of the town for a score of years, who " could not find it in his heart to refuse the request" of his old town. . The excellence of the address will be marked by every reader.
Not so long a delay was experienced in securing the services of the historical orator. The first request was to Rev. Mr. Aus- tin of Connecticut, the last minister employed as pastor by the town of Ludlow. Poor health prevented his acceptance, and the choice then was Rev. J. W. Tuck of Jewett City, Conn., for six- teen years pastor of the Congregational Church, whose able ad- dress, spoken to the audience at the Centennial, disseminated through the region by the enterprise of the press, and now placed in an enduring form, has become a constituent element in the historic annals of the town.
The following scheme shows concisely the doings of the gen- eral committee, as finally revised, in the selection of sub-com- mittees :
ON COLLATION :- District No. 1. Andrew E. C. Bartlett, Amnie Hubbard.
2. John W. Hubbard, Addie F. Hubbard.
3. Gillen D. Atchinson, Estelle Newell.
4. F. F. McLean, Ellen Root.
5. D. C. Jones, Henrietta Chapin.
6. William P. Clark, Angeline White.
7. Charles S. Bennett, Maria Sikes.
8. Elliot O. Alden, Florence Graves.
9. Alanson Pool, Carrie R. Waid.
10. Lucien Lyon, Alice Kendall.
ON INVITATION .- Rev. C. L. Cushman, George R. Clark.
ON MUSIC .- Davenport L. Fuller, Alfred S. Putnam, Wilbur F. Miller, Henry S. Jones, Edward E. Fuller.
ON FINANCE .- Samuel White, Edward E. Fuller, John Ray, Austin F. Nash, David C. Jones, Silas Billings, Reuben Sikes.
ON PROGRAMME .-- Rev. C. L. Cushman, L. H. Brigham, Edmund E. Charles, Rev. Alfred Noon, Ambrose Clough, C. A. Southworth.
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THE CENTENNIAL.
ON SENTIMENTS .- John P. Hubbard, C. L. Buell, Jackson Cady, L. H. Brigham, B. Pillsbury.
ON PRINTING .- Rev. C. L. Cushman, George R. Clark, B. F. Burr.
ON FACTS, PORTRAITS, etc .- George R. Clark, Ambrose Clough, C. L. Buell, John Hobson, Jr.
ON DECORATIONS .- Eliza Jones, Genevra B. McLean, Ella Jones, Susan Fuller, Lucy E. Booth, Anna S. Bennett, Belle L. Kendall, Nellie Buffington, Jennie Green, Lily T. Sargent, Mrs. N. B. Paulk.
ON ARRANGEMENTS AND RECEPTIONS .- C. L. Buell, D. L. Fuller, Silas Billings, Reuben Sikes, Austin C. Gove, Lyman Burr, Adin Whitney, Lucius Simonds, David K. Paine, Charles Sikes, Oliver B. Miller, Albert Fuller, F. F. Fairbanks.
PRESIDENT OF THE DAY .- Rev. Alfred Noon.
VICE-PRESIDENTS .- Elisha T. Parsons, Rev. D. K. Banister, Syl- vester Miller, Hezekiah Root, Theodore Sikes, George Clark, Ezekiel Fuller, Artemas H. Whitney, John Miller, Sylvester Clark, Jonathan Waid, Stillman Alden, Zachariah Day, Spencer Talmadge, Aaron Davis, Franklin Fuller, Jacob S. Eaton, Daniel Brewer, Elijah Plum- ley, Marvin King, Henry Fuller, Hubbard Dutton, R. M. Chandler, Josiah Alden, Orsemus Alden, Lyman Burr, Gordon Pinney.
MARSHAL .- J. P. Hubbard.
ASSISTANT MARSHALS .- Wilbur F. Miller, John W. Hubbard, James O. Kendall, Lucius Simonds, Austin F. Nash.
The collation committee organized with F. F. McLean for chairman. They voted to invite the town to furnish bread and butter, cake, doughnuts, cheese, cold meats, tea and coffee. The following result of a canvass of the various districts for eatables may be of interest to the committee arranging for the next centennial :
Biscuits, buttered, 3,807
Cake, loaves, 400
Doughnuts, 2,165 Tarts, . 750
Besides, there were purchased for distribution :
27 lbs. of dried beef, 200 lbs. of tongues,
150 lbs. of ham,
15 lbs. of bologna,
¿ bbl. of pickles, 10 lbs. of tea,
15 lbs. of coffee,
204 lbs. of cheese,
190 lbs. of crackers,
100 lbs. of sugar.
Upon Reuben Sikes fittingly devolved the duties of chief waiter, while his assistants were legion.
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VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS.
The committee on invitations sent out a large number of let- ters and circulars, besides specially inviting certain dignitaries, as the correspondence read after the collation will show.
The committee on music worked hard and successfully. One and two rehearsals a week gave after a while great proficiency to the singers. D. L. Fuller was chosen leader, and A. S. Put- nam organist, while the Armory Band of Springfield was se- lected to furnish music of its kind.
The committee on printing at first issued five hundred notes of invitation, on postal cards, reading thus :
CENTENNIAL AT LUDLOW.
The old town invites all her children and children's children, former residents and friends, to celebrate her hundredth birthday on the 17th day of June next.
This is to invite most cordially, you and yours, to be present and participate in the festivities of the occasion.
Come one, come all, for one joyous reunion.
The number being inadequate, two hundred more were ob- tained, all too few, as the sequel showed. They further issued schedules of committees, in two editions, of which over two hundred were distributed. Ten thousand programs provided under their auspices were very soon taken up on the opening of the exercises.
The committee on facts made little demonstration, but were very busy and very useful, as many of the notes in this volume may testify.
The committee on decorations arranged very tastefully the tables in the display tent, with flowers and evergreens, while they showed rare taste in elegantly festooning the tents, besides in an emblematic banner, bearing the legend, " Welcome to our Centennial," and the two dates 1774 and 1874, the one in sere and yellow leaf of age, the other in brilliant foliage of the day.
Next, however, to the Centennial committee in careful plan- nings and extensive labors, came the committee on arrangements and reception. The only instructions of note given them were to arrange for a free collation and find sitting accommodations for fifteen hundred persons, while upon them devolved the task of providing a place, securing crockery, arranging the details of
102
THE CENTENNIAL.
the day's accommodations, and a myriad of little duties which could not be anticipated and yet must be performed. Two cir- cular tents, one a hundred and one sixty feet in diameter, were placed upon the green near the town-house, and the old pews to a considerable extent removed from that ancient edifice, much to the joy of voters. The area thus obtained was devoted to the purposes of the celebration. The town-house was the gen- eral depository of food and crockery, the smaller tent contained tables for display of a moiety of the good things so freely fur- nished, while the larger canvas covered a net-work of plank seats and an ample platform for musicians and dignitaries. Six thou- sand three hundred and seventy pieces of crockery, a load for seven horses, were obtained from the mother city, all of which was requisite. Arrangements were also made for the conveyance of passengers from the depots.
At last the arrangements were pronounced complete, and the day of days for Ludlow began to dawn. Alas for human plans. Could heaven frown upon such efforts ? No ball had been ar- ranged for the finale of the exercises or as their initial. All had been performed with the strictest decorum, and yet the day-break exhibited humid skies and rain-drenched ground. The commit- tee arose with anxiety, and one and another looked eagerly for the signs of fair weather. "How do you feel ?" said one of the committee to the indefatigable chairman. "First-rate," was the cheering reply, and the others caught its spirit. Down came the rain in genial showers, until an hour or two before the time for the exercises to begin, when Pluvius had satiated him- self, and the rain ceased. Meanwhile the crowds began to start from their homes, and about the hour for the opening of the exercises every shed and shelter for a team had been long since filled. At last the appointed time arrived, and all were pre- pared to enjoy the Centennial Actual.
1774
1874
ORDER OF EXERCISES AT THE
TOWN
Co
At Ludlow, Mass., .
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17TH, 1874.
Services to Commence at 10 1-2 o'clock A. M.
Music by the SPRINGFIELD
BAND x
BRNORY
Clark W. Bryan & Company, Printers, Springfield, Mass.
1 .- Music by the Band. 2 .- Singing.
3 .- Prayer.
REV. D. K. BANISTER, OF LUDLOW.
4 .- Reading of Scripture.
REV. SIMEON MILLER, OF SPRINGFIELD. 5 .- Original Centennial Hymn.
God of our Fathers, now to Thee We lift our hearts with glad acclaim, Rejoicing in that liberty Vouchsafed to them who love Thy name.
The generations live and die, The earth itself is growing old, But Thou, O Lord ! art ever nigh, Thou dost the sands of ages hold.
We recognize Thy loving hand, Whose gentle guidings have been felt By sires and sons throughout the land, While under care divine they dwelt.
Receive our praise, Messiah King, While here we count thy mercies o'er; Accept the offering we bring, And make us thine forevermore.
6 .- Greeting.
REV. C. L. CUSHMAN, OF LUDLOW.
7 .- Music by the Band.
8 .- Literary Address, with Response to Greeting. REV. L. WHITE, OF NEW SALEM.
9 .- Singing.
10 .- Historical Address.
REV. J. W. TUCK, OF JEWETT CITY, CT.
11 .- Music by the Band.
12 .- Prayer.
13 .- Doxology.
14 .- Benediction.
14
Old Folks' Concert
IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ON THE Evening of June 17th.
PROGRAMME. PART FIRST.
I .- Anthem for Easter. 2 .- a. "Sherburne." b. "Northfield." c. " Rainbow."
3 .- Piano and Cornet Duet. MR. WILSON and MR. SOUTHLAND.
4 .- Duett, " In the Starlight."
5 .- a. "China." b. " Greenwich."
6-Song, selected. MISS GENEVRA MCLEAN.
7 .- Male Quartette. 8 .- Cornet Solo.
MR. SOUTHLAND.
9 .- " Invitation."
PART SECOND.
1 .- Piano and Cornet Duett. MR. WILSON and MR. SOUTHLAND.
2 .- a. " Montgomery." b. " Bridgewater." c. "Turner." 3 .- Song, Chalet Horn. MISS GENEVRA MCLEAN.
4 .- " David's Lamentation."
5 .- Mixed Quartette.
6 .- Cornet Solo.
MR. SOUTHLAND.
7 .- a. " Majesty." b. " New Jerusalem."
8 .- " Coronation," in which all are invited to join.
All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall ; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.
O, that with yonder sacred throng, We at his feet may fall ; We'll join the everlasting song, And crown him Lord of all.
The Concert will commence at 7 1-2 o'clock.
W. F. MILLER, Conductor.
THE CENTENNIAL.
ACTUAL.
THE speakers were assigned their places; the musicians took the seats prepared for them ; the marshals occupied their posts of duty ; the audience quietly sought accommodations in and about the vast tent, now all too small ; the Bohemians were already writing up the exercises in advance. Upon honorary seats near the speaker's desk were ranged the old and elderly men of the town: Sylvester Miller, over ninety, the oldest of all; Col. John Miller, Sylvester Clark, Theo- dore Sikes, Esq., George Clark, Orsemus Alden, Rev. D. K. Banister, Ezekiel Fuller, Harry Fuller, Jonathan Waid, Dea. Elisha T. Parsons, Franklin Fuller, Lyman Burr, Elisha Plumley, Marvin King, Artemas Whitney, Stillman Alden, Hezekiah Root, Hubbard Dutton and oth- ers, while near them were invited guests : Elijah Blake, Chester W. Chapin, J. A. Rumrill, Mayor Stebbins, Aldermen Holt and Fuller, Dea. Roderick Burt and others of Springfield, and others still from towns nearer or more remote. Austin Chapman came from Ellington, Conn., while Joseph Miller, over eighty years of age, who had traveled more than four hundred miles to attend the gathering, arrived at four in the afternoon. Goodly numbers had on previous days arrived at the homes of their friends, taking the very favorable opportunity pre- sented for a visit to the old landmarks. Some had been born here ; some had here chosen the companions of their youth, perhaps remem- bering at this anniversary the "publishment" by crier or posted no- tice ; some had seen their loved ones laid away in graves now marked by mossy monuments, or more recently had visited the old town to attend funereal service. How sad and yet how interesting the greet- ings of these old friends ! Surely all this painstaking was more than recompensed by the gladness of reunion or the tenderness of reminis- cence. The programme, which has been elegantly reproduced on the previous pages, was then handed around.
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THE CENTENNIAL.
A fine selection played by the band sent a thrill of inspiration through the audience, after which the exercises were formally opened, and the grand choir sang with a will "Strike the Cymbal" and " Home, Sweet Home." Rev Daniel K. Banister, formerly a pastor in the town, next led the congregation in a fervent and earnest prayer. Rev. Simeon Miller, a native of Ludlow, read selections from the Scripture appropriate to the occasion.1 The next exercise consisted of the singing of the Centennial hymn, composed for the occasion by the pastor of the Methodist church. The grand strains in the old tune "Devotion " rang out like a chorus at the Peace Jubilee, as the whole audience united voice and heart in praise. Rev. C. L. Cushman, then pastor of the Congregationalist Church, next delivered the following address of welcome :
REV. MR. CUSHMAN'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : It has been said by some one that there is a class of rather solitary people, who, having reached a certain age, never more grow old. Perpetual youth is what they crave. But we, sir, are proud of our age. The old mother is, to-day, a centenarian, and yet she greets her children in the beauty and freshness of a youthful maiden. We call you to note her youthful appearance. Standing at the opening of a second century, she never looked so fair, so unwrinkled, so youthful as now.
Despite the prevalent indifference to genealogy and to ancestry which so far influenced the early settlers that they neglected to pre- serve and transmit to us connected and reliable memorials of them- selves, it was somehow discovered that the town was reaching its one-hundredth birthday. With a quite marked unanimity of feeling it was thought that the event must not pass without a public recogni- tion in the shape of a family gathering of sons and daughters from far and near. The objects were the gathering into a connected form for preservation our hitherto fragmentary history, the renewal of old friendships, the awakening of a family pride in all hearts, the culti- vation of becoming reverence for the past, and the bringing of all who were born here into an acquaintance with the place of their nativity. It is a matter of regret that in New England there has prevailed so great indifference to the men and to the things of the past. No peo-
1The selections were Psa. 80 : 1, 90 : 1-6, 78: 1-7.
109
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
ple have so great reason to value their descent as the native-born citizens of our land. Yet, as a fact, no people on earth concern themselves so little about their ancestry or, after the first degree, feel so little interest in consanguinity. In reply to the question whether such a one is a relative, the negative is given, simply because he is only a second cousin. If you ask one who was his grandfather he may be able to tell you, but if you ask where he came from, you will quite likely be answered in some such dubious and traditionary form as the following: "I have heard my father say that his father came from the East or from the South, etc." This ignorance is, of course, the result of indifference. Let us rejoice that this indifference is be- ginning to be corrected.
We have projected this celebration, to-day, to help in breaking up this indifference. We do not claim that the 17th of June was the ex- act natal day, but near enough to it to warrant its use as such. We have, however, chosen it largely because there is no month like June, at least till golden-sheaved October comes. Nature is the universal attrac- tion. It has been well said the flowering time of the year is its fresh and virginal period, and surely there is none so enchanting. June is surely a gift out of the heavens. Birds and flowers, beautiful ex- pressions of God's thoughts, make life charming. So, then, the mother has shown her good sense in inviting home her children, when she herself is clad in almost celestial beauty.
We are here, to-day, as one family, brought together by this natal occasion, to visit the old family homestead. Let us feel like children, unbend and give way to the impulses of the hour.
Requested as I am to speak words of greeting in the name of my fellow-citizens and of the committee of arrangements, it gives me pleasure to reflect that if we have never been noted for great men and great things, we have at least taken care of ourselves and kept . out of prison. Scarcely a name has been on the convict roll. The retirement of the town has been fitted to foster simplicity of feeling and of character. It has been a definition of a wise and pure life to live according to nature. Such a mode of living is well nigh impossi- ble in the crowded life of cities and large towns. The formalities, the spirit of caste and clique, the tyranny of opinion, make it hard for a
110
THE CENTENNIAL.
man to be true to nature and true to himself. The soul becomes artificial without knowing it, ceases to think its own thoughts and forsakes truth for the voice of the ruling caste. In such cases and places, politeness is wont to be a rule committed to memory and not a prompting of nature. An external standard seizes a man and moulds him into a thing of show and quite likely of falsehoods. Some one has somewhere said simplicity and honesty are the gold of character, but surely how hard are they to keep, and how rare to find. Now these traits have always been nourished and perfected in this rural retreat, away from much of the gloss and falsehood which are wont to abound in the largest communities.
So, then, we congratulate ourselves that we have grown and sent out to other communities the best material, the very bone and sinew of which they are made. As such we welcome you home to-day, to view the rock whence ye were hewn. We are proud of you for the most part. Nobly did our town respond to the country's call, and many of her sons sleep beneath the Southern sky. Nobly has she always done her part. Nobly does she sustain the institutions of religion. In fact she has ever been true to high-toned principle.
The old town is much changed. Even her woods and "templed hills " fail to remain intact. Her fine farm-houses tell of thrift and comfort, if not of wealth and luxury. We promise more in the fu- ture. We are here, to-day, to assert anew our right to be, to take a new lease of life, to push ourselves nearer to the front in the family of towns. Before we surrender the trust by you committed to us, we propose to transmit it to posterity greatly enlarged. Everything be- tokens that the Ludlow of the future will not be the Ludlow of the past. Henceforth we are to be connected with our city friends by iron bands ; and, ladies and gentlemen, we shall be the head, while, by their own decree, they will be one of our dependencies. Or, for the moment, waiving that point, if we shall prove true to the con- fidence reposed in us, and if-if-our prevalent drouths shall not prove too much for us, we shall be the source and fountain. We pro- pose to carry this uncoveted honor with becoming dignity and grace, and conspicuously to wear the sparkling jewel so long as our rocks and hills shall endure.
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