USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The story of a New England town; a record of the commemoration, July second and third, 1890 on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Haverhill, Massachusetts > Part 22
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NINTH DIVISION.
Marshal, J. C. Hardy.
Aids: Dr. H. F. Pitcher, H. A. Chase, Charles H. Goodwin, Chules Il. Hayes, George M. Goodwin, George O). Tilton, George W. Pettingin, A. W. Cram ; Guidon Beater, F. S. Webster.
Loyal Legion, and Children of Public Schools in carriages.
All the officers of the different organizations are given with the organizations, though some of them acted in other capacities in the procession, and are therefore mentioned twice or more.
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The route was: Down Main to Sunoner Street, Summer to Mill, Mill to Water, Water to Merrimack, Merrimack to Washing- ton, Washington to High, High to Essex, Essex to Sargent Square, Sargent Square to Winter, Winter to White, White to Cedar, Cedar to Sixth, Sixth to Main, Main to White, White to Portland, Portland to Winter, down Winter to City Hall, where the procession was reviewed by His Excellency, Governor Brackett, the City Government, the Chief Marshal, and his Hon- orary and Active Staffs. After being reviewed, it was dismissed.
All along the route of the procession, crowds lined the side- walk, and applause was frequent and hearty. It may be said that the parade was a grand success. There were, in all, seven bands in line; nearly as many drum corps ; fifty floats; and it took more than an hour and a half for the procession to pass a given point.
POLK ADMINISTRATION.
THE CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT.
One of the most striking as well as successful features of the celebration was the entertainment given the children, on the second of the two days of the anniversary.
Among the earlier suggestions for the celebration, it had been proposed that there should be some special part in the entertainment provided for the children, at which they might enjoy themselves, and, at the same time, learn the significance of this whole holiday season, its meaning being thus impressed npon them. o that they might always hold it in pleasant remembrance.
The committee chosen to arrange this part of the anniver- stry entertainment proved most efficient and suited to its duties, as did the others. These duties were somewhat arduous. To Messrs. Albert Le Bosquet and S. C. Bassett full power was given by the rest of the committee to arrange matters. It was finally decided that an entertainment, consisting of speeches and music, in the latter of which the children might themselves take part, be provided, and that afterwards a collition be served.
The task of collecting all the children of our schools in one place was a tremendous undertaking, but the building which the Committee on Building caused to be erected at Recreation Park on Main Street greatly assisted, by providing a suitable plice centrally located.
A circular letter was sent to all the teachers in our schools, asking for their co-operation and assistance on the afternoon of
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July 3rd ; and although the teachers must have been tired with the work of the term which had just closed, and though they were planning for a much-needed rest, they loyally responded, and were of the most valuable assistance by their presence and good work. Out of about ninety-three teachers, over eighty responded favorably to the request ; some postponing vacation trips to be present.
.Children's Entertainment.o:
This ticket will admit one pupil of the schools of the City of Haverhill to an Entertainment and Collation. given in their behalf, at the Anniversary Building, Reacation Pari. July 3, 3 p. m., on the occasion of the 250th anniversary.
Each pupil will receive a Souvenir badge upon presentation
Leslie K. Morse,
JULY 2 & 3
CHILDREN'S
ENTERTAINMENT
250th. Anniversary
Seth C. Bassett.
of this ticket at the door.
A. LeBosquet,
Sub-committee Children's Entertainment
x-
PENTUCKET
CITY1870
1890
Over four thousand four lamdred tickets t, the entertain- ment were distributed, over four thousand two handed of which
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went to the children of our schools, -- three thousand Iwo hum- dred to our public-school children, and one thousand to those of parochial and private schools. In the building, on July 3rd, were present about three thousand four hundred children, more than eighty-two per cent of the entire school population.
Each child who came in was presented with a white silk badge commemorative of the occasion ( A fac simile of these badges is given. ) In spite of their great number, they all seated themselves in good order.
When all were seated, it was indeed a beautiful sight, and one hot soon to be forgotten by those who witnessed it, and it must have fully repaid for their trouble those who contributed to the success of the entertainment.
The exercises began at three o'clock, the following being the programme : --
" Stilt sits the school-house by the road Around :. still the sumdes grov , And Hackberry vines are running.
SCHOOL-HOUSE OF WILLHILE'S BOYHOOD
CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT, 250TH ANNIVERSARY. 1 Selection, Lynn Cadet Band: 2. Singing, "Columbia," offert chons of six hundred voices ; B. Address. I Welcome, Mayor Burnham: 1. Solo, " Star-spangled Barnen" M .. . a. How ten West.
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accompanied by Cadet Band ; 5. Singing, " Sol ner's Chorus," High School Chorus: 6. Address, Charles Edward Southet. Esg., of New York; 7. Singing, " America," by the entire audience; S. Collation. Music under the direction of Prof. W. W Reays
The Chairman of the Committee, Henry IL. Johnson, pre- sided, and in addressing the children said . -
I thank you for your prompt and gerstous response to our invitation to meet together here for an hour vatertainment. I have no lear but that you will so conduct yourselves as not only to reflect credit on your teachers, who have so kindly I ot cheir assistance to " on this occasion, but also to do credit to yourselves individually, wol as members of our schools.
I am proud of our school system, mit look is part of our schools is presented by you here to-day.
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The Lyun Cadet Band then played an appropriate selection, after which a chorus of six hundred voices joined in " Columbia," which they rendered in a most spirited manner.
The credit of this fine effect is due in a great measure to Prof. W. W. Keays, teacher of music in our schools, who is always untiring in his efforts, and the singing of the chorus under his charge was a prominent feature.
Mayor Burnham next delivered his address of welcome, as follows : ---
Mr. Chairman, Teachers and Scholars of the Schools of Haverhill, We are wearing the close of om gran Lech braties and it seems to Le that each successive feature " ans troutdo that which preceded it. na this children's entertainment is no exception to this rule. To me b is the most interesting of all the succession of beautiful and attractive . Fremonies we have been called to enjoy, to cane leve and see what Lever has been seen before and may never be soon again ; the school .r.ldren of this city all gathered under one roof is a sight sublime avis gning, and it is atly & a sal faire glad to see congregated Je one mass those who d'e to follow in our footsteps and rupy our places in a few short years. Yes, it is inspiring to a. d. mall in the fu h and glow of healthful childhood, untainted with the useless and Trading . abits, the follies, the evils and temptations that beset matur wars, and nothing can give me greater pleasure than to . soud their welcome.
We welcome you to this entertainment in Feh .If of the efficient committee who have carried it to a successful completion, and in behalf of you, children, we welcome these guests to this your part of this celebration, which we come here today to enjoy, and see you enjoy, also.
But let me say to yon, in the few words I shall speak, that this entertainment, while it is celebrated in your be gur and intended for your happiness and enjoyment, has a faitla and higher purpose. 'This celebration was not planned and caned through simply for you to have a good time, though we want you to get all the pleasing it will afford ; but we desire you to acquire us ful bis truction and informa- Hon from its obser vance, and we ask you to tady the history of this Is at in all its phases, acquire a kanwaedge of your city, its history in every decade of its progress, study we'll all nut pertains to its growth, and the causes that have made us what He. Turn your Atention to the study of the requinte good Or enship and of
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good morals, that yon may be ready to batti . with the questions of the hour when these duties shall devolve upon you. In short, be something in the world.
And you, young ladies, we hope may acquire a new interest in your birthplace ; may it stimulate in you an admiration for your city and a desire to excel in all you undertake in the walks of hto open to you, remembering that the possibilities for you are as great here is m any land the sun shines upon.
I am glad that you, scholars, have had the opportunity of participating in this celebration, and as you go on in the pathway of life, may you look back to it as a time when you were inspired with an ambition to do something that would benefit your native ty : and when Haverhill shall celebrate ber thier hundredth birth- day, may it find you taking part in its festivities, and bringing laith as precious treasures these little badges that you wear to-day to indicate that you had the honor of participating in this event . and when that time shall come, may it show that you have con- feried some lasting good upon your native city. (Applause.)
Mrs. Julia Houston West then sang . The Star-spangled Banner," to the great deligla of the childen and very one else present. She was accompanied by the Lynn Cadet band.
After the " Soldiers' Chorus," the next selection on the pro- gramme, which was rendered by the High School Chorus, Mr. Charle, Edward Souther of New York City, one of Haverhill's .ohs, addressed the children in the following sperch : --
Mr. Mayor, Teachers and Scholars of the Common Schools, and Ladies and Gentlemen, -
In the early Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of whose anniversaries we celebrate in the occasion which brings us together to-day, education not less than religion was a cornerstone of the State. It had as early as 1686 established the college at New Town, soon after and ever since known as Cambridge, han its namesake across the sea; and in 1647 Governor Winthiop, two years before hus death, approved a measure requiring every township of tifty householders to maintain permanently a good district school, so that, says Mr. Palfrey : - " Since the seventeenth year of Massachusetts, no eldild of this State has been able to say that to him poverty has closed the book of knowledge, or the way to honor."
At that the, the country east of the Pis abugh Biver was still the unbroken wilderness, and thus the settlement of I will Was
AFTER THE WAR
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CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT.
at once the State's remotest outpost and the verge of civilization in this quarter of the world. Yet even here, as early as 1660, a public school had been established, and twenty-five years later a meeting was called " in order to supply and the providing a lit person to keep school in this town, and make it his only employ to instruct the children or young men, or any of the inhabitants of Haverhill, in reading, and in writing, and in ciphering." " Thereupon it was agreed with Mr. James Chadwick to keep the seho il, etc., for which service of his, be shall be paid by the town in general three pounds in corn, besides what he shall have or agree with the scholars for, or their parents or masters ; or for want of an agreement the said Mr. Chadwick in his demands is not to exceed what usually is paid in other places for schooling, viz: To have by the week for a reader tourpence, and for a writer six] t.co."
By 1715 the last of the three outlying parishe of the town had been set off, and in 1746 it was voted to exempt this, the first or old parish, from paying anything for any other school in town, provided it would keep a grammar school constantly at its own expense ; and, in 1719, that a grammar school be kept in each parish four months in 11. . . . . In 1756, fifty pounds pero afgaopined lot the support of chools the current year, of which the parishes were to I tu their proportion ; and, from and after this time, the school in the First Par- ich was in general maintained all the year round.
Sneh was the environment, and such the humble beginning in which took rise that splendid endowment of learning, the possession and enjoyment of which constitutes the choicest blesing of the youth w 10-day, -- the public schools of Haverhill. One need not, however, go so far back as 1755 to exhibit the contrast which this occasion is designed to denote between the past and the present. It is as strongly drawn if we omit the century between and approach a time within the memory of many, the knowledge of which has not to be cought in the traditions or early records of the ancestors.
The horizon of a First-parish youth in 1856 was confined between School and Emerson Streets, and Primrose Sure t and the river. Be- would these bounds was still the semi-fabulous domain of the parishes, where foot rarely penetrated, and Bradford, which the toll bridge barred From intimate acquaintance. Within tins limited area there bad then been erected but one of the existing school edifices, that ba School Street. - - excepting, of course, the of academy on Winter Street, which had now become a high school.
There were but two primary school. One on How Street, on a corner of the meeting-house -31. was kept in the di aded chapel
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of the old Baptist church, torn down about 1817, and there, many a child of that time found a first path to knowledge by way of Pleasant Street and " Baptist Hill." A large iron stove, to which wood only supplied the fuel, divided with the teacher and teacher's desk the honor of a place on the little raised platform, and beside it, against the wall, stood one of the large pews of the oldl church, shorn of a once high estate, but still the vehicle of works, if not of faith. It was the resort of the teacher with cold feet, or the child with a cold in its head, in the severe winters, when, in the confines of the room, the tempera- tre was suggestive of the pole ; it was also the seat of casual visitors, and of the committee in visitorial rounds; and in the cavernons depth, which seemed to yawn on one when the lidl was raised, was alile the place of fuel and the place of punishment, -for there the naughty ones had to go when usual admonitions had failed in their Correction. I speak as one who knows.
The other of the two primary schools was kept in the basement At the old vestry of the Centre Church on Vestry Street, where the aspirations of learning and the fumes of the village bakeshop mingled in a common air, while near by the village smithy stood. Men now SIMS come and mot of ag het attended school in candy childhood, and had the same teacher who still presided over it when i cased to be ; one whose lite and labors for yet a quarter of a century more were to be devoted to the schools, and who, having long since passed the allotted term of life, still survives as a living meonment of their pogle ion.
There were also two grammar schools. One, se long maintained man the site of the present High School, was de ubthess that to which the records refer as having, since 1755, a few years excepted, been "kept all the year round." For there, the sixth president of the United States received some of his carly traming, when, with his mother, the wife of the second president, he was visiting here in the house which stood near by, until, not many years ago, it was torn down and the present High School erected in it place. In that ohl, weather-beaten, square box of a school-house, as times of examination and exhibition came round, would be collected all the spare furniture of the neighborhood to seat the audience ; and I have no doubt that any who lived in that quarter may repeat an experience of my own, a few years since, when I turned upside down an aboriginal wooden chair, and discovered the owner's initial in chalk, - the sign and symbol by which its ownership was distinguished when devoted to public
The other of the two grammar school was lo kept in the
CANADIEN
L'ORPHEON CANADIEN.
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present Whittier School, before that building hat been given up wholly to the requirements of the High School : and, as this occurred prior to the completion of the Winter Street School in 1856, temporary quarters for the grammar school were found in the vestry of the Methodist Church at the foot of the Common. There it was that, literally, labor and learning went hand in hand ; for, while the busy hum of school kept on within, the buzz of the saw-mill.was in- ressaut without. Though a grammar school in nume, and in which were scholars soon to leave it for the High School, there were many pupils who were barely versed in the rudiments, and a long line of them u. ed to file out across the whole breadth of the room for a simple extr- Five in reading. The time of this recitation was the happy oppor- twenty of the scholars in back seat: : and I will remember an occasion when the sind len exclamation of the teacher to the of these, when "loop in some prank, of "Who's to blame now. William?" was taken up in the refrain by the dullard who happened to be reading, and who supposed, of course, that an uncommon ; long lift had been vouchsafed him on the road of disjointed clocation where was lus
wie years was haut as the age of attendant & at the grammar schools, and five at the primaries ; and for younger childlien there were two private schools, which with more propriet. h & been called " Children's Homes," being more like nurseries than schools. The places of both these are still preserved to n ., - the little brick stru asyon How Street, nearly opposite Oud: Street, and the ell of the brick house which stands just on the moy of Pleasant Street
I have yet to forget my first attendance on the latter, at about the age of three, accompanying a pupil a trifle obdler, and hand in hand with whom I trudged along, but with unequal step, like the little lulus.
Other companions in that school I see before me here to-day, and yesterday in this place I grasped the hand of her who was its teacher, and recalled many a recollection si it- bygone time. . 1 choice memento of it still survives in a receipted bill "for twelve weeks' tuition, $1.50: " - tuition which, besi les the alphabet out of a red-covered primer, and eunmeration from a hitthe yellow-backed aridanetie with pyramids of shot and fucksof birds for units, included also, without extra charge, facilities for our midday naps, and copi- ous draughts of water from the big dipper which, twice daily, re- volved from hand to hand around the circuit of the school-room, and at recess an occasional gooseberry from the garden of the kindly
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HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.
danie who was the teacher's mother. She was also. Mr. Mayor, the mother of one who was to be a predecessor of your - in official station, what time the happy hamlet of that day had become the metropolis of this
And how striking, sir, is the comparison which this retrospect offers to the present, with habitations for the schools so commodi- cus and convenient, and a yearly appropriation of $65,000 for their support ! But the gift, large and munificent though it is, is out ar abundance ; and of you, the children of this time, to whom mach has thus been given, the more will be required.
The reverse of the picture which this commemorative time re- fo sions to us is that the forefathers, of their penmy, cast in nearly all d. in living. Look at them as they were hat a century ago! By the this United States census, taken in 1790, the townshij contained three landred mal unrty houses, and about two thousand four hun- died inhabitants. Not until 1792, had there been any division of it into highway districts ; not until 1793, was there communication with Boston by stage, - a twelve hours' journey, bor the first newspaper ; noen bridge across the Merrimack. What, then, must have been their cieum-am o, a centmy and a hatit cartier: There is no need to detail the story which you all know by heart : the wild. r . , the savage, the beast of the forest ; a colony so insignificant as to be but a -pech on the horizon of the English nation, remote ahke from its vision and its vare ; without trade, or markets, or ships : and a settle- ment hen a illalefine and insecure that, in 1651. Mr. Clements, John Davis, Thomas Whittier, and John Robinson were to " go with Joseph Jewett about the laying out of the bounds . [ the plantation."
Yet such a settlement in such surroundings in the very best Fear voted to Mr. Ward, their " teacher," as he was fondly called, a battery of fifty pounds, and a donation to Ilavand College of four po unds seven shillings. So true it was that, in the words of William Stoughton, in his election sermon in 1668, " God sifted it alle nation that he might send choice grain into the wilderness." ( Applause. )
To command the attention of an audience of over four thousand, over three thousand of whom are children, is the highest art, but it was done successfully by Mrs. West, and all the speak rs.
After Mr. Souther's speech, the entire audience united in singing " America," which closed the literary and musical part of the exercises.
SI. JAMES PARISH SCHOOL CADETS.
313
PROFESSIONAL RACE.
The exercises which followed were probably just as pleasant to the children. I. C. Tanner catered, and his success was notable. Some idea of the magnitude of the undertaking and the promptuess and order of the distribution of the good things may be gained, when it is known that one hundred and fifteen gallons of ice-cream and eight hundred and ten large loaves of vake were eut and distributed in less than an hour, and every child was well supplied.
THE PROFESSIONAL RACK.
Thursday, July Brd, the professional single-seull race was an event of greater interest and attracted even a larger crowd than lid the amateur races of the day before. They had the advan- tage of a much clearer course, though the wind was high. The starters in the race were Ten Eyck, and Plaisted, the veteran, John MeKay, J. J. Casey, J. W. Jover. and W. F. Conley. Eugene Buckley, sporting editor of the Boston Globe, acted as judge, and Seth Sprague was judge of the finish. L'o. a moment, at the start, Joyce got a little ahead, but he rowed too fast a stroke and fell behind at once. Teu Eyck was steady, and pulled away from the others, making the turn first, and reaching the home god first. Casey took second place, and Joyce captured third, after an exciting spurt toward the finish with Conley. Mckay come in fifth, and the "old man Plaisted." as they call him, formerly champion, brought up the rear. When about half a mile from the start, Conley crossed MeKay's bow, and recrossed it, but the referee was muwilling to allow the foul that was vigor- ously claimed by MeKay. Immediately Following the single- seull race, the fat-bottom boat race was given, with three competitors, - Gerry Towle, John Cotter, and B. Doyle. Towle won easily.
The regatta was successful in every respect, and the oars- men who participated were ansious that a boat club should be organized here, and that another regatta be held. Haverhill has no boat club nor boat houses, so it became necessary to erect a large tent at the Washington Square Park, to acconunodate the
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more than half a hundred boats that were used on the river ; and a taft, composed of telephone poles, was constructed to enable the competitors to embark in their seulls.
The press and public were lavish in their praises of the re- gatta, and the result has been to give a considerable impetus to boating interests on the river ; and it is not unlikely, in the near future, that a boat club will be formed and a fitting club-house forn the banks of the Merrimack. With suitable accommoda- tions for the reception of competing oarsmen and their boats, coupled with our beautiful course, so contiguons to our very midst, Haverhill could compete successfully with Worcester or Nes London as a regatta point.
On the afternoon of the day of the procession, besides the professional boat races and the completion of the tennis tourna- ment, a balloon ascension was to take place at Recreation Park, but too strong a wind made it impossible.
In the evening occurred the River Carnival, a mnog. beauti- fal sight. All the boats on the river were adorned with colored lanterns. The steamer " City of Haverhill," moored just below the passenger bridge, was festooned with colored lanterns in girly pas and constantly illuminated with different colored lights. For more than an hour, the buildings which looked out upon the river were crowded with people, who from their roofs and windows witnessed the fairy-like seene.
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