USA > Maine > York County > Buxton > One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Buxton, Maine : held at Buxton lower corner, August 16, 1922 : with additional history > Part 2
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Its annual fairs and lawn parties at Quillcote-on-the-Saco, and readings at the Tory Hill Meetinghouse have met with wonder- full success.
In September, 1909, it was voted to contribute the sum of $ 100 towards the minister's salary, which has been continued to the present time, and $35 was given to aid in repairs of the Salmon Falls schoolhouse. The first Dorcas Sunday was observed by at- tending church in 1910 with an appropriate sermon by the pastor,
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Town of Buxton, Maine
Rev. Robert G. Harbutt, and the "Hymn of Friendship," written by Kate Douglas Wiggin was sung.
More repairs were done by the Society - painting the pews and purchasing cushions for the same.
The Dorcas Society keeps the historic meetinghouse and the parsonage at Buxton Lower Corner in thorough repair. It con- tributes annually to the salary fund of the parish. It also makes donations to the work of the various objects connected with Village Improvement. It has for its avowed purpose the up building of all that is good in the life of the community. The old railway station at Bar Mills was purchased and moved to a lot given by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew L. Berry, and was named the "First Con- gregational Church, Parish and Neighborhood House."
The Society gave liberally to the building fund, and purchased a piano from the sale of "Dorcas Dishes" (a cook book), the first edition of 1,000 copies being privately printed in 1911. The bell was given by Miss Nora D. Woodman of New York, and a flag was given in memory of a beloved member - Sally Akers Ely.
The parish house was dedicated during the pastorate of Rev. Robert G. Harbutt.
During the World War the members enrolled in the Red Cross and did valiant service.
Our Honorary President, Kate Douglas Wiggin, directed per- sonally several performances of her renowned play, "The Old Peabody Pew," which was successful in every way. The Dorcas Society has a large membership of active non-resident and life members.
The present officers (1922) are: Mrs. J. W. Meserve, Presi- dent; Mrs. G. H. Knox, Vice President; Miss Sarah D. Moulton, Treasurer; Mrs. H. H. Locke, Secretary; Mrs. A. L. Berry, Auditor; Miss Nora A. Smith, Mrs. J. D. Woodman, Mrs. Mary Foster, Miss Sarah J. Morton, and Mrs. Maud Whittaker, Trustees.
18 One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary HYMN OF FELLOWSHIP, DORCAS SOCIETY, 1897-1922 I O God, our friend throughout the years, Our guide along life's way, Be Thou with us in song and prayer, While we our homage pay. "Tis friendship makes the world so fair, 'Tis that has blest our task; That we may still together toil Is all the boon we ask.
II
We bring Thee, Lord, our deeds and alms, And all we do below;
We dedicate them now to Thee, Like Dorcas long ago. Bless Thou the work that we have wrought In friendship side by side. If it be goodly in Thy sight, Lord, let it then abide !
K. D. W.
SALMON FALLS TRIBUTE TO EARLY SETTLERS OF BUXTON AT PLEASANT POINT
Program, Monday, Aug. 14, 1922
Singing - America Audience
Rev. Charles F. Sargent Prayer
March and Decoration of Graves by Children
Song - Words by Miss Nora A. Smith Children In Memoriam Algernon S. Dyer
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Town of Buxton, Maine
Original Song by Mrs. Helen Marshall Dolley
Early Days in Salmon Falls Gibeon E. Bradbury
Singing - Doxology
Audience
Benediction . Rev. Charles F. Sargent
PICNIC DINNER AT PLEASANT POINT
After-dinner speeches by Mrs. George C. Riggs, Judge George L. Emery and others.
Committee of Arrangements
MISS GEORGIE DARRAH, Chairman
MRS. JAMES B. ELDEN, Secretary and Treasurer
MRS. AUSTIN G. GORHAM
MRS. CHARLES S. D. NICHOLS
MRS. DUNCAN M. INNES
MISS SARAH D. MOULTON
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE
We were favored with a perfect day and a cloudless sky. All of this part of the town was in gala dress for the occasion, with flags and bunting floating everywhere. The day was ushered in by the ringing of church bells all over town at 7 o'clock for five minutes. From every home the stars and stripes were displayed and all business was stopped so that everyone could attend the exercises. This was the climax of a three days' celebration, Sun- day at the church, August 13; Monday at Pleasant Point, August 14; and Wednesday on the Common, August 16. At Buxton Lower Corner, where the exercises were held, large banners were strung across every road leading to the Common with the word "Welcome," and the dates, 1772-1922. The First Parish Church
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
and all houses in that vicinity were elaborately decorated with flags and bunting.
In the center of the Common facing the meetinghouse a pa- vilion was erected and over the front was the legend "Buxton Welcomes Her. Sons and Daughters." The pavilion seats were reserved for those who attended the Centennial in 1872, Pain- chaud's Band, the chorus choir and the speakers of the day.
Just outside the grounds booths were erected where lunches, ice cream and cool drinks were served. At the Headquarters Booth a guest book was kept and badges were sold by the Recep- tion Committee. At the "Crossways," the summer home of A. L. T. Cummings, there were two booths on the lawn, one for the Dorcas Society's Fair, and the other for Kate Douglas Wiggin where autographed copies of her books were sold. A flagpole was loaned by Groveville citizens. Hundreds of Buxton's sons and daughters returned home today to help celebrate her One Hun- dred Fiftieth Anniversary. They came in automobiles instead of with horses and top buggies as they did fifty years ago.
At 9 o'clock a goodly number of school children marched from the graded school building to the Common headed by Painchaud's Band of Biddeford, and escorted by the marshal of the day, Wil- liam T. Soule, Jr., and his aide, Philip S. Brooks.
There were representatives of three wars present, viz .: Civil War, George H. Libby; Spanish War, Ernest W. Cressey; World War, about twenty members of Harold F. Hutchinson Post, Ar- thur T. Sawyer, Commander.
The program was opened by the Rev. Charles F. Sargent, pres- ident of the day, who called the people to order and asked them to keep absolute silence for just a moment with bowed heads as a tribute to the early settlers of Buxton.
1
IOOTH ANNIVERSARY OF BUXTON, 1872
BUXTON WELCOMES HER SONS & DALGATERS
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF BUNTON, 1922
Town of Buxton, Maine 21 ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF BUX- TON, MAINE, AT BUXTON LOWER CORNER, I772-1922
Program, Wednesday, August 16, 1922
FORENOON
9.00 Band Concert Painchaud's Band, Biddeford
9.30 Music, Selection . Band
9.35 Opening Remarks President of Day
9.40 Hymn, "Come Thou Almighty King" Chorus
9.45 Anniversary Prayer
Rev. F. E. Freese
9.50 Solo . Ernest J. Hill
9.55 Address of Welcome
H. L. Milliken
IO.IO Response
Lincoln Owen
10.25 Music, Selection
Band
10.30 Fifty Years Ago
George E. Sawyer
10.40 Music, "Hymn of the Homeland" Chorus
10.45 Reading of Letters Secretary
11.05 Music, "Praise Ye the Father" Chorus
II.IO Tribute to Early Settlers Eugene C. Carll
11.20 Music, "America" Chorus and All with Band
NOON HOUR
Renewing old acquaintances. Registering in Anniversary Book. Re-union of those here fifty years ago. Ball Game at Wayside Park. West Buxton vs. Bar Mills, 12 innings, score 8 to 4 in favor of West Buxton.
AFTERNOON
2.00 Band Concert Painchaud's Band, Biddeford
2.30 Music, Selection . Band
2.35 Historical Address Ernest W. Cressey
3.05 Music, Duet Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Hill
3.10 Speeches from Visitors
Kate Douglas Wiggin and Others
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
3.30 Ode Written by Mrs. Andrew L. Berry Chorus
3.35 Orator of the Day-Rev. George Croswell Cressey, Ph. D., D.D., Church of the Redeemer, Brighton, N. Y. Music, "America the Beautiful" Chorus Our Soldiers-1775, 1812, 1846, G. A. R., Spanish War and World War.
Presentation of Soldier's Roll by President of the Day Response R. Blanche Dean Presentation of Flag A. G. Wiley, M.D. Response Arthur T. Sawyer Music, "Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot" Chorus and All with Band
Benediction Rev. F. E. Freese
Among the speakers of the afternoon will be Judge George L. Emery, Lincoln Owen, A. L. T. Cummings, Rev. F. E. Freese, Mrs. Helen Marshall Dolley, Kate Douglas Wiggin, George H. Libby and Algernon S. Dyer.
OPENING ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT OF THE DAY BY REV. CHARLES F. SARGENT
Fellow Citizens and Friends :
The auspicious hour has arrived to which we have eagerly looked forward when we are to observe the One Hundred Fiftieth An- niversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Buxton. Today it is our purpose to link the present with the past and revive in memory and in history the events that have made our town of in- terest to us. If the past has been made glorious in achievement, shall we not also, sturdy sons and daughters of New England, see the future full of promise, and make ourselves worthy of those who have gone on before by our deeds as citizens and patriots. Like many another of our Maine towns Buxton has sent forth illustrious
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Town of Buxton, Maine
men and women who have brought honor and renown to our com- munity. On an occasion like this we are living in the past and in the present. The program which we present today has been pre- pared with care and will express, we fervently wish, the best senti- ments that an occasion like this should give birth to. We are living for tomorrow as the worthy men and women of the past have lived for us and our hope is that they may carry on the pur- poses and keep before them the ideals of noble manhood and womanhood and citizenship. With these remarks I declare the exercises of the day opened.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY HERBERT L. MILLIKEN
Mr. Chairman, Fellow Citizens, Distinguished Guests:
On this historic spot within the sound of the ever murmuring Saco -as it caresses our western boundary - within the shadow of that venerable church whose existence, coupled with that of its predecessors dates back well nigh one hundred and eighty years, with its adjoining churchyard in whose sacred soil rests all that is mortal of some of the early settlers as well as many who are near and dear to us, in behalf of the residents of Buxton, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the festivities and enjoyments of the day.
We have with us a large company of men and women who now are past the meridian of life and who, as young men and maidens fair, or as boys and girls, attended the one hundredth anniversary. Today as we celebrate the one hundred fiftieth anniversary, the joy may be tinged with sadness as it marks the fleetness of passing years and forcibly reminds us of the shortness of human life. We thank you for your presence.
Here, too, are the soldiers of Buxton, the rapidly thinning band, that stormed the shell swept heights of Lookout Mountain, with-
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
stood the terrific charges at Gettysburg and Antietam, that the black man might be free. Again in '98 you responded in free- dom's cause, by your efforts, removing the yoke of bondage from Cuba and retaliating for the loss of the Battleship Maine. Last but not least, you of the World War, you, who helped demonstrate that "might is not right," you, whose entry marked the turning point of that titanic struggle for the supremacy of the world. Soldiers of Buxton, we welcome you.
Native born sons and daughters of Buxton, who have adopted homes in neighboring cities and towns in nearby or distant states, some of whom have made long pilgrimages that they might wor- ship at this shrine today. With open arms we greet you. With open hearts we welcome you. It was here that first you beheld the light of day, where many of your fondest and dearest recol- lections must ever cluster. Here in these schools, these churches and these homes were developed those elements- perseverance, determination and force-that, in part, are the foundation of your subsequent careers. A vast number of the sons and daughters have left the old homes to engage in nearly every department of human activity and we, who remained to keep the home fires burning, have been cheered and strengthened by the realization that men and women who have climbed to the top of that mythical ladder, suc- cess, would, if asked their native place, reply Buxton, Maine. And this day Buxton claims her own. Your adopted homes must, on this occasion, relinquish their hold. The associations incident to honored achievement must bow to cherished memories-mem- ories time cannot erase. On the morrow, the events of this day will be history. You will return to your chosen paths - filled, we trust, with sweeter love, greater reverence for Old Buxton and its people, and bearing the knowledge that those you leave are en- couraged and made happy that you have been home once more.
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Town of Buxton, Maine RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY LINCOLN OWEN Master of Rice School, Boston, Mass.
Mr. Chairman and Fellow Townsmen:
I am glad to witness the spirit of enterprise which has prompted the citizens of the Town of Buxton to undertake the celebration of this one hundred fiftieth anniversary of incorporation. I was pres- ent at the exercises in 1872. It is a great privilege to be present upon this occasion and I esteem it a high honor to participate in the formal exercises.
Your preparations are adequate and your welcome has been most cordial. In behalf of this great army of sons and daughters of Buxton, residents as well as those who have returned for this cele- bration, I wish to thank you most heartily for your cordial wel- come and for these arrangements for our comfort, instruction, and enjoyment. This group for which I speak primarily is a large one and a distinguished one. In 1870 the population of Buxton was 2,546; in 1920 it was 1,560-a loss of about 40%. Can this migration from a country town be viewed in any other light than a distinct loss to the town?
This is not China. In China because of an excessive devotion to ancestor worship all children settle near the ancestral home that they may be able to visit the graves of their fathers many times a year. The result is that the Chinese have stripped eastern China of surface products to such an extent that the lack of vegetation threatens disaster to that entire people.
Some migration from a farming community is necessary be- cause there is not farm land enough for, all. Land for a farm will support a family of five on forty acres. Forty acres of land, when used for industrial purposes, will support five thousand people. The welfare of cities and industrial centers is greatly enhanced by this constant addition of the country-bred.
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
What changes and improvements in this town are evident to a critical observer after fifty years of life and progress?
I. That the roads are far better than they were fifty years ago.
2. That the mail is delivered daily at every door free of charge.
3. That most houses have telephone service.
4. That the work-day for men has been shortened. I got the surprise of my life the first time I saw haymakers sit down in the shade after dinner and smoke for a half an hour.
5. That the work-day for housewives does not show the same improvement, though I have found, in many homes run- ning water at the sink, a great reduction in the work upon milk, and, in some cases, the use of bakery bread.
6. That at the last count there were one hundred thirty-nine automobiles in the town. There is one automobile for every eleven of the population. The ratio in the state is I to 12, in the nation, I to 11.9. Buxton leads both state and nation at the receiving end of the automobile industry.
7. That the school plan is far better. You have a town high school; we had no high school. You have consolidated schools for the younger children. You always have some students at college. We had very few in 1872. When you provide high schools, normal schools and colleges you in- evitably draw some of the young people away from farm life. Because of education, experience and ambition many of these graduates will leave home and find their fields of service elsewhere. Free trade in brains and workers is best for individuals and is essential to the life of the nation.
Does Buxton get its fair share of these trained workers?
I understand that your high school principal for the coming year is a local man-a college graduate and a grandson of my own esteemed teacher, Mr. Horace Harmon.
One of the serious problems confronting the medical colleges of the country is to get an adequate number of men to prepare to
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Town of Buxton, Maine
be general practitioners. Every medical student wants to become a specialist. Many country towns are already without any resi- dent physician. Buxton, however, is fortunate in having three doctors. According to the Maine Year Book she has four clergy- men. There are no lawyers and probably no quarrels.
Is it possible and desirable to keep this town strictly a farming community? On many accounts "yes." Can it be done? "No." In the town report, more than half of the valuation is reported non-resident property. Without this non-resident tax it would be impossible to provide for the town needs upon the present scale. Urban conditions and employment in industries are more and more penetrating every community. In the state of Maine only about twenty-five per cent of the population are engaged in agriculture. And yet many a farming community with a greatly reduced popu- lation has more than doubled the value of its agricultural produc- tion because of the use of modern machinery and more efficient methods.
When Victor Emmanuel I became King of Italy he said, "If I am to have a prosperous reign, I must have an employed people."
Evidences of prosperity in this town are seen in the well-kept farms, in modern tools, in approved stock, and in a happy, con- tented, busy people.
You have not yet found it necessary to form a New England bloc similar to the "Farm Bloc" in Congress nor a New England bloc similar to the Northwest Products Association where every newspaper, every assembly of farmers and business men, and every school united to make this slogan effective, "Buy no outside article, when a northwest product can be made to serve your need." This cooperative action over a wide area changed a period of de- pression into a period of prosperity.
In naming important changes that may be seen by the casual observer I purposely omitted one of the newer agencies which has already a fine record of accomplishment throughout the country, and which is an agency of great promise for the future. I mean
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
the Farm Bureau. Through the publications of the Farm Bureau, the demonstrations of its agents, and the club activities of its local workers, there is provided an economical means of acquiring better methods of procedure in every line of farm activity.
You have better schools. You should have better health agen- cies. In spite of our congestion in large cities, the children as a whole are in far better physical condition than country children.
In 1906 The School Committee of Boston gave a hearing on this question, "What more should be done to improve the health of school children?"
The opinions of the doctors, publicists, and clergymen may be summed up as follows: "More money that we may have more doctors that we may have healthier children."
The school people said, "School nurses that children may be kept in school and some care of the teeth that innocent children may be protected from the baleful results of parental ignorance, parental carelessness, and parental poverty."
Within one year school nurses were employed and a systematic plan was put in force to care for the teeth of school children.
A school of 1,000 pupils had in 1907 96-97% defective. In 1921 43% defective. In a well-to-do district there were 95% defective.
The war showed that the care of teeth and better feeding were vital needs. They are needs just as imperative in times of peace.
By better health agencies I mean better care of the teeth of children, better feeding of children of school age, and better training in health habits.
We are here, Mr. Chairman, to renew our interest in the town of Buxton, to witness the prosperity of its people, to fraternize together. We live not alone in the present and in our hopes and plans, but increasingly in our memories.
The experiences of this eventful day will long be a pleasant memory to us all for many years to come.
I wish again to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and this assembly
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Town of Buxton, Maine
for your cordial welcome and for your kindly patience in listening to this brief inventory of progress and prosperity in this good old town.
FIFTY YEARS AGO, HALF A CENTURY BY GEORGE E. SAWYER
Mr. President and Chairman:
Shall we for just a few minutes pause in our rush and consider the conditions of those days?
Take our schools for instance, one of the most important things to be considered; at that time some fourteen or fifteen in number in town. Each one a little republic all by itself, with its agent who, in his own opinion, was one of the most important men in town.
And when the day for "School Meeting" came-who shall be agent and whom will he engage for female teacher were very important questions to be considered, especially by the young voters, if she should happen to be good looking. And whoever saw one who was not? The three R's were taught and their im- portance impressed upon the pupils.
It was not considered necessary to teach for one year "French" or any of the Dead Languages (that ought to be buried) which no one could speak, and, if spoken, no one could understand.
None of the "Improved Methods" which we now endure had been instituted fifty years ago.
Some of the schools would have as many as fifty pupils and I recall one which had sixty-five scholars. All were taught by the same teacher, usually a man in winter, and a woman in summer.
Take our roads in town. How were they "fixed" in those days? Who will be "Road or Highway Surveyor," will it be "Bill Smith," a man who will make us work out our tax in full, or "Jim Brown" who will let us "Pitch Coppers" and eat "Liquid Apples" a part of the time? But we had good roads just the same and all these questions were usually settled about right.
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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
What about social conditions and entertainments?
True, we had no movies, no phonographs, or canned music of any kind, but we had sociables, singing schools, and neighborhood parties where all met on the same level, and if some of the young ladies were afraid to "Go Home in the Dark" there would be some young man who for a small consideration collected at the door would walk miles to protect her even if going away from his own home.
And the "Huskings," "Apple Bees," and the "Baked Bean Sup- per" afterwards. After these had been disposed of some fiddler would appear, and "Hull's Victory," "Boston Fancy" and possibly a "Four Cornered Reel" would enliven the scene.
Pretty good times fifty years ago.
We had no telephones at that time and very few daily papers.
And so people were obliged to go to church Sunday morning to get the news for there were no Granges Saturday nights and peo- ple must gossip somewhere.
I might go on at length but time is precious today. The Com- mittee is getting nervous, so I shall briefly refer to some of the incidents and events of the day we celebrated fifty years ago. I shall not take time to tell how the pavilion in which the exercises were held was built, but it was located in the "Woodman Field" in the rear of the church, the field is now a part of the cemetery.
And if you care to step up just beyond the northwest corner of the church you will see a post, and looking westerly across the cemetery you may see another, marking the bounds of the ceme- tery at that time.
It will seem as you look as if all the people in town fifty years ago had been placed there since.
But some of the "Dyers" of fifty years ago are still "Living." Some of the "Everlasting Hills" are present, and some of the "Sawyers" are still sawing away.
I well recall the early morning hours of the day. People from all parts of the town began to arrive, some in single teams, some
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in carryalls, and a big lot in haycarts, for we had no "Fords" and autos then, and all were loaded to capacity, the old, middle aged and the young.
And while little attention was given to "Style" still the ladies "Bustled" around quite a bit, but no skirts at half mast were seen.
When the early morning train arrived at the Bar Mills station it brought two military companies from Portland. They were met by the Bar Mills Brass Band, the late Andrew L. Berry, leader. Soon they appeared coming down the road and if some of them couldn't keep step with their own music we were proud of them just the same. And I would have given up all hopes of being President if I could have been a member of that band.
They had no sooner arrived when looking down Saco Road we saw a solid mass of teams with Dover, N. H., Band in the lead. They met on this Common and the procession was formed where the pavilion now is, and when formed, led by the bands they marched to the grounds.
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