USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Rowley > The tercentenary celebration of the town of Rowley, 1639-1939 > Part 5
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Two base hits: Hale, N. Pingree, Rock. Three base hit: Hale. Home runs: Jones, N. Pingree. Stolen bases : McGuire 2. Struck out : by Olsen 1, by Gibbs 4, by Viens 4. Hits: off Olsen 4 in 2 1-3 innings, off Gibbs 1 in 2 2-3 innings, off Viens 6 in 5 innings. Bases on balls: off Olsen 1, off Gibbs 1, off Viens 4. Sacrifice hit: H. Rogers. Wild pitch: Olsen. Winning pitcher: Viens. Losing pitcher : Olsen. Time: 1:15. Umpires: Dulong and Melanson.
BAND CONCERT
The concluding feature of the opening day was the Concert by Salem Cadet Band, given upon the Common.
This was truly a treat for all lovers of fine music and gave the people an opportunity of hearing one of the finest out-of-door concerts ever listened to.
Mr. Jean M. Missud, the veteran band leader, showed him- self still capable of directing a musical organization of that char- acter despite his over four score years of age and more than 60 years of active service in musical circles. It is worthy of note that at the 1839 celebration, music was furnished by a Salem band.
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CONCERT PROGRAM
RENDERED BY THE SALEM CADET BAND
1. Grand March from "Aida" Verdi
2. Selection from "Carmen" Bizet
3. Cornet Solo-"Napoli" Bellstedt
(Mr. George Rigby)
4. Waltz-"Beautiful Blue Danube" . Strauss
5. Gems from Gilbert & Sullivan's Operas Arranged by Lampa
6. Selection-"Sunny South"
7. Selection-"A Hunting Scene" Bucalossi
8. Xylophone Solo -- "Down South" (Mr. Frank Brooks)
Myddleton
9. Selection-"Sounds from England" Langey
10. March-"God Bless America" Berlin
11. "Star Spangled Banner"
Jean M. Missud, Conductor
Several encore numbers by Sousa, Missud and Meacharn were performed during the evening.
The grand finale of the evening events was the concert given by the Salem Cadet band, directed by the Chevalier of Music, Jean M. Missud, which was without question the finest band concert ever given in town. The special numbers featured a cornet solo, "Napoli," by George Rigby, and a xylophone solo, "Down South," with double encore, by Frank Brooks. A realistic number, "A Hunting Scene," with vocal chorus, which made a decided hit. All the selections by the band received a storm of applause, and at the close of the concert, Mr. Missud received many personal expressions of appreciation for the very fine concert given before one of the largest audiences ever seen at a band concert on Rowley Common.
Station WLAW gave a broadcast of a portion of this program and the whole exercise was given fine amplifying service for all nearby people under direction of Mr. Leslie P. Merrill of George- town which proved very satisfactory and efficient, adding much to the effective rendering of the episodes.
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ROWLEY
Rowley Common, showing Civil War Monument erected in 1914. Scene of many of the exercises of our 1939 Celebration, including Tercentenary Ball and Banquet.
FRIDAY ADDRESS OF CORNELIUS F. HALEY ON ROWLEY COMMON
AT THE PLANTING OF THE TERCENTENARY TREE Mr. Chairman and Friends :
At this time, as one of the important events in the Tercen- tenary Celebration of the Town, it is fitting to meet here on Row- ley Common and plant a Tercentenary Tree. Here surrounded by the splendid elms on all sides of the Common that have been here through the years, admired by our people and visitors as well, it is appropriate for us to plant another elm on this spot. Like those who planted in earlier years the Common elms, we plant another tree for posterity, to benefit another generation. We are grateful to the Essex County Agricultural School for the gift of the tree. Looking back over the space of time 100 years ago when the Town celebrated its two hundredth anniversary in 1839, these
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large elms were small in size but through the years, through sum- mer suns and winter storms, they have weathered the elements. Located here by the settlers of long ago this Common land has been the scene of many important events; no place in the Town stands out more prominently in its history than our Common and nearby section. It was in earlier years known as the training place where the militia assembled for training. The tree we plant in the shadow of the Civil War Monument, erected in 1914, as a tribute to the men of Rowley who served their country in the Civil War to preserve the Union, their names are inscribed thereon. The residents of the Town and descendants of the early settlers have always taken just pride in our beautiful Common. In 1894 from a bequest contained in the will of Joseph Henry Stickney of Balti- more, Maryland, a descendant of William Stickney, one of the first settlers, the Town received funds which made it possible to construct the permanent sidewalk and curbing around the Common, several public-spirited persons interested in the Common contrib- uted towards the expense of the improvement. Public interest was further manifested in the Common at that time as the official com- mittee of the Town in charge of the improvement of the Common recommended that the bounds be established, and as recorded in the records of Essex County by a decree of the County Commis- sioners the boundaries of the Common were established in accord with a Town Meeting vote and petition of the Town. Here close by is the Burial Ground set apart at the settlement of the Town in 1639 which is officially marked at the entrance by a State marker of the Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary Commission in 1930. In the Burial Ground in the Ministers' lot lie buried Ezekiel Rogers, the first Minister, and several of the early Ministers who served here. In the old part of the cemetery are buried nearly all of the early settlers. In the Burial Ground as their markers define are buried those who served in the Revolutionary War and those who served in the later wars in which our Country was engaged in their time. Adjacent to the Cemetery is the Town Hall and Library Building. Erected on the lot by the Town in 1935 is the monu- ment dedicated to those who served in the World War in 1917- 1919, for the patriotic service they rendered for their Country and the World, a grateful Community erected the monument in honor of the men who served to the credit of Rowley. Here but a few
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feet away is the well of water that has been there for generations located by the Town to serve the public need and served man and beast in the Public Inn that was conducted in days of old across the street. Here down through the years on the Common the civic, community and fraternal organizations have conducted many notable public events which contributed much for the benefit of the public good. Through the years our recreational people interested in athletic matters and on other occasions have held many important and interesting contests, notably the national game of baseball, supported by the generous response and public approval of the populace.
We might go on and on and speak again and again of our Common and nearby section of the Town but with the duty as- signed to me as chairman of the Town Tercentenary Celebration Committee, I here and now plant this Tercentenary Tree, may it live and grow through the years like its sister elms as time marches on to another anniversary settlement of the Town of Rowley. A Town in which as the fathers founded were i. c- steads for the free. In the words of the poet :
"What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants the friend of sun and sky ; He plants the flag of breezes free ; The shaft of beauty towering high."
On the Center School grounds the second tree planting oc- curred. A group of children standing in the windows of the second story of the school dressed in costumes opened this exercise by singing "America the Beautiful," following which George E. P;" e, chairman of the School Committee, gave an address in which he impressed upon the pupils of the schools, the future men and women of Rowley, the significance of this event.
This tree, like the one at the Common, was donated by the Essex County Agricultural school.
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ADDRESS OF GEORGE E. PIKE
I am told that this little tree which we are about to transplant is a gift from the Essex County School at Hathorne. It is a hazardous undertaking to transplant trees at this season of the year and I am very glad to see that Director Fred A. Smith and Mr. Fred R. Hardy of the County School are present to supervise the work. In behalf of the Rowley School Department I wish to express to you, Director Smith, our sincere appreciation for the tree and our thanks to you and Mr. Hardy for your kind thought- fulness in supervising the transplanting.
I am sure that my remarks will soon be forgotten; but I am confident you will always remember what we do here. On ground made sacred by our forefathers three hundred years ago, for it was here they established their first church, we have met to plant a tree - that tree to be known as the Tercentenary Tree.
Those stately elms bordering the school grounds are at least one hundred years old and in the normal course of events they should be here one hundred years from now. This oak may be ex- pected to live for three hundred years and it doubtless will shelter many generations of children from the cold blasts of winter and the hot rays of sun in summer. Birds will build their nests in its branches and sing their songs thru the long summer days.
To me there is a certain likeness in the growth of children and trees. Children grow to be sturdy and fine thru understanding care and kindness, and trees - young trees especially, need under- standing care and consideration.
Children of the Rowley Schools - this little Tercentenary Tree is yours to care for. I hope a tradition will be built up in connection with this tree, so that the future classes will consider it a sacred duty to look out for its well being.
As my thoughts take me into the future I can see happy, laughing children bearing our names, playing in the shade of a beautiful oak and the thought gives me pleasure and contentment.
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The third in the series of tree plantings was at the Ezekiel Rogers School grounds, the tree donated by Mrs. Ruth Lambert Cheney, when appropriate exercises were held.
A group of children sang "America" after which Miss Gertrude W. Carleton gave a very appropriate address, stressing the human side. Mrs. Ruth Lambert Cheney, who had given this oak to the school, threw several handfuls of earth around it, stating that hands were made before either shovels or bags.
PLANTING OF OAK TREE ON GROUNDS OF EZEKIEL ROGERS SCHOOL
Tree given by Mrs. Knight Dexter Cheney (Ruth Lambert)
Address by Miss Gertrude W. Carleton
As a part of our Tercentenary Celebration, we are here to plant an oak tree on the grounds of this attractive Ezekiel Rogers School. I like to have it an oak, symbolic of strength and growth. Many years ago the proverb, "Great oaks from little acorns grow," became a part of the small child's education in figurative language. It seems to be an understandable one - the acorn and the oak.
This tree is the gift of Mrs. Ruth Lambert Cheney, whose property has been in the possession of the Lambert family since the first Lambert took the land apportioned to him in the earliest history of the town. Opposite Mrs. Cheney's house, on the east side of the Old Bay Road, is the Lambert Field. Back of that, over towards the river, is the Lambert Pasture, and it is there that this oak tree grew. I like to think that a sturdy ancestor of this little oak greeted the first Lambert who roamed through the pasture.
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This tree planting is a most appropriate way to celebrate our Tercentenary. One hundred years ago the same thing was done on a much larger scale. We realize how much larger when we see the beautiful elms and maples bordering our streets and com- mons. I asked our local historian, Mr. Amos E. Jewett, if he thought anything of the sort was done two hundred years ago. He thinks that at that time they were still too busy cutting the trees down.
To me this seems an ideal place to be planting this tree, - on the grounds of a charming little school, and also near the home site of the man for whom the school was named. Across the street lived Rowley's first minister and leader, Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, keenly interested in youth and in education. Many times I have heard quoted a part of a letter written by Mr. Rogers in which he de- plores the sinfulness of the rising generation. The letter is often read in humorous tone as if to add the words, "the same old story." But I like better, as fitting this occasion to quote from the epitaph on his first monument, "With the youth he took great pains, and was a tree of knowledge, laden with fruit, which children could reach."
We sometimes say of these early ancestors, "What would they think if they knew our present ways of life?" I like to say, "What are they thinking?" I believe as life progresses they are probably in many ways in sympathy with us or at least charitable toward us.
These celebrations and historical reviews bring us very near to those who laid out our town, and planned it so well. Those of us who have passed the half century mark can perhaps feel this more keenly for we can remember a Rowley more like the early days than like the present. We remember our narrow country roads with horse-drawn vehicles of many descriptions, the cows on their way to and from pasture, and the loads of salt hay being hauled from the marshes. We remember carrying lanterns in the evening when the moon was not lighting our way. We remember the pails of milk lowered into the coolness of the deep wells. We remember
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the fields of waving grass being cut by the rhythmic swing of the scythe. I speak of this period because it seems a connecting link with the more remote past.
I am glad that Mr. Rogers' name is perpetuated in this school and I wish our larger school could have a name in honor of some part of our Rowley history, rather than a mere designation of location.
So Mrs. Cheney plants the tree - to be known and prized perhaps by many generations. I hope its place will be taken by another, - and that in all years to come there will be on this spot. an Ezekiel Rogers Oak.
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TABLET CENTER SCHOOL GROUNDS
Marks site near which stood the first three Meeting Houses of the Town, erected 1639, 1697 and 174), respectively. Erected 1939.
DEDICATE TABLET
At 10:30 the dedication of the tablet at the Center School, which was the site of the first three Meeting Houses, was held in charge of Amos E. Jewett, chairman of the Tablet Committee. A hymn was sung accompanied by Mr. John A. Dodge with his cornet. The tablet was unveiled by Miss Marian G. Todd, a descendant of two of the early ministers. Harlan C. Foster, Senior Deacon of the Congregational Church, was the speaker. Rev. J. Kenneth Clinton closed the service with a benediction. The inscription on this tablet is as follows: "Near this spot stood the first, second and third Meeting Houses - built respectively in 1639-1697- 1749 - erected by the Town of Rowley, 1939."
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ADDRESS OF HARLAN C. FOSTER
At a meeting of the Tercentenary Committee, it seemed appro- priate to erect a tablet here on the grounds of the Center School, showing the approximate location of the first three Meeting Houses in town.
I know that this committee, of which I am not a member, has put a great deal of time and thought into the selection of this tablet and has asked me to say a few words in dedicating it.
Near this spot the first Meeting House was built in 1639. As far as we know there is no record as to the style of building this was, but it was substantial enough so that it was used for a house of worship for nearly sixty years. The first pastor, Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, had built a house near by on land now owned by Albert W. Haley on Wethersfield Street, and the two first deacons of this church were Thomas Mighill and Maximillian Jewett. Direct descendants of both of these are now living in town.
In 1695 the town voted to build a new Meeting House, the size to be 46' long by 44' wide. This was completed in 1697. The only heating arrangements in these early meeting houses, we are told, were the individual foot stoves, and these, in extremely cold weather, were not very satisfactory. This meeting house was built near the spot of the first.
The third meeting house, built in 1749, ws somewhat larger than the previous one. It was 60' long by 42' wide and had a steeple and a bell. The inside arrangement of the pulpit, high sounding board, square box-like pews, all unpainted, was not unlike the meeting house at Rocky Hill, Amesbury, which is still standing and in good repair. It will well repay you to visit that old meet- ing house in Amesbury; and when you do, remember that the inside arrangement of it is much like the third meeting house which stood near this spot and was used for a house of worship some ninety years.
In 1842 the fourth meeting house was built at the corner of Main and Hammond Streets. This location was, after much dis- cussion and differences of opinion, finally decided upon to the dis- appointment of the minority, who wanted it built on the same loca- tion as the previous three buildings.
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This tablet, which will soon be unveiled, is to mark the ap- proximate location of the three first meeting houses in our town, and it is very fitting that at this, our Tercentenary week, such a marker should be placed here. .
One hundred years ago the town, at its annual meeting, voted to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of its settlement and appointed twelve men to make suitable arrangements. We, a hun- dred years later, have made some improvement in the selection of a committee for the Tercentenary celebration, for our town moder- ator, Mr. Arthur W. Peabody, who appointed this committee, placed the names of several ladies on it, and we are glad to say that without their counsel and aid this celebration would not have been the success that it is.
Of the twelve men selected one hundred years ago for this committee, I remember and have talked with four of them: Daniel N. Prime, a prominent business man of the town, who ran a tan- nery, shoe factory and grocery store; Edward Smith, proprietor of the hotel known as the Eagle House; Benjamin H. Smith and Oliver Blackinton, both prominent in town affairs.
Gage, in his "History of Rowley," has an excellent record of the two hundredth anniversary celebration.
The writer of these lines has beautifully expressed our feeling for our native town:
"There stands the white church as in days long departed.
Though now from the clear streams the old mills are gone, For great are the changes since Rowley was started,
And Time, the sure reaper, has hurried him on. But let her not fear the rude sounds that shall rouse her
When dreaming, she lies, of her deeds written down, Her sons and her daughters are true as the number
Who chose the green valley and founded the town."
God grant that those who gather here one hundred years hence to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the settlement of our town may have the same esteem for her prosperity and high standing that we have today.
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THE TRAINING PLACE SCT APARE
HERE ENCAMPED ON THE NIGHT OF 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1275 A DETACHMENT OF MUSKET ME FROM THE FIRST BATTALION OF
ARNOLD'S E ON TO QUES
NDER . COM
OF
MAJOR RETUR
NATHAN MEIGS
Tablet on Rowley Common, site of early Training Field :
"THE TRAINING PLACE" SET APART BY THE TOWN 1639
HERE ENCAMPED ON THE NIGHT OF 15th SEPTEMBER, 1775 A DETACHMENT OF MUSKET-MEN FROM THE FIRST BATTALION OF ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION TO QUEBEC UNDER COMMAND OF MAJOR RETURN JONATHAN MEIGS
- ERECTED BY THE TOWN OF ROWLEY 1939
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ADDRESS AT UNVEILING OF THE TABLET ON ROWLEY COMMON, 25 AUGUST, 1939
AMOS EVERETT JEWETT
The Common, known in the olden time as the "Training Place," was set apart soon after the settlement of the town. The settlers coming here from the orderly towns and villages of Old England, and cherishing the memory of the village greens of their homeland, laid out this level tract of land near the center of the town. For nearly two centuries it was used as a training ground for drilling the militia, in accordance with the laws of those early days, which required military service from every man between eighteen and forty-five years of age; for three centuries it has beautified the town and served it in various ways, and we of today should appreciate it and take pride in it far more than we do.
Today we commemorate one of the events in the history of this place, which in the march of time has been well-nigh forgotten, for no account of it appears upon the records of the town, and no mention has been made by any writer of town history.
Shortly after the beginning of the War of the Revolution at Lexington and Concord, Washington was appointed Commander- in-Chief, and while on his way to the seat of war was met by couriers, who acquainted him with the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Upon his arrival at Cambridge in July, he immediately took command of the army, which consisted of about fourteen thousand imperfectly drilled and poorly equipped men. As Washington gazed upon the motley array, he must have thought, "Is this the army and are these the men with which America is to oppose the trained soldiery of Britain and achieve independence?" It is said he asked one question, "Will they fight?" and was assured that they would.
Boston was occupied by the British who kept well within the confines of the town. Morrison, one of the Pennsylvania rifle- men in Hendrick's Company, says in his diary under date of September 11th, 1775, "The British occupied the heights near Boston, keeping pretty close within their lines. The affair at Bunker's Hill had taught them to respect us."
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The American army was regularly engaged in drilling and became daily more proficient in the use of arms. A semblance of uniformity in apparel became apparent also, although Morgan's rifle-men wore a half-savage dress, and Glover's Marblehead regi- ment clung to the sailor's round jacket of blue and wore trousers trimmed with leather buttons.
Early in September, 1775, a movement was made to invade Canada and capture Quebec, thus carrying the war into the enemy's country. There were men in the army who had fought in the "Old War," as the French and Indian War was called, had stood with Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham sixteen years before and witnessed the downfall of Montcalm, and the crushing of French power in the New World.
Montgomery at the head of a small army had already ad- vanced via Lake Champlain to Montreal which fell before him the 13th of November. From there he was to advance and join the force under Arnold, and together they were to attempt the reduction of Quebec.
Washington, who had won distinction in the "Old War," and to whom the credit of saving the remnant of Braddock's Army at the disastrous battle near Fort Duquesne is largely due, was strongly in favor of the invasion. He and others may have had in mind the defeat of the British Regulars at that battle and realized that they were not invincible.
The Expedition to Quebec, with which we are concerned to- day, left Cambridge September 13th, 1775, and marched to New- buryport, arriving there the 15th and 16th. It embarked from Newburyport the 19th. on eleven vessels and arrived at the mouth of the Kennebec River on the following day. These vessels sailed up the river about forty miles, when the men were obliged to board bateaux, two hundred of which had been built for them near Pownalborough. They ascended the river in these flat-bottomed skiffs, sometimes dragging them over falls and rapids but oftener carrying them around. Morrison refers to the bateaux as "Crazy things" and says they were little better than common rafts. Senter, writing on the 29th, only a few days after they took to the bateaux, says several "began to leak profusely," so badly in fact that he purchased another the next day.
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The men succeeded in transporting them over many portages, one of which known as "The Great Carrying Place" was over twelve miles long.
According to Meigs the Expedition had now been reorganized into four divisions. At Dead River, the rear division, consisting of three companies under command of Lieut .- Colonel Enos, turned back in spite of remonstrances from some of the other officers. Enos was later tried by court-martial but was acquitted on the ground that his men were in danger of starvation.
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