Proceedings 1892 at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Woburn, Massachusetts, Part 15

Author: Woburn (Mass.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Woburn, Printed for the city; [The News print]
Number of Pages: 408


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > Proceedings 1892 at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Woburn, Massachusetts > Part 15


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15


Sabra J. Jaquith, Wilmington. - Very old view of Boston Common. Ancient pitcher and engraved portraits.


Ephraim Cutter, M. D. - Ancient pottery.


Mrs. R. S. Cutter. - Wooden shoes made in Holland.


Marcellus Littlefield. - Collection of proof U. S. coins. Ditto of other coins. Printed account of


216


1


VIEW OF KITCHEN FIREPLACE-LIBRARYIIBUILDING.


1


1


0.


1


the Dark Day, 1780. Piece of the last Confederate flag which floated at Richmond, Va. Piece of covering from chair belonging to Jefferson Davis. Hardtack and plate, war relics. Collection of U. S. postal currency. Famous old temperance banner, 1844.


1


John Duncan, Jr. - Collection of Indian arrow points. Indian tomahawk. A brick from Fort Ticonderoga. Wood from same. Exploded shell from same. Shells and balls dug up at the same place. Sword found there. Grapeshot from Mt. Independence, N. Y.


Leonard Thompson. - Collection of Indian relics. Written permit to pass guards at Cambridge dur- ing Revolution. Ye ancient peppermill. A piece of the British man-of-war, " Somerset," engaged at Bunker Hill, and afterwards lost off Cape Cod. Ancient halberd. Three old programmes. Life of Rev. Elias Smith, formerly Baptist minister in Woburn, and afterwards a botanic physician. Smith was a versifier, too, and the following is credited to him : -


" And when I must resign my breath, Pray let me die a natural death, And bid you all a long farewell Without one dose of calomel."


Frederic A. Flint .- Ancient teaspoons and bottle. Loren W. Perham. - Two old fire buckets, one used in Woburn.


John W. Morrill. - Tin tumbler, a war relic. Very old soapstone inkstand. Very old teapot.


217


Old knapsack. Ink bottle, 1717. Ancient tin lantern with perforated design. Tinder-box used in days of bluestone matches.


Plympton heirs. - Engraving, " Consultation of Doctors." Picture of Lord Timothy Dexter's house. Picture of Poor Richard.


Mary A. Parker. - A gentleman's shirt, finely made. Ancient lace mantle and veil.


Rebekah Brooks. - Very ancient mirror. Cup and saucer. Blue cup and saucer.


Miss Minnie Carlton. - Portraits of the late Oliver Bacon and wife.


Orlando M. Brooks. - Two pairs of old silk mitts. Very ancient books of psalms and hymns.


Mrs. - Burr. - Three pieces of sheet music, composed by John Holloway, member of Ned Ken- dall's Boston Brass Band. Ancient washbowl and pitcher.


Dr. John M. Harlow. - Profile of Count Rum- ford.


John B. Davis. - Old painting of Woburn Cen- tre, showing the old Fowle tavern (now Central House). Specimen of the original Phalanx coats. Mexican sombrero.


John Winn, Burlington. - Ancient flintlock gun used at the battle of Lexington and Bunker Hill by Joseph Winn. An Indian stone gouge found in Burlington.


Mrs. E. W. Hudson. - Very ancient linen sheet.


Miss Hannah R. Hudson. - French dictionary and ancient autographs.


218


Thomas A. Carter. - The only known existing autograph of Woburn's first minister, Rev. Thomas Carter.


E. J. Gregory. - Ancient table.


Miss Carrie Thompson. - Sampler, very old.


Parker L. Eaton. - Ancient silk reel.


Fred A. Hartwell. - An old tin lantern.


Miss Mary E. Frost. - Antique plate. Watts' " Hymns," early edition.


Mr. Fred W. Bosworth. - Printed inaugural speech of President Jefferson.


Mrs. - Butters. - Ranger's buttons.


L. C. Eames. - Very old Bible.


Lucy M. Cole. - Samplers, 1785, and one, seventy- two years old. Ancient wooden-heel shoe.


Fred and Willie Leathe. - Ancient sugar bowl and pitcher.


Charles A. Burdett. - Pen and ink sketch.


Mrs. C. A. Burdett. - Embroidered silk quilt.


Capt. Joseph F. Rice, Burlington. - Large Jap- anese cabinet, very fine.


Baldwin Coolidge. - Bust of Col. Loammi Bald- win.


Benjamin Cutter. - Double barrelled gun, one barrel of which was used in old French war, and the other at Bunker Hill and put into one stock by Marshall Tidd.


Wyman B. Richardson. - Old Bible, owned by Wyman Richardson, Esq., one of Woburn's early lawyers.


Mrs. Frances J. Haggens. - Warming pan, flax


219


comb, foot stove, ancient portrait, and old military coat (late war).


E. C. Hurd, Stoneham. - Old sword and epau- lets.


Thomas Moore. - Shell of rifled cannon fired from Fort Fisher.


William F. Davis. - Warren Cadets' flag.


A. H. Holland. - Large blue platter owned by Rev. Joseph Bennett.


John E. Tidd. - Banner presented to Washing- ton Light Infantry by Woburn ladies in 1823.


S. T. Gifford. - Ancient plates, cups and saucers, platter and creamer.


220


WILLIAM R. CUTTER,


Chairman of Committee on Registration.


REGISTRATION.


The Registration Committee, of which Librarian William Richard Cutter was chairman, performed very efficient service in the department assigned it. The spacious and elegant reading-room of the library building was generously tendered by the library trustees, and every convenience was there afforded the visitor for registration. The complete- ness of the preparations was the subject of much commendation.


Upon the broad tables were writing utensils, while courteous lady attendants were ready to fur- nish the neatly designed blanks. In the judgment of the committee two thousand blanks were con- sidered a sufficient number and this proved to be correct. The number who registered was 1706. This number, while falling far short of the total attendance upon the celebration, may fairly repre- sent those who claimed kinship with Woburn, many of whom had not visited the city for forty years. There was also secured a very full registration of the official delegation present at the celebration. Public notice of the location of registration head- quarters was given by means of large placards posted upon the public streets.


221


In designing the form and size of the registra- tion blanks, the chairman had an eye to their preser- vation, and this interesting record of the city's guests and callers, has been uniformly bound in five handsome volumes, regularly arranged for easy consultation, and have been placed upon the library shelves.


Among the names thus secured are the fol- lowing : -


JOHN W. FOSTER, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C., repre- senting President Harrison.


GEORGE EUGENE BELKNAP, Rear Admiral United States Navy.


WILLIAM E. RUSSELL, Governor of Massachusetts.


OLIVER AMES, Ex-Governor of Massachusetts.


WILLIAM M. OLIN, Boston, Secretary of the Commonwealth.


JOHN W. KIMBALL, Fitchburg, Mass., Auditor of the Common- wealth.


GEORGE A. MARDEN, Lowell, Mass., Treasurer and Receiver- General of Massachusetts.


SAMUEL DALTON, Boston, Adjutant-General, State of Massa- chusetts.


ALPHEUS B. ALGER, Mayor of Cambridge, Mass.


ALFRED C. CONVERSE, Mayor of Chelsea, Mass.


HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, Mayor of Quincy, Mass.


WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor of Somerville, Mass.


JAMES PIERCE, Mayor of Malden, Mass.


FRANKLIN CARTER, President of Williams College.


MARTHA E. SEWALL CURTIS, Burlington, Mass.


PHILIP J. DOHERTY, Charlestown, Mass., Ex-Water Commissioner, Boston.


SAMUEL JAMES ELDER, Esq., Winchester, Mass.


REV. ELIJAH HARMON, Wilmington, Mass.


REV. EDWARD G. PORTER, Lexington, Mass.


JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, Poet, and Editor of The Pilot, Boston, Mass.


GEORGE F. BUTTERFIELD, Selectman of Stoneham, Mass.


J. HOWARD EAMES, Selectman of Wilmington, Mass.


222


INTERIOR OF LIBRARY.


RUFUS W. HOLBROOK, Selectman of Lexington, Mass.


WALTER S. KEENE, Selectman of Stoneham, Mass.


GEORGE EVELETH MUZZEY, Selectman of Lexington, Mass.


EDWARD M. NICHOLS, Town Clerk and Selectman of Wilmington, Mass.


JUSTIN L. PARKER, Selectman of Wilmington, Mass.


SAMUEL SEWALL, Town Clerk, Selectman and Treasurer of Bur- lington, Mass.


WEBSTER SMITH, Selectman of Lexington, Mass.


HON. ELISHA S. CONVERSE, Malden, Mass.


ABIJAH THOMPSON, Esq., Winchester.


EBEN FRANCIS THOMPSON, President of Common Council, Worces- ter, Mass.


ALBERT GEORGE BLODGETT, M. D., West Brookfield, Mass.


CHARLES RUMFORD WALKER, Concord, N. H.


JOSEPH BURBEEN WALKER, Concord, N. H.


ARTHUR E. WHITNEY, of the Winchester Historical and Gene- alogical Society, Winchester, Mass.


ISAAC C. WYMAN, Salem, Mass.


MORRILL WYMAN, Cambridge, Mass.


REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS, Wellesley Hills, Mass., Pastor First Congregational Church, Woburn, 1848-1856.


JOHN CALVIN STOCKBRIDGE, D. D., Providence, R. I., former pastor of Baptist Church, Woburn.


WILLIAM A. STONE, Concord, N. H., first principal of the Woburn High School.


SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE, Kennebunkport, Me., Antiquarian and Historian.


SAMUEL H. FOLSOM, Register of Probate and Insolvency for Middlesex County, Winchester, Mass.


ELBRIDGE H. Goss, Melrose, Mass., Antiquarian and Historian. ALBERT BERNARD WILLIAM JAMES HARRIS, Birmingham, England. JAMES FROTHINGHAM HUNNEWELL, Charlestown, Antiquarian and Historian.


ABNER RICE, Lee, Mass., former Principal of Warren Academy, Woburn.


EBEN HARLOW DAVIS, Chelsea, Mass., former Superintendent of Schools, Woburn.


PROF. STEPHEN PANAZETOFF, of Robert College, Constantinople, Turkey.


223


ANNIVERSARY COMMENTS.


That Woburn's Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anni- versary Celebration aroused a wide-spread interest is proved by the generous space given by the press of Eastern Massachusetts to the reports of the pro- ceedings. As evidence of the impression made by the events of the week, the Committee on Publi- cation of Proceedings deem it proper to preserve, from among the many kind and appreciative words spoken, the following : -


WOBURN has celebrated to some purpose indeed. - Waltham Tribune.


WOBURN celebrated its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary this week in a right royal way. - Somerville Journal:


WOBURN covered herself all over with glory last week in her quarter-millennial celebration. - Reading Chronicle.


ALL propitious were the skyey influences on the day of Wo- burn's great parade. Her jubilee was a success unqualified. - Boston Globe.


ORATOR RICHARDSON made it agreeably evident yesterday, that Woburn has a history of ups and downs well worth the telling. - Boston Globe.


WOBURN has blazed and shrieked and decorated and shouted and paraded and danced, and to-night she dines in state. It's a real fall festival. - Boston Record.


224


WILLIAM F. KENNEY, Chairman of Committee on Press.


HAPPY Woburn ! It could ask for no fairer skies nor for a smoother programme. It must be that the weather man origi- nally hailed from Woburn. - Boston Herald.


THERE is no use in attempting to-day to carry out the sugges- tion of forming a Woburn colony in Lynn. It would be much easier to start a Lynn colony in Woburn. - Lynn Item.


THE selection of James Jeffrey Roche as the poet of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebration of the city of Woburn has insured an admirable poem for that notable event. - The Critic.


THE quality of the Cadets as a military body of the best train- ing was never more evident than in the big parade at Woburn yesterday. Viewed from any angle, the formation of line was perfect to a remarkable degree. - Boston Record.


WOBURN celebrates her two hundred and fiftieth anniversary this week. She will receive the congratulation of her neighboring cities in the growth and prosperity that this gathering will dis- close. And the busy little city deserves all the praise it gets. - Lawrence American.


AT the close of the second day Woburn goes to bed satisfied that she has done the right thing. Her guests have retired with- out raising the question as to Woburn having done the right thing by them. It has been a case of success, wearing purple and a crown. - Boston Post.


WOBURN's quarter-millennial celebration concludes to-day (Friday) with a grand military and civic parade. For this rea- son we go to press early. This morning Stoneham's sons and daughters will be represented by the hundreds to pay their tribute of respect to our neighbor, so many years our senior. - Stoneham News.


WOBURN celebrated two days this week in honor of her two hundred and fiftieth birthday, and she did it with a vim that showed her earnestness and joy. The city was decked out in flags


225


and bunting from end to end of her handsome streets, and her thoroughfares were thronged with beauty, youth, and age from all the neighborhood as they never had been before. - Reading Chronicle.


WOBURN is this week a scene of gaiety and congratulation over the completion of two hundred and fifty years of corporate exist- ence. The streets of the city are resplendent with gay decora- tions, and to-day are thronged with people-present and past residents and interested visitors. The city is very beautifully ornamented with shade trees, being sometimes termed " The City of Trees." - Lynn Transcript.


IT has been ascertained that a replica of the statue of Count Rumford, erected in his honor by the grateful people of Munich, can be secured, and at Woburn on Thursday a movement was started to have it set up in the public square at North Woburn, near the house where the philosopher and statesman was born. To accomplish such a purpose would be to add much to the attractiveness of the Leather City. - Lynn Item.


WOBURN commenced the celebration of her quarter-millennial on Thursday and continued it to-day. The citizens of the ancient town have been anticipating the event for a long time and have entered into the observance with a unanimity and public spirit that is pleasing to note. Two hundred and fifty years of growth means a good deal in our country, and Lynn as an elder sister welcomes Woburn to the line of towns that have passed the -


quarter-millennial. - Lynn Item.


WOBURN has secured an excellent start in the establishment of a free lecture course. It is such institutions as that which give color and individuality to the communities in the neighborhood of a large city. The tendency too much is to depend on the opportunities which the latter affords, and the result is that the suburban towns become what some one has called them, " Boston's sleeping rooms." The suburban communities should have a dis- tinct individuality and life. - Boston Fournal.


226


1842.1892.


MUNICIPAL BUILDING.


THERE was a great celebration at Woburn yesterday, and the managers of the quarter-millennial jubilee of the busy city could not have asked for more favoring weather conditions. The parade was a brilliant display, and many thousands of visitors lined the streets and joined in the applause that such an attrac- tive exhibition of Woburn, past and present, well deserved. After the march a banquet was served, in which a brilliant com- pany anticipated - among them, of course, the city's honored guests. - Boston Globe.


ONE feature of the arrangements that merits especial notice is the excellent accommodations and facilities provided for the press. A large and commodious office on the main street was set apart for the visiting journalists and provided with a long distance tele- phone put in for the occasion, and two special wires. All kinds of writing materials were supplied in profusion, and refreshments were served in an adjoining room. Carriages were placed at the disposal of the newspaper men, and a large and active press com- mittee devoted themselves to the comfort and information of the newspaper men. - Boston Advertiser.


REGISTERING the names of the visitors has been carried on at the Woburn celebration upon an original and uncommonly thor- ough plan. A lot of elegantly designed and artistic blanks were printed so that every visitor might fill out one, the blanks to be filed and bound in a volume to be deposited in the archives of the public library. The big reading room in the library building was devoted to the work of registration. Here at several big tables, presided over by some of Woburn's charming young ladies, the blanks have been filled out, handed in, often with some laboring at the pen, as the bucolic brother wrote down his name. - Boston Record.


THE feature of the celebration of Woburn's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary that will be longest remembered was the gift of six thousand dollars to establish a perpetual lecture fund. Leonard Thompson, a brother of the late Waldo Thompson, of Lynn, noted the occasion by the gift of the amount named to found the " Burbeen Free Lecture Fund." The endowment of Mr. Thompson assures a fitting supplement to the free school and


227


the free public library, which will be a blessing to all future gen- erations. And it is an agreeable point in connection with the gift that Mr. Thompson makes this endowment while yet able to observe the experiment. - Lynn Item.


THIS week in Massachusetts has been " Woburn's week." The people of this Commonwealth have had a deep interest in the Woburn celebration, in the parades, the speeches, the banquet and all the other festivities which mark the event. It is because of just such communities like Woburn throughout New England that this section has grown to be so prosperous. The resolute energy, thrift, perseverance, pluck, determination, and skill of New Eng- land towns has made this section a great factor in national his- tory ; and to-day in the West, the sons of those who have built up the prosperity of Massachusetts are building up new commu- nities which will in time celebrate their birth as Woburn has just done. - Boston Advertiser.


SOME from here were born in Woburn, and consequently take a lively interest in the great anniversary which closes to-day. In fact Woburn is so closely allied to Lexington that most of our citizens either have availed themselves of the pleasure of being eye-witnesses and partakers of this memorable occasion or have read the lengthy notices in the papers with the keenest relish. Woburn has such long arms that when the most populated part is overflowing with guests they can find points of historical inter- est by touching the hems of her garments. We trust the older our neighbor grows the more she may add to the treasures of influence and wealth, and that wisdom which exalteth any people. - Lexington Minute-Man.


WOBURN has been fortunate in having the most perfect of autumn weather for the commemoration of her two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and her citizens may congratulate themselves not only upon that, but upon the dignity and interest of the commemorative exercises. She had three feasts on Friday. There was the feast of vision, as the long parade, with its inter- esting display, passed in view. In a gayly decorated hall, where distinguished guests were honored, a feast was spread for the


228


JOHN P. DELANEY, Of the Executive Committee.


nature physical, and finally, after the wants of the inner man had been satisfied, there came the best perhaps, of all, the feast of reason, the pleasant, witty, patriotic, historic words coming from the lips of the gathered guests. - Boston Budget.


FROM Sunday, Oct. 2, to Saturday, Oct. 8, the neighboring city of Woburn was one of the busiest places in the Commonwealth, and when the morning of Oct. 6 dawned the bright sun shone on preparations for a grand event which every one concerned had reasons to be proud of. The grand event culminated on Friday in the military and civic parade of the earlier portion of the day and the banquet in the afternoon. The parade was the most har- monious in arrangement and charming to view, for one of its size, we have ever seen. Any attempt at details in these columns would be out of place, but we feel an event so well conceived and properly carried out is worthy this word of praise and general congratulation. For courtesies extended the editor desires to return thanks, assuring our friends of the Press Committee that on occasion we shall be proud to reciprocate in any way within our power. - Arlington Advocate.


IT was a clever thing about this celebration, which has been cleverly conducted all through, that it grew hotter and hotter from the moment the first gun was fired, and swelled in interest and excitement until the close of the banquet this afternoon, in which the jubilation reached its high-water mark, and then to-night ended quietly and fitly enough in a band concert. Yes- terday was only a sort of preliminary day, a dress rehearsal for the real business of the celebration in earnest. Yesterday the town was crowded, but to-day it was packed and jammed. The banquet in the evening, after the grand parade, was enjoyed by five hundred and sixty people. Ex-Mayor Johnson presided and discharged his duties as toast-master very happily. When the President of the United States thought enough of the town where his ancestors lived side by side of those of two of his predeces- sors to send to its birthday party his premier, as the bearer of his regrets, was not that enough even for a town two hundred and fifty years old? So thinks Woburn. When the feast had been


229


done justice to, ex-Mayor Johnson arose, and in a very happy and witty speech opened the oratory of the occasion. He alluded gracefully to the presence of Gen. Foster. When he rolled out sonorously the name of Grover Cleveland there was a storm of applause. Then he named the name of Benjamin Harrison, and the answering applause was not a storm but a cyclone. Cheers rent the air, and the clapping was absolutely deafening. It lasted full two minutes. - Boston Advertiser.


THE oration of the day was delivered by Mr. Frank Brooks Richardson. It was an admirable blending of vivid narrative, quaint historical research, and frequent sly touches of humor, which were thoroughly enjoyed by his hearers. He paid eloquent tribute to the sturdy independence, honesty, shrewdness, and God-fearing simplicity of the early founders, who in allotting land to settlers did it "without any respect of persons," and refused not men for their poverty." His graceful and general acknowl- edgment of Woburn's indebtedness to her adopted sons was echoed by Mayor Thompson when he introduced the poet of the occasion. A commemorative hymn by Mr. Frank E. Weth- erell was sung by the Temple Quartette with fine effect. An anniversary hymn by Rev. Daniel March, D. D., was sung to the tune "America." The third stanza was exceptionally fine, though all were good. ... Woburn's holiday was altogether a proud and joyous day for the old town. - The Pilot.


THE most interesting event here at home this week has been . the Woburn celebration. It seems to have been on the whole the best town anniversary celebration that we have had for a long time - even if the quartet did sing "The Owl and the Pussy Cat." Mr. Roche's verses were the best occasional poem that the Listener has read for a long time - full of spirit, fitting the time and place, expressive of the best thought of such an occa- sion, and very clever verse into the bargain. Woburn is a fine old-new town, tanneries and all, with a most interesting history and very cheerful prospects. The Listener will take the oppor- tunity to express the hope that all self-respecting residents of the place will go on pronouncing the name of the town Woo-


230


M.BANCROFT, BOOTS & SHOES,


UNION TEA CO. TEAS.COFFEES.SPICES


MAIN STREET-LOOKING SOUTH.


burn and not yield to the temptation to adopt the newer prac- tice, borrowed from ignorant outsiders, to call it Woe-burn. " Woo" is surely a happier word than "woe !" - Boston Tran- script.


WOBURN's two hundred and fiftieth celebration was an event that can hereafter be referred to with pride. It was a great and grand occasion, everything moving along with the precision of clock work during the two day's observance. Hospitality abounded on all sides with a freedom and, generosity unparal- leled, and the thousands of visitors that enjoyed the freedom of the city have naught but praise to bestow. The city was gayly bedecked in holiday attire. Band concerts, sports, literary exer- cises, children's entertainments, reception and promenade con- cert and grand ball, all interesting and well attended, was Thursday's portion of the program. Friday's procession was a great success, not alone from its military and civic features, but as showing the many industries of the city. The reception and banquet in the afternoon in the new armory and skating rink was a notable event. The after-dinner speeches were closely listened to and enjoyed. Judge Johnson, as toastmaster, was most happy in his opening remarks and introductions of the speakers. ... The managers had a full appreciation of news- papers in providing a press headquarters, fitted up with telegraph and telephone facilities, tables, stationery, etc. A caterer was also in attendance throughout both days. The headquarters were veritable bureaus of information, and the members of the press acknowledged themselves under deep obligations for all these courtesies. . .. Almost the entire population of Winches- ter was present at Friday's observance. - Winchester Star.


IN the last decade many New England towns have attained their two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, which by common consent is regarded as a fitting point at which to pause for comparison with the past, and for review of local history. Woburn, which next week celebrates the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its incorporation, was an offshoot of Charlestown, and for a year or two before it was formally set off as a separate town was locally designated as "Charlestown Village," the latter word being some-


231


times used in the sense of colony or outpost. took its part manfully, however, when it began as an incorporated of Massachusetts settlement, for fully thirty towns are older. It porated too late to identify its name with the very earliest days Woburn was incor-


town to share the struggles of New England. The annals of


Woburn are the annals of many New England towns, that slowly,


by dint of thrift and industry, became New England cities with-


out passing through ordeals that are of more than local interest.


The sturdy strength of the New England settlers often struck out


dent of Harvard University, Jeduthun Baldwin and Loammi heroes of Bunker Hill; Rev. Dr. Samuel Locke, sometime presi- uel Blodgett, the inventor; General James Reed, one of the Woburn stock, natives of the place, come Count Rumford, Sam- sparks of genius against the steel of circumstances ; and from old


Baldwin, distinguished, and justly distinguished, as engineers, and


Roger M. Sherman, eminent jurist. This is a record sufficient to


dispose of the accusation of the jealousy of neighboring towns


that Woburn lives on leather and the memory of Count Rumford.


The transmitted capacity of the early stock is again illustrated in


President Harrison and Grover Cleveland, both of whom trace back their descent to Woburn ancestors. - Boston Transcript.


THE recent celebration at Gloucester has had an appreciable effect upon the people of New England in awakening their local pride in, and interest in, the deeds of their ancestors, but the proceedings of the Woburn citizens have shown that this enter- prising suburban city was not to be outdone in setting forth its claims to notoriety and its part in the civilization of New Eng- land. We cannot too highly praise the persons who have con- tributed to make this quarter-millennial a success. They have accomplished two or three things by what they have done. They have taught the younger generation by word and deed to feel an interest in Woburn which they never felt or imagined before. Out of this anniversary will most likely grow a local historical society which will gather up in a permanent way the historical materials which the occasion has unearthed, and the new gener- ation will come to see that it is better worth while to live in Woburn than anywhere else. For the mature citizens the cele- bration will greatly add to their permanent interest in citizenship


232


STI VES


MAIN STREET-LOOKING NORTH.


in Woburn. They will take a greater pride in local affairs, in looking after the morals and interests of the people, in strengthen- ing the public schools, and in making Woburn a more wholesome place to live in than it has been before. Another result of this celebration will be that Woburn will count for more in the public life of Massachusetts than it had formerly. The celebration at Gloucester lifted that community into a new prominence, so that all of us felt stimulated by its traditions, and the effect of this anniversary at Woburn, which has been remarkably enthusiastic and successful, will be to make Woburn itself more respected, more influential, and more satisfactory to its own citizens than it has been before. It will give them notoriety abroad and stimu- late an honest pride at home. - Boston Herald.


233


THE NEWS PRINT, WOBURN, MASS. THE HALF-TONE PLATES BY THE ALDINE ENGRAVING CO., BOSTON.





Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.