USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Narrative history of South Scituate-Norwell, Massachusetts > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Scituate > Narrative history of South Scituate-Norwell, Massachusetts > Part 4
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GAFFIELD PARK COMMUNITY DAY, ARBOR DAY, 1896 Thomas Gaffield stands at left of center. Picture loaned by Mrs. Mary L. F. Power.
(Photograph by J. A. Tripp)
CHAPTER VII
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
Welcome Home Day-Organization of Norwell Post, The American Legion
THE town was very fortunate that none of its soldiers - were killed, and only one severely wounded, Private William E. Leslie, who lost an arm, during the World War.
It did its full share in the Liberty Loan Drives and answered every call that was made by the committees intrusted with the task of conserving resources and help- ing to carry on the war.
Citizens of Norwell who were in any branch of the United States Service during the war with Germany
Ainslie, Claude W. - Battery A. 55th Reg. C. A. C., U. S. N.
Ainslie, Ellery Francis Jr .- 12th Depot Bat., Co. 8, Signal Corps. Fort Slocum and Camp Vail, N. J.
Beach, Howard Washington-92d Div., 317th Engineers, A. E. F. Seven months in France.
Bell, Chester Ambrose-Wentworth Institute, Co. B, U. S. Inf.
Bowker, Stuart R .- 104th Co., 25 Bat., Syracuse, N. Y. Salvage Co., Camp Devens.
Brainerd, Abbott-Y. M. C. A. Service Secretary, eleven months in France.
Briggs, Paul D. L .- Co. L, 302d Inf., Camp Devens. Co. A, U. S. G., Jersey City, N. J. Sixteen months in service.
43
1
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
Brown, Harry Briggs-Headquarters Co. 306th Field Ar- tillery, 77th Division, A. E. F. Fifteen months in France.
Brown, William Henry-Supply Co., 101st Reg., 26th Div. A. E. F. Eighteen months in France.
Brown, Ralph Eugene-Northeastern College Unit, Bos- ton.
Burns, John Wendell, Jr .- Medical Unit, Service in Pey- ton, England; Brest, France.
Buswell, John S .- 3d Engineers Corps, Canal Zone. Damon, Arthur Russell-U. S. Navy 3 years, 3 months. Discharged. U. S. A. at Camp Lynnfield 3 months. De Gainer, Arthur-39th Inf., Co. C, 4th Div. A. E. F.
Delano, Frederic Burton-Headquarters Co., 9th Inf., 2d
Div. A. E. F. Sergeant. With army of occupation in Germany.
Delano, Henry Franklin-344th Machine Gun Co., 90th Div., A. E. F. Army of occupation in Germany. Eleven months in service.
Ellms, Edgar Howard-Sergt., Co. B, 18th Regt. Eng., A. E. F. One year and ten months in France.
Everett, Harold-3d Co., 1st Bat., 157th Depot Brigade, Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga.
Fogg, Harry Thayer-Camp Devens.
Fredrickson, Frederick Adolph-Camp Devens, Mass.
Harrison, Fred James-325th Co., Camp Stewart, New- port News, Va.
Haskins, Edward Beckman-Student Army Training Corps.
Henderson, Irving Russell-General Headquarters Co., Coast Artillery. With A. E. F. eight months in France.
Howland, Percy Hale-Engineers' Dept., Student Army Training Corps.
Kidder, Harold Russell- Troop L., 14th Cavalry, Fort McIntosh, Texas.
44
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
Leslie, William Edward - Co. K, 101st Inf., A. E. F. Wounded in France.
Lincoln, Herbert Austin- U. S. Battleship Nebraska, transferred to the U. S. Superdreadnaught Florida, 8 months in the service.
Meranda, Tony-Seven months at Camp Devens.
Merritt, James Lewis-Camp Devens.
Morey, Dana White-24th Coast Artillery, Newport, R.
I. One year and six months in the service.
Mott, Stephen Allen-Headquarters Co., 103d Regt., 26th Div., A. E. F. Ten months in France.
Olson, Frederick S .- U. S. Akbar, U. S. N. Training Station, Rockland, Me.
Osborne, Edna Josephine-At Naval Base Hospital, New London. Nurse.
Osborne, Edwin-Boatswain's Mate, U. S. S. Birming- ham. Four years in the navy.
Osborne, Frank Herbert-Co. L, 306th Inf., Pioneers, A. E. F. One year and nine months in France.
Osborne, Lawrence-Private, 16th Supply Train, Motor Truck Co., Camp Kearney, California.
Osborn, Perry Hammond-Mechanic, Battery E. 301st Field Artillery, 76th Div., A. E. F. Six months in France.
Pemberton, James L .- U. S. S. Virginia. Two years and three months in the Navy.
Pinson, Henry Irving-Co. A, 312th Machine Gun Bat., 79th Div., A. E. F. Eleven months in France.
Prouty, Lawrence William - Students' Army Training Corps, Harvard University.
Scully, John Joseph-38th Regt., Canadian British Ex- peditionary Force. Two years and seven months in France.
Sheehan, Eugene P .- Shoe Unit with A. E. F. One year and eight months in France.
45
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
Soule, Lawrence-Remount Station, Camp Travis, Texas, then Sergeant Army Reserve Depot, New Cumber- land, Pa.
Spencer, Alvan Gerry-Supply Sergeant, 7th Battalion, Co. D, U. S. A.
Spencer, Harry L .- 1st Lieut. 101st U. S. Engineers, 26th Div., A. E. F.
Sprague, Herbert William-Fire Truck and Hose 322d Co., also in Replacement Companies. One year and ten months in France.
Sproul, Walton Dyer-Sec. 29, 641 U. S. A. A. S. In France 22 months.
Turner, Harold Melvin-U. S. Naval Reserve with Tufts College Unit.
Wadsworth, Jerome Ferdinand-Co. A, 73 Replacement
Engineers, Washington Barracks, D. C. Six months in the service.
Weber, Anton-Sergeant Commissary Department, Bal- timore, Md.
Welton, Ruth A .- One year in the Canteen Service in France.
Westfield, Hugh Everett-U. S. Naval Reserve, Technol- ogy Unit.
Williamson, Charles Mitchell-Mechanic's Mate, U. S. Naval Reserve, U. S. Destroyer Thacher.
Williamson, George W .- U. S. S. Pittsburg.
Winslow, Edward Francis-Co. D, 547 Engineers, A. E. F.
Winslow, James Everett-Co. L, 372d Inf., 93d Div., A. E. F.
Winslow, Jesse Burden - Stationed at Camps Devens, Humphreys and Camp Merritt.
State Guard
The following citizens enlisted in Co. A, 14th Regt., M. S. G., for service during the war.
John F. Wilder, Walter C. Barnard, Samuel Olson,
46
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
Harry T. Fogg, Joseph F. Merritt, Jerome F. Wadsworth.
Messrs. Wadsworth and Fogg were later in the United States Service.
World War Welcome Home Day
The following is taken from the Rockland Standard of August 21, 1919:
Norwell gave her soldiers and sailors a right royal wel- come last Saturday. Guests were present from all the neighboring towns, and the home people were out in force. All business was suspended and the afternoon given over to festivities. The program opened with a parade at 2 o'clock. In the line were delegations from the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Woman's Relief Corps, Ladies' Aid Alliance, and the American Legion. Public buildings and houses along the line of march were decorated for the occasion.
After the parade there was speaking on the Common, the principal speaker being Gen. Charles H. Cole, who re- ceived a most enthusiastic greeting.
The principal event of the celebration was the presen- tation of medals to all who served in the world war. Chairman Horace T. Fogg presented the medals, and we are indebted to him for a list of the recipients, together with a line telling of the service rendered.
Abbott Brainerd-Unable to enlist because of physical disability. Y. M. C. A. secretary. Overseas 11 months.
Edna Josephine Osborne-At Naval Base Hospital, New London, for duration of war. Her twin brother long in the Naval service.
Ruth A. Welton-Head of the Red Cross in Norwell when we entered the war. Later in France. One year in Canteen service.
Edward Beckman Haskins-Student at Tech. Student Army Corps. But recently a resident of Norwell. He comes of a long line of Scituate ancestry and fighting stock. We welcome him to the home of his forebears.
Percy Hale Howland-Student at Dartmouth College.
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1,
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
Engineer's Department. Student Army Training Corps, Hanover, New Hampshire.
Harold Melvin Turner-Student at Tufts College. In the U. S. Naval Reserve with Tufts College Unit. De- scendant of Lieut. Joshua Jacobs and Colonel Charles Turner, officers in the Revolutionary army.
Lawrence Prouty - Harvard Univ. Students Army Training Camp, also at Plattsburg. Grandson of John H. Prouty of Post 112 G. A. R., whose grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war.
Hugh Everett Westfield-Student Inst. Technology. U. S. Naval Reserve, Technology unit. An adopted son of Norwell and recently a graduate of its High school.
Claude W. J. P. Ainslie-Battery A. 55th Regiment C. A. C. and United States Navy. Still in the service of the U. S. ship Mt. Vernon. His grandfather was a Veteran of the Civil War.
Herbert Austin Lincoln-Enlisted June, 1918, below the draft age, on U. S. Battleship Nebraska, and U. S. Sup- erdreadnaught Florida, 8 months in the service. Of a name famous in American history.
Frederick S. Olson-U. S. Ship Akbar. Naval Training Station, Rockland, Me. Grandson of a veteran of the Civil war.
Edwin Osborne-Boatswain's mate U. S. S. Birming- ham; in the Navy for four years, having just completed his term of enlistment. A descendant of Samuel Hyland in the Revolutionary army.
James L. Pemberton-U. S. S. Virginia. Two years and three months in the service. Grandson of a veteran of the Civil war.
Charles Mitchell Williamson-George W. I. Williamson, brothers. The former Mechanics Mate U. S. Naval Re- serve, U. S. Destroyer Thacher; the latter on U. S. S. Pittsburgh, a battle cruiser. Of a family of sailors, many of whom saw service in the War of 1812, and the Mexican war.
48
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
Francis Ainslie, Jr .- 18 Depot Battalion, Co. 8, one month at Ft. Slocum, two months at Camp Vail, New Jersey. Grandson of a veteran of the Civil war.
Chester Ambrose Bell-Wentworth Institute, Co. 8, U. S. Infantry. Of a race made free by America, who have in their turn helped to free the world.
Paul Dean Lewis Briggs-Co. L. 302d Infantry, Camp Devens, at Plattsburg; Co. A, U. S. Guards, Jersey City, N. J., 16 months in the service. A descendant of Benj. Briggs, Jr., who was in Captain Joseph Stetson's Com- pany in the Revolutionary war.
Stuart Rufus Bowker-Quartermaster Corporal, first at Syracuse, three months at Camp Devens. A descendant of families long prominent in West Scituate.
John S. Buswell-Third engineer corps, Canal Zone, Panama. His family no longer resides in Norwell, and there is no one present to represent him.
Samuel Walter Cook-Co. F, 36th Regiment, Regular Army, in service nine months. An adopted son of Nor- well, and welcomed to her ranks as our own.
Arthur Russell Damon-in the Navy three years, three months; in the Army, Camp Lynnfield, three months. of Revolutionary ancestry.
Harold Everett-Third Co. 1st Battalion, 157th Depot Brig., Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga. His family no longer reside in Norwell, and no one present to represent him.
Frederick Adolph Fredrickson-Of the Plymouth Di- vision, Camp Devens. Born in Sweden. We welcome him an American, and a son of Norwell.
Fred James Harrison-325th Co., Camp Stewart, New- port News, Virginia. An adopted son of Norwell whom we are now pleased to call our own.
Harold Russell Kidder-Troop L., 14th Cavalry, Ft. McIntosh, Texas. Still in the service in Texas, Ft. Logan, Houston. In fact, only soldier still in the service in this country.
49
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE- NORWELL
Tony Meranda-Seven months. A native of Cape Verde Island. Of an alien race. He answered the call.
Dana White Morey-25th Coast Artillery, Newport, R. I. One year, six months in the service. No longer a re- sident of Norwell. Returning for these exercises we bid him welcome.
Lawrence Osborne-16th Supply Train, Motor Truck Company, Camp Kearney, California. His great great great grandfather served in the War of 1812.
Lawrence Soule-A volunteer, below the draft age. At remount station Camp Travis, Texas. Sergeant, Army Reserve Depot, New Amberland, Penna. Admitted to West Point, unfortunately disqualified by defective hear- ing.
Alvan Gerry Spencer-In the First Draft at Camp Dev- ens. Supply Sergeant 7th Battalion, Co. D. U. S. Guards. Of revolutionary ancestry. An adopted son of Norwell, whom we are proud to call our own.
Jerome Ferdinand Wadsworth-Co. A, 73d Engineers. Of Mayflower stock and Revolutionary ancestry, and an adopted son of Norwell, and a son of whom Norwell is justly proud.
Jesse Burden Winslow - James Everett Winslow, brothers. James Everett W., Co. L, 372d Inf., 93d Div. Grandsons of Richard Winslow, for many years Color Bearer, Post 112 G. A. R.
Edward Francis Winslow-Co. D, 547th Engineers, A. E. F.
Eugene Patrick Sheehan-In the Shoe Unit, A. E. F. One year, eight months in France, and several months himself without shoes, a worker in an indispensable branch of the service to which he gave careful and con- scientious attention.
John Wendell Burns, Jr .- Medical Unit, Red Cross Hos- pital, 21, Peyton, England. For the past six months. Hospital No. 58, Brest, France. A descendant of two sol- diers of the revolution.
50
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
Harry Briggs Brown-Headquarters Company, 306th Field Artillery, 77th Div., A. E. F., 15 months in France. The grandson of two veterans of the Civil war.
William Henry Brown-Of the Old Co. K, Hingham, Supply Co., 101st Regiment, 26th Division, A. E. F., 13 months in France. Previously on the Mexican Border. A descendant of Jonathan Brown and J. B., Jr. Both Re- volutionary soldiers.
Edgar Howard Ellms-Sergeant, Co. B., 18th Regiment, Engineers, A. E. F. One year and 10 months in France. A descendant of Joseph Ellms, a soldier of the Revolu- tion.
Irving Russell Henderson-General Headquarters Com- pany, Coast Artillery at Angers; eight months in France. Born almost on the spot where stood the old Block House of the French and Indian Wars, a descendant of Consider Merritt, a soldier of the Revolution.
Stephen Allen Mott-Headquarters Co., 103d Regiment, 26th Div., A. E. F., ten months in France. A descen- dant of Sergeant Lawrence Litchfield who responded to the Lexington alarm in Capt. Wm. Turner's first Scituate Company.
Henry Irving Pinson-312th Machine Gun Company, 79th Division A. E. F., 11 months in France, and in active service on the firing line. His paternal ancestor, Sim- eon Pinson, responded to the Lexington Alarm in 1775, in the Company of Capt. Galen Clapp of Scituate.
Frank Herbert Osborne-Co. L., 306th Infantry, 2d Pioneers, A. E. F., one year, nine months in France. Son of a veteran of the Civil war.
Perry Hammond Osborn-301st Field Artillery, 76th Division, A. E. F., six months in France. A descendant of Israel Vinal of the Scituate Committee of Safety in the Revolutionary war. Of good old fighting stock.
John Joseph Scully-38th Regiment, Canadian-British Expeditionary Force, wounded at Cambria, in French hos- pital in the last battle of the Somme; two years, three
51
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE- NORWELL
months in service. A son of Ireland, he has maintained the fighting traditions of his race.
Herbert William Sprague-Fire Truck and Hose, 322d Company; one year and 10 months in France, in Replace- ment Companies. Returned in Casual Company 3211. The descendant of two soldiers of the Revolution.
Walton Dyer Sproul-Section 29 and Sec. 641, U. S. Automobile Ambulance Service, with the French Army 22 months. Son of an Englishman as well as a descendant of a Revolutionary soldier he has brought honor and cred- it to them both.
Arthur De Gainer-39th Infantry, Co. C, 4th Division, A. E. F. A Canadian by birth. Severely wounded in ac- tion. Loyal to his homeland as well as the land of his adoption.
Henry Franklin Delano-344th Machine Gun Company 90th Div., A. E. F., 11 months in France. In the Army of Occupation. Brother of Frederic B. Delano.
Frederic Burton Delano-Headquarters Company, 9th Inf., 2d Div., A. E. F., Army of Occupation. Sergeant. Honorable mention for carrying messages through bar- rage. Oct. 4, 1917 to July 15, 1919, at Verdun, at Cha- teau Thierry, St. Mihiel offensive, Meuse-Argonne offen- sive
William Edward Leslie-Of the Yankee Division. First from Norwell to go overseas; first to go into trenches; first to go over the top, and first to be wounded.
Supper was served to the service men and their guests on the Seth Foster estate.
In the evening there was a concert by Milo Burke's orchestra of Brockton, followed by a display of fireworks. The celebration closed with a dance in Fogg's hall.
The American Legion, Norwell Post 192
On September 1919, the World War Veterans at the "Welcome Home" exercises took the preliminary steps towards forming a unit of the American Legion. At the
52
WILLIAM EDWARD LESLIE
First enlisted man from Norwell to go into the trenches, in the World War, first to be wounded. Served with Co. K, 101st Infan- try, A. E. F. One who resides elsewhere, but who is always seen here on Memorial Day, in line with Norwell Post, A. L.
7
NORWELL IN THE WORLD WAR
first regular meeting in October, Walton D. Sproul was elected Commander, and Alvan G. Spencer, adjutant and finance officer. Commander Sproul resigned after a few months and removed from the state for a time. Mr. Spencer held his offices for five years. Allan C. Virtue was the next Commander and served for three years, 1920, 1921, 1922. He was succeeded by Irving R. Hend- erson who served during 1923 and 1924, Walter S. Crane Jr., 1925, 1926, 1927; Joseph Sousa 1928; Alvan Spencer from October 1928 to 1930. Herbert A. Lincoln from October 30, 1930 to the following February, when he resigned to become a candidate for town office. Edgar Ellms was Commander for two years and Paul D. L. Briggs succeeded him serving for three years. John D. Murphy served several years.
The Legion was active in having a flag-staff erected on the old high school grounds and when the flag pole at Norwell Center was destroyed by lightning two Legion men, Messrs. Lincoln and Spencer led the drive for funds to replace it.
At the dedication a parade of more than twelve hun- dred Legion members from this part of the state took part, and through their efforts, United States Senator David I. Walsh, was the guest and orator of the day.
Their first meeting place was the Arts and Crafts build- ing. Later in the James Library hall and later the old District No. 2 school house was offered them. It was thought that these quarters would be permanent, but with the passing of Post 112 G. A. R., it was considered wiser to accept the offer of quarters in the Memorial Hall. They have now been installed there for several years.
Joseph Willard is the present Commander.
53
CHAPTER VIII
NORWELL'S FLAG DAYS
PACK in 1915 the people of the easterly part of the town felt that it would be a good idea to have a flag staff on the Common.
The World War was in progress and while we had not been drawn into it, things were becoming very tense and there was much patriotic fervor among the people.
The Norwell Improvement Association met for the purpose of raising funds and carrying on of the project. Officers and committees were appointed and the follow- ing program was arranged:
Percival G. Power, President Elliott W. Crowell, Treasurer Herbert E. Robbins, Secretary
NORWELL FLAG DAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1915 Executive Committee
Horace T. Fogg
Mrs. Joseph C. Otis
Arthur L. Power
Mrs. L. F. K. Howland
Joseph C. Otis
Mrs. Emma H. Bates
Harry T. Fogg
Mrs. Percival G. Power
Percival G. Power
Mrs. George M. Whitcomb
Ernest H. Sparrell
Mrs. Arthur L. Power
Alfred L. Lincoln
Miss Marion G. Merritt
Ranna H. Welton
Mrs. John H. Sparrell
Robert C. Bacon
Mrs. John Whalen
Elliott W. Crowell
Miss Mabel E. Adams
Herbert E. Robbins
Mrs. E. L. Houghton
Reception Committee
Percival G. Power
Ernest H. Sparrell
Walter R. Torrey Horace T. Fogg
Arthur L. Power
54
NORWELL'S FLAG DAYS
Committee on Flag Pole and Flag Ernest H. Sparrell Arthur L. Power Percival G. Power
Souvenir Program Harry T. Fogg
Entertainment Committee George F. Knowlton, Chairman
Ranna H. Welton
Mrs. John Dixon
Henry C. Ford
Mrs. Emma H. Bates
Howard S. Power
Mrs. John Whalen
George M. Whitcomb
Miss Mabel E. Adams
George Dixon
Mrs. George F. Knowlton
Jerome F. Wadsworth
Mrs. Joseph F. Merritt
Joseph F. Merritt
Mrs. Kenneth Atwood
Lyman Wadsworth
Mrs. John F. Wilder
Mrs. John H. Sparrell
Miss Alcina B. Houghton
Mrs. Harry T. Fogg
Mrs. Joseph C. Otis
Miss Alice K. Wadsworth
Mrs. Walter R. Torrey
Mrs. Harry G. Pinson
Mrs. Joseph W. Hatch
Mrs. Henry J. Corthell
Press Committee
Walter R. Torrey Percival G. Power
Parade at 1 P. M. Walter T. Osborn, Chief Marshal
Judges
Joseph C. Otis Alfred L. Lincoln William F. Bates
Parade Committee John F. Wilder, Chairman John Dixon Joseph F. Merritt
J. H. Lehan
John H. Sparrell Miss Marion G. Merritt Miss Mabel E. Adams Dedication Exercises 2:30 P. M.
Base Ball 3:30 P. M. Kingston vs. Norwell Cushing's Field
55
John H. Sparrell
Mrs. George S. Corthell
A. Howard Allen
Mrs. William O. Henderson
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE -NORWELL
Ball Game Committee Lawrence Soule William A. Williams
Band Concert 7 to 9 P. M. Milo Burke's Band ... DEDICATION EXERCISES . . .
Program Horace T. Fogg, Presiding
Prayer Rev. Edward L. Houghton
Music B. Milo Burke's Band
Welcome Horace T. Fogg, Esq.
Unfurling of the Flag Henry A. Turner, Esq.
Singing, Star Spangled Banner Miss Alice Delano
Oration Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge
Music B. Milo Burke's Band
Flag Day Poem Miss Alice K. Wadsworth
America The audience is requested to sing.
The above program was carried out to the letter and one of the largest gatherings of citizens and prominent officials ever in town were on hand to witness the exer- cises and listen to the address of the distinguished senator, Henry Cabot Lodge.
One of the features of the parade was the "old stage coach" which carried the "Grand Army" with its banner inscribed, "This is the way we rode in '61."
Norwell's Second Flag Day
When the flag staff on the "Common," after sixteen years of service, was destroyed by lightning in 1931 a meeting was immediately called at the fire house on the "Hill" to see what could be done toward replacing it.
This meeting was attended by a large number of re- presentative citizens and it was voted to replace it imme- diately by popular subscription. A general committee consisting of Percival G. Power, who was largely instru- mental in procuring the former flag pole, Whitman C. Soule and Perry H. Osborn, were chosen to carry this vote into effect. Sub-committees were appointed and subscriptions obtained from the various societies and or-
56
MEMORIAL DAY IN NORWELL, 1938 Norwell Post 192, The American Legion, Escorts Camp 143, Sons of Union Veterans. (Photograph by James J. Kelly)
NORWELL'S FLAG DAYS
ganizations in town, and so well was the affair handled, that in a month's time a new flag pole was erected and ready for dedicating.
We quote Mr. George Turner's account in the Hanover Branch, and Norwell Advertiser, and South Shore Life, Nov. 12-13, 1931.
Tenth District American Legion Assists In Dedicating Flagstaff November 8, 1931
The success of the Armistice Sunday observance at Norwell was most assured. It has been a source of much favorable comment.
It was Norwell's great day, last Sunday. No other oc- casion anywhere in its history has compared with the spectacle which was presented that afternoon when more than 1,000 marchers made their way through the main street, with banners waving, the blare of trumpets and the sharp roll of drums to remind one of the majesty of military hosts and the glory of an honorable peace.
Past the old Soldiers monument and its newer neighbor the World War memorial boulder, the great column mov- ed, to swing at "Copper Corner" and come back up the Hill past the old church, which, for the first time in its history, displayed a flag upon its exterior.
The crowd was a record breaker. Every part of South- eastern Massachusetts was represented, the great show- ing made by the Legion men from Provincetown at the tip of the Cape being the subject of universal remark and admiration. Cape Cod was largely in the lime-light, the several divisions of what seems to be a co-operative and mammoth drum corps attracting much attention. Har- wich and Carver women added much to the parade with their bright uniforms and their fine appearance as drum corps units.
The Norwell Post 192, American Legion, always a con- sistent worker for the cause, did itself proud. It had a number of men in line and furnished a color guard con-
57
HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE-NORWELL
sisting of Past Commander Alan C. Virtue, Warren G. Ilsley, Schuyler Dillon and Frank H. Osborne.
Entirely through with its experimental stage, the Nor- well post Legion band, trained under the direction of Al- fred Howes and drilled by Sumner E. Fearing of East Weymouth, came to the front leading the line with dig- nity, precision and general acceptance. This unit has come along very fast and much credit is due its organizers and the public which has heartily seconded its efforts.
It was pleasing to see so many people come into line with decorations. The display at the High school was worthy, and down the line nearly every home bore some mark of respect for the occasion.
Many houses displayed single flags effectively. All were in good taste. A departure from the conventional in decorations was the featuring of huge eagles upon the speakers stand, also at the residence of E. H. Sparrell, Central street. Every business block bore bunting, ros- ettes, fans, etc. The house of N. F. D. No. 1 was finely done, and the town farm building was in keeping with the occasion. There were simple pennants on the state patrol barracks, filling the line solidly along the street. The South Scituate Bank building was particularly beau- tiful and across the Common the telephone headquarters and the James Library added their holiday dress to the picture. It was a scene, not for a day, but one to remem- ber.
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