USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > The history of the town of Royalston, Massachusetts > Part 13
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joined in the singing of "America" and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. A. M. Rice. The library, which was beautifully decorated with green and flowers under the direction of Miss Bertha Lee, was visited by many during the day. Among those who attended the exercises were Daniel Davis who was 102 years old and Mrs. Davis who was 91.
ROYALSTON'S FIRST OLD HOME WEEK
The town's first Old Home Week celebration was held July 30, 1903, and the sons and daughters of the old town gathered from far and wide, making it almost equal to the birthday anniversaries of towns. The forenoon was devoted to social reunions and family gatherings, listening to the music of the Red Men's band of Winchendon, and witness- ing games and sports on the Common. The town hall, church and buildings around the Common were beautifully decorated, presenting a gala day appearance. The dinner which was served in the town hall was partaken of by 800 people.
The literary exercises of the afternoon held in the newly repaired church, continued from two until nearly five o'clock and held the close attention of a large audience. The exercises opened with an organ voluntary, and the singing of "Old Hundred" by the audience. The divine blessing was invoked by Rev. A. M. Rice, who also read the 84th Psalm, and Prof. E. N. Knight of Royalston rendered a solo.
Rev. F. J. Fairbanks officiated as president of the day, and in his address of welcome pictured the old mother town, with a heart filled with gladness and face wreathed with smiles greeting her sons and daughters. He alluded to the nearly seven hundred stray sons and daughters scattered in twenty-five states from Maine to Oregon and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. There were among them governors, mayors, ministers, men and women in every walk of life, and it was to the west part of the town that the ancestry of President Garfield could be traced. Dr. Frank W. Adams was then introduced as toastmaster. He first called upon Ex-Mayor Thomas N. Hart of Boston, who said that although not born in Royalston, he went to school here and had the foundation
.
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laid for his future life. The advice that he gave for achieving success was, "Do the work you have to do a little better than anybody else can do it." The next speaker was Judge Hamilton S. Peck, ex-mayor of Burlington, Vt., who character- ized this as one of the heavenly days that cannot die.
Prof. Fred W. Cross of Palmer, a Royalston boy, told of the gallant deeds of General Lysander Cutler at Gettysburg, of Nahum Green, the first martyr of Royalston to the cause of liberty; of Joseph Estabrook, the old-time representative; Rufus Bullock, Col. George Whitney and the Doctors Batchellor.
Miss Jennie Bolton of Royalston sang, "Our Dear Old Home," after which Edward E. Fisher, city engineer of Rochester, N. Y., spoke briefly. Rev. Albert Bryant of Scituate, who was the poet at the centennial celebration of the town in 1865, read a poem descriptive of old-time characters of Royalston. A paper prepared by Mrs. Calista Peck Fair- banks of Winchendon was read by President Fairbanks, in which she described the old Peck families of West Royalston, one of which had ten children, another twelve and another thirteen. Prof. Knight and Miss Morgan of South Royal- ston sang "Home Sweet Home." The last speaker was Mrs. C. C. Parker of Winchendon. George W. Holman of Fitch- burg then presented to the Congregational Church the image of Gabriel with his trumpet, which was in the old church, and was rescued from the rubbish heap when that building was de- stroyed. It had been in the Holman family during all those years, and on this occasion he restored it to the society and church.
OLD HOME DAY OF 1904
The Old Home Day observance of 1904 held on
- took the form of a basket picinic. Between four hundred and five hundred registered during the day, representing forty- four cities and towns in seven states, the District of Columbia and Sweden. A social time with games, sports, etc., occupied the forenoon. The exercises of the afternoon were held in the town hall. Rev. F. J. Fairbanks, president of the day, gave the address of welcome. Mr. Miller gave a piano solo, prayer was offered by Rev. James M. Bates of South Royalston, and
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Prof. E. N. Knight rendered a solo. Short speeches were made by E. T. Lewis of Athol, who stated that his mother was born in Royalston one hundred and twelve years ago and raised a family of nine children; Lizzie Brown of Chicago referred to the old-time teachers of Royalston who were paid one dollar a week and sometimes only ninety-six cents. Wood for the schools was furnished at the rate of so many feet per scholar.
Other speakers were, B. H. Brown, Dr. Frank W. Adams and Rev. J. M. Bates. Miss Jennie Bolton gave a vocal solo, and the exercises closed with the singing of "America" the chorus being led by Herman M. Partridge. Music during the day was furnished by the Red Men's band of Winchendon. The officers of the Old Home Association were: President, Rev. F. J. Fairbanks; Secretary, H. M. Partridge; Treasurer, P. S. Newton; Executive Committee, B. H. Brown, Leonard Byam, W. W. Davis.
OLD HOME DAY OF 1910
Royalston's Old Home Day for 1910 was observed on August 4th, and was a most interesting occasion, the old town entertaining a large number of her sons and daughters. The Common was dotted with tents where refreshments were served, and the Secretary's tent where those who desired could register and rest. The town hall was trimmed with flags and bunting, and a number of residences also bore decorations. Starrett's band of Athol gave concerts during the day, and also one in the town hall in the evening. A reunion dinner was served in the town hall from 11.30 to 1.30, and the afternoon exercises began at two o'clock in the Congregational Church. The first number on the program was an organ selection by Miss Cora E. Stockwell. Rev. Charles O. Fogg, pastor of the church, offered prayer, after which was a selection by a quartet, and Colin Mackenzie, president of the day gave the address of welcome. George A. Bemis of Athol gave a clarinet solo, and then came short and interesting addresses by Hamilton S. Peck of Burlington, Vt., Dana M. Dustan of Worcester, John B. Bowker, business manager of the Worcester Telegram, and Rev. C. B. Williams of Fitzwilliam, N. H.
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A feature of the day was the presence of Daniel Davis of West Royalston, who was one hundred and one years old, and a short paper of his own writing was read, and a royal greeting given him. There was probably no other like celebration in New England that could boast of the presence of so old a man and a native of the town. The exercises of the afternoon closed with the benediction by Rev. F. J. Fairbanks of South Royalston. A program of sports had to be canceled because of the rain. The closing event was an old-home ball in the evening.
The officers of the Old Home Association. for 1910 were: President, Colin Mackenzie; Vice-Presidents, Chas. H. Brown, E. B. Hanson, L. B. Shepardson; Secretary, Mrs. Stella V. Newton; Executive Committee, L. G. Forbes, M. W. White, W. W. Davis and W. A. Frye.
BIENNIAL REUNION OF OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 7, WEST ROYALSTON JULY 23, 1902
For several years the reunions of this old School District were most interesting occasions and largely attended, the one of July 23, 1902, being one of the most interesting, about seventy-five being present. Salmon Goddard of Athol, eighty- seven years old, was the president of the day, and his son Herbert S. Goddard, toastmaster. Prayer was offered by Deacon Harvey Bliss of Winchester, N. H. The address of the day was by Judge Hamilton S. Peck of Burlington, Vt., and his subject was "New England, its Character and Worth." Prof. J. K. Cole of Peabody, Mass., a former teacher in the district responded for "The New England Schoolmaster." Edwin Pierce of Chelsea gave "The personal recollections of the political influence of District No. 7 - fifty years ago."
A. J. Fisher of Orange spoke for the New England Singing Schoolmaster, and Dr. Frank W. Adams of Royalston for "The Country Physician," and Sheldon Moses of Worcester, eighty-eight years of age, read an original poem. The officers elected were: H. S. Goddard, Athol, president; Elmer Whitney Orange, vice-president; Mrs. P. H. Bliss, Athol, secretary and treasurer; A. M. White, Frank Louter and P. H. Bliss, executive committee.
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ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
The first action in regard to celebrating the 150th Anni- versary of the town was at the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1915.
Article 35 in the Warrant of March 1, 1915, was, "To see if the Town will vote to observe the 150th Anniversary of the Town, raise money for the same or act anything thereon." Under this article it was, "Voted to celebrate the Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town, and voted to raise five hundred dollars for the purpose." Also, "voted that within one week a committeee of eleven shall be appointed by the Moderator of which Committee he himself shall be one, which shall have charge of the arrangements for the celebra- tion with full power to use and appropriate the money."
In accordance with this vote, the Moderator named the following committee: Dr. Frank W. Adams, Charles H. Brown, Charles A. Stimson, Fred W. Cross, Walter N. Farrar, Lynn M. Crumb, Clarence H. Deland, Levvens G. Forbes, Luke B. Shepardson, Myron E. Stockwell, William B. Love- well.
This committee met March 13, and organized with Dr. Frank W. Adams as Chairman, Charles H. Brown, Secretary, and Levvens G. Forbes, Treasurer, and voted that the celebration be held on August 1, 2 and 3, the big day of the celebration to be August 3. Sub-committees were appointed as follows: Speakers - Fred W. Cross, Dr. Frank W. Adams and Fred C. Nichols of Fitchburg; Finance - Levvens G. Forbes, Wm. B. Lovewell, Walter N. Farrar; Music - Chas. A. Stimson, Myron E. Stockwell, Leota M. Richards; Evening Entertainment - Chas. A. Stimson, Eri S. Stewart, Mrs. Addie Heath; Sports - Clarence H. Deland, Lynn M. Crumb, S. C. French; Publicity - L. G. Forbes, Richard Bullock, Fitchburg, Wm. A. Frye; Dinner - Charles H. Brown, L. B. Shepardson, Walter N. Farrar; Transportation - Willard H. Newton, Miss Edith Metcalf, Herbert O. Smith; Parade - Ernest L. Graves, Charles E. Richardson, John E. Cowick, Walter N. Farrar; Decorations - Mr. and Mrs. Colin Mac- Kenzie, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin H. Wilcox, Jerry E. Rich, Arthur C. Kendall; Grounds Committee - Chas. H. Brown, S. C. French, Wm. B. Lovewell; Antiques and Curiosities -
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L. G. Forbes, Colin Mackenzie, Mrs. Walter N. Farrar; School Exhibits - Chas. E. Richardson, Eri S. Stewart, Nellie W. Farrar; Committee on Drinking Water - W. W. Davis.
At a later meeting officers of the day were elected as follows: President, Dr. Frank W. Adams; Secretary, Chas. H. Brown, who chose as his assistants, Mrs. Colin Mackenzie and Miss Bessie Mackenzie; Treasurer, L. G. Forbes; Chief Marshal, Walter N. Farrar, who chose as his aids, L. G. Forbes and C. A. Stimson. The Reception Committee appointed consisted of Phinehas S. Newton, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Shepardson, Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Hill of Waban, Dr. Frank W. Adams and Mrs. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Stimson, Rev. F. J. Fairbanks and Mrs. Fairbanks, and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Raymond of Athol. The Vice-Presidents of the day were: Phinehas S. Newton, Caleb W. Day, George E. Whitney of Burlington, Vt., George D. Bolton, John S. Moore, Everard B. Hanson, Frank- lin H. Goddard, Col. A. George Bullock of Worcester, Rev. F. J. Fairbanks, Hamilton S. Peck, Esq. of Burlington, Vt., Frederick C. Nichols of Fitchburg, Benj. H. Frye, Wm. H. Leathe, Hon. Thomas N. Hart of Boston, George E. Pierce, A. C. White of Orange and Wellington White of Owosso, Michigan. Frederick C. Nichols was chosen as toastmaster and Fred W. Cross to give the historical address.
The general committee met frequently during the months preceding the celebration, holding twelve formal meetings from first to last, while the sub-committees also held many meetings and labored faithfully to ensure the success of the several parts entrusted to their care. The program, as arranged was successfully carried out during the three days of the celebration in all its details, and within the appropriation of five hundred dollars.
SUNDAY SERVICES
The opening services of the celebration were on Sunday morning, August 1, when the Congregational Church at the centre was filled by a congregation of over three hundred. It was a union service of the churches of Royalston Centre, South Royalston and West Royalston in which the pastors of the several churches took part. The program opened with an invocation by the pastor of the Centre Church, Rev. Clarence
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Pike, followed by a chorus, "Lovely Appear" by the choir; responsive reading; Gloria; hymn by the congregation; reading of Scripture, Rev. H. W. Curtis, pastor of the Baptist Church at West Royalston; prayer, Rev. F. J. Fairbanks, pastor of Second Congregational Church, South Royalston; response, male quartet; vocal solo, "The Song the Angels Sing," Mrs. Addie Heath, South Royalston.
The sermon was by Rev. Asher Anderson, D.D., of Fitchburg. He took for his topic, "The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee." Psalms 102:28. It was an able and strong presentation of the fact that God is still with us and in the world everywhere, despite existing terrible conditions. He referred to the Jewish race and the preservation of their identity through all the years of hardships and separation, and their faith in God. He said that we are gathered to- gether to remember God and reflect, and the dominant note should be "Lest We Forget." He referred to the church attendance in the early days of the country, and said he believed as a rule it was larger proportionately than to-day everywhere. The fathers did not forget or lose faith in God; if they had, this church would never have been erected or maintained. This sermon should be preserved in the archives of the town and church. The services closed with the singing of "America" and the benediction by Rev. Mr. Pike.
EVENING SERVICES
The evening services were well attended notwithstanding the rain, which commenced just before the hour for opening.
The services began with an organ prelude, following which the choir gave a selection and there was reading of Scripture selections by Rev. Clarence Pike and a prayer by Rev. H. W. Curtis with response by a male quartet. After this Rev. Clarence Pike gave an address; Dana M. Dustan of Worcester, a college mate of the pastor and a former teacher at South Royalston, gave an address on "Education of our Public School System of the Past Fifty Years," Rev. F. J. Fairbanks spoke of the three institutions -the home, church and school, and Mrs. Jennie Richards of Athol rendered a solo. The last speaker was Lilley B. Caswell of Athol, a former teacher in both the Centre and South Royalston schools, and who is
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writing a history of the town. His subject was of a historical nature, and treated especially of the church history, and the character of the founders and early settlers of the town.
SECOND DAY
Monday, August 2, the second day of the celebration, was showery, but as this day was intended more for a social time and for visiting of old friends and acquaintances, the rain did not materially interfere with the plans arranged for. The chief place of interest to the visitors during the day was the schoolhouse, where there was a fine exhibition of the work which had been done by the pupils of the town, while the handsome new public library building contained many inter- esting things for the inspection of the visitors. Here were collections of curios, relics, ancient documents and old family heirlooms, and a fine display of beautiful specimens of beryl from the beryl mine of Mr. F. H. C. Reynolds. In the fore- noon there was a ball game between the Boy Scouts of Royalston and South Royalston, the score being eighteen to seven in favor of Royalston; and in the afternoon there was a game between the ball players of Royalston and South Royalston, in which Royalston was also the victor by a score of twenty-three to seven.
THIRD DAY
The last and great day of Royalston's celebration was ushered in by a sunrise salute fired from a cannon stationed on one of the surrounding hills.
The last day's proceedings of the anniversary, Tuesday August 3d, was the grand climax of one of the most successful anniversaries ever held by any New England town. The weather was cool and clear during the forenoon and the events of the day drew more than three thousand people to the fine old Common, where the first feature of the day was a grand parade, which for artistic conception of the floats and the general makeup of the parade was a credit to the committees having it in charge, and is seldom surpassed by even much larger communities that have much more material at their command. The parade started from the upper end of the Common near the schoolhouse about ten o'clock, and was led by Walter N. Farrar, chief marshal, with Levvens G.
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Forbes and Chas. A. Stimson as aids. Chief W. A. Loomis and patrolmen J. F. Halloran, F. A. Graves and Perley Richards headed the parade, followed by Starrett's band of Athol. Several automobiles contained the officials of the celebration, veteran soldiers, the Selectmen, Charles H. Brown, Luke B. Shepardson and Alfred W. Neal, and Wellington White of Owosso, Mich., who is the only surviving member of the committee of arrangements of the Centennial Celebration of fifty years ago. Then followed a long line of floats con- taining the products of the town, both agricultural and manufactured, and the organizations of the town with other unique features.
The judges of the parade were, Dr. D. H. Gatchell of Baldwinville, E. D. Sargent of Winchendon and Wm. G. Lord of Athol, and they awarded prizes as follows:
Best Float - Royalston Grange; second, Ladies' Benevo- lent Society of Royalston and Mountain View Farm; third, Eri Stewart and John Shepardson, Pike's Peak or Bust.
Best Decorated Single Team - First, J. F. Stockwell; second, Mrs. Wilcox.
Most Comical Feature - Charles Simonds.
Special Features - West Royalston Surveyors.
Following the parade there were sports on the Common.
Shortly before twelve o'clock on the arrival of Acting Governor Cushing and his party a salute of seventeen guns was fired, and about half past twelve a procession was formed headed by Starrett's band of Athol, which proceeded to the large tent that had been erected between the Phinehas S. Newton Library and the summer residence of Donald M. Hill, formerly the Rufus Bullock mansion, where the anniversary dinner was served and the speaking of the day took place, and to which upwards of six hundred sat down.
Chief Marshal Walter N. Farrar called the company to order and said: "Anticipation may be very agreeable, but the program that we are about to commence is certainly both practical and enjoyable. The citizens of Royalston have been looking forward to this hour which is to follow for several months and we consider ourselves extremely fortunate in being able to claim among the citizens of Royalston such an ideal president of the day, and it gives me great pleasure to intro- duce to your Excellency the speakers of the day, fellow
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citizens of Royalston and friends, our president of the day, Dr. Frank W. Adams."
Dr. Adams after making one or two minor communications referred to the celebration of fifty years ago, and the com- mittee of fifteen who arranged it, and stated that Wellington White, the only surviving member of that committee, was here to-day. He asked that gentleman to rise, which he did. Dr. Adams then called for all others who were present fifty years ago to rise, in response to which invitation fifty-two stood up.
He then proceeded to give his address of welcome as follows: "Well, friends, the old town bids you welcome. Enthroned on these everlasting hills, surrounded by her faith- ful sentinels, Monadnock, Watatic, Wachusett, Bald Mountain, Tully and Grace, standing guard at her outer gates, she bids you enter and share with her the social interviews and reminiscences, the songs and oratory, the sports and festivities of this glad day. She has waited for you one hundred and fifty years. Some of your faces she beheld here fifty years ago, and there are fifty-two of you, a little more than one for each year. Many other of your faces she hopes to see here fifty years to come, for she herself will live on to the end of the age.
"Royalston is proud of her record. The youngest in the large family of fifty-nine cities and towns in Worcester County, she has nevertheless attained an enviable round on the ladder of fame, for her muscle, her brain, and her blood have given a beneficent impulse to the material, political and religious life of more than half the states of this union. Her governors and mayors, her judges and professors, her teachers and clergymen, her missionaries and her business men have done in the past, and are doing to-day, a noble work for the uplift of humanity. And extending to you this welcome to-day, sons and daughters of Royalston, she promises to watch over you for the next half century, fully confident that your varied activities will add a new lustre to the bright crown she already wears."
The invocation was by Rev. F. J. Fairbanks of South Royalston.
President Adams in introducing the Winchendon choir which rendered the anniversary hymn said:
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"Royalston has always enjoyed the reputation of being a musical town. In the records of their earliest town meetings there was a sprinkling of appropriations for the 'encourage- ment of good singing.' That is the way the old settlers put it, meaning for the encouragement of music. There is music in the Royalston air; there is music in her forests, music in her rills, and wordless music in her very soil. I would like to demonstrate this proposition. When Royalston's greedier sister cities and towns of Worcester County had taken all the land they wanted, there remained only this bit of shapeless territory in this north- west corner of the county, and Royalston mildly accepted that as her share. It was all that was left. It was shaped in the form of a dipper; the body of the dipper with some modifications is the Royalston of to-day and the handle of the dipper stretched out to the eastward across the entire northern border of Winchendon across Lake Monomonac to the town of Ashburnham. This handle was three hundred rods wide and about seven miles long and enjoyed in the old records the euphonius title of the Royalston Leg. But it proved unwieldy, and it made our northern border on New Hampshire fifteen miles long, and in 1820 the town consented to an amputation and the territory was ceded to Winchendon. But the territory retained its musical properties and in the course of time they permeated the whole township; and when this celebration was in contem- plation, the choir of the North Congregational Church in Winchendon, recognizing the original source of their musical inspiration, kindly offered to furnish the choral numbers for this program. And it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Chorister E. D. Sargent and his noble choir." The choir then rendered Mr. Bosworth's Anniversary Hymn, which appears in another part of this work.
President Adams then introduced the toastmaster of the day as follows:
"Very good people sometimes make serious mistakes in choosing their birthplaces. The toastmaster named on the program of the day is a notable illustration of this fact. With the consent and co-operation of his parents . he wandered away from Royalston down to the city of Fitchburg and was born there. But Royalston claims his childhood, his boyhood and his early manhood; and it was from Royalston that he went out into the larger activities of life. Royalston has
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always taken great satisfaction in witnessing the uniform success of his business career. They have taken a greater satisfaction in noteing the love and loyalty which he has always cherished for the home of his ancestors. He has been interested always in the welfare of her citizens, and his efforts for the success of this anniversary have been intelligent and tireless. The city of Fitchburg has conferred upon him many honors in the past and she has for him yet other and greater honors in reserve; but it is very doubtful if any honor that Fitchburg can give him will bring to him a thrill of more genuine satisfaction than the honor conferred upon him to-day of being toastmaster for the sesquicentennial feast of old Royalston. I introduce to you Mr. Frederic C. Nichols of Fitchburg."
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