USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Milford > Celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Milford, New Hampshire, June 26, 1894 : including the proceedings of the committee, addresses, poem, and other exercises of the occasion > Part 1
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WILLIAM F. FRENCH,
CLARENCE J. GUTTERSON,
TOWN COMMITTEE. ELI S. BURNS, JOHN W. CROSBY, Chairman. GEORGE A. WORCESTER,
EMRI C. HUTCHINSON.
JOHN E. FOSTER.
CELEBRATION
OF THE A
One Hundredth Anniversary
OF THE
INCORPORATION OF MILFORD,
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
JUNE 26, 1894:
INCLUDING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE,
ADDRESSES, POEM,
AND OTHER EXERCISES OF THE OCCASION.
They who never look back to their ancestors will never look forward to posterity. Burke.
MILFORD, CABINET PRINT. 1894.
4
1492422
SETTLED 1738
UAL
ALL
INCORPORATEDT179
MILFORDEN.H.
agat
-
FIRST MEETING HOUSE AND FORMER TOWN HOUSE.
5
MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
"STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1794.
"In the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.
"An Act to incorporate the Southwesterly part of Amherst, the North- westerly part of Hollis, the Mile Slip and Duxbury School farm into a town, and to invest the inhabitants thereof with all such privileges and immu- nities as other towns in this State hold and enjoy.
"Whereas, a petition signed by a number of the inhabitants of the southwesterly part of Amherst, the northwesterly part of Hollis, the Mile Slip and Duxbury School farm (so called) has been preferred, setting forth that by an act of incorporation passed by the Legislature of this State, on the first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety- two, the southwest part of Amherst aforesaid was, by certain boundaries therein described, made a parish ; that the tract of land therein contained is too small for a town; that the inhabitants of the Mile Slip and Duxbury School farm aforesaid are unable to support the Gospel, build bridges and maintain schools; that a number of the inhabitants of the northwesterly part of said Hol- lis could be better accommodated by being annexed to the southwest parish in Amherst. They, therefore, prayed that they might be incorporated and made a body Politic, with all the Corporate powers and privileges by law vested in other towns. And the inhabitants of the town of Amherst, in legal Town-meeting, having voted their assent to the same ;
"Therefore, Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court Convened, that all the lands and inhabitants within the following limits : viz., Beginning at the southwest corner of the northwest parish in Amherst aforesaid, on Lyndeborough east line, thence running easterly to the northeast corner of Amos Green's lot, called the Mill lot; thence southerly on a straight line to the southwest corner of lot No. 20; thence easterly on the range line to the northeasterly corner of William Peabody's land; thence southerly on the range line between John Shepard, Esq., and William Peabody's land until it comes to land belonging to the heirs of John Shepard, late of said Amherst, deceased ; thence easterly to the northeast cor- ner of the same, joining to land of the same John Shepard, Esq .; thence southerly, by land of John Shepard, Esq., aforesaid, on the range line to Souhegan River; thence down the middle of said River till it strike land owned by Benjamin and Stephen Kindrick; thence southerly by said Kindrick land to the road leading from David Danforth's to the town of Wilton; thence crossing the same and running a south point to Hollis Line, being near David Duncklee house, and then to the northeast corner of the land lately laid off from said Hollis by their committee appointed for the above purpose ; thence running south about twelve degrees east so as to strike the northeast corner of John Stearns' land, it being the northwest corner of Robert Colboun's land ; thence on the same course till it comes to the southeast corner of the said Stearns' land ; thence westerly, by said Stearns' and Wm. Haley land, until it comes to the northwest corner of said Haley land, thence westerly to the northeast corner of Mr. Gould's land, and so on westerly, by said Gould and David Danforth's land, to said Gould's northwest corner; thence turning southerly to southeast corner of Robert Darrah's land ; thence west fifteen degrees south until it comes to Raby east line ; thence northerly on said Raby east line until it comes to the south line of said Amherst ; thence northerly on the north line of said Raby to the southwest corner of Am- herst ; thence southerly by the west line of Raby to the southeast corner of the Mile Slip ; thence westerly to the southwest corner thereof ; thence northerly on east line of Mason and Wil- ton to the northwest corner of the Mile Slip; thence easterly on the south line of Lyndeborough to the southeast corner thereof ; thence northerly by the east line of Lyndeborough to the bound first mentioned, Be, and the same are hereby incorporated into a town by the name of Milford ; and the inhabitants who reside and shall hereafter reside within the before-mentioned boundaries are made and constituted a body politic and corporate, and invested with all the powers, privi- leges and immunities which towns in this State by law are entitled to enjoy ; to remain a distinct town, and have continuance and succession forever. And be it further Enacted that Augustus Blanchard, Esquire, be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to call a meeting of said in- habitants for the purpose of choosing all necessary Town Officers; and shall preside therein un til a Moderator shall be chosen to govern said meeting, which shall be warned by posting up notice thereof at the Meeting-House in said Milford, fourteen days prior to the day of holding the same, and the annual meetings for the choice of Town Officers shall be holden on the first Tuesday of March annually.
"Provided always that nothing in this act contained shall, in any wise, release the inhabi- tants of the said Southwest Parish in Amherst (part of Said Milford) from paying their propor- tion of all debts now due from the town of Amherst, or their proportion of the support of the Pres- ent Poor of said Town and Parish, or any taxes now assessed on them as inhabitants of the said Town of Amherst ; but the same may be levied and collected from the inhabitants of the said Southwest Parish (now part of Milford aforesaid) in the same way and manner as if this act had not been passed; and the present inhabitants of the said northwesterly part of said town of Hollis shall be liable to pay all taxes heretofore assessed on them as inhabitants of the town of Hollis, in the same way and manner as if this act had not been passed.
"In Senate, January 11, 1794. This bill having had three several readings, passed to be en- acted ; sent down for concurrence.
"ABIEL FOSTER, President of the Senate.
"In the House of Representatives, the same day, the foregoing bill, having had a third read- ing, was enacted.
"Approved 11th January, 1794.
"A true copy.
"Recorded by
"NATHANIEL PEABODY, Speaker.
"JOSIAH BARTLETT.
"Attest, NATHANIEL PARKER, Dep. Sec.
"AUGUSTUS BLANCHARD, Town Clerk."
١
NOTE.
In the compiling of this centennial record we have met with more de- lays than we anticipated. Much that occurred on the day of the cele- bration it is impossible to reproduce upon a printed page. The most that we can do is to make it as perfect as the circumstances will per- mit. In this effort we have been aided very largely by those who took part in the exercises of the day.
The addresses, as furnished in MS., together with the letters, are in the main, in the exact form of address or language of the speaker or writer.
I assume full responsibility for the preparation and compilation of this book. Whatever errors or inaccuracies may appear belong to me.
The long time which it has taken to secure the illustrations is the cause of the delay of the volume.
Respectfully,
MILFORD, N. H.
W. B. ROTCH.
1794
Centennial Celebration
1894
MILFORD,
N.
XA
ICH
TO
ALI
ORPORATED
MILFORD N.H
TOWN
COMMITTEE
ONE OF THE BADGES.
Milford Centennial Celebration.
The Selectmen of Milford through their Representatives to the Gener- al Court of the State of New Hampshire, asked permission for the town to appropriate money for the proper celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation, and the following act was passed :--
An act authorizing the town of Milford to appropriate money to celebrate the centennial of said town :-
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court con- vened ,
SEC. I. That the town of Milford in the County of Hillsborough is hereby author- ized and empowered to raise, appropriate and expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for the purpose of celebrating the centennial of said town.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
(Approved Feb. 16, 1893.)
An article was inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting, held on Tuesday, March 14, 1893, as follows : "To see if the town will vote to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation, and raise and appropriate money for the same."
The town voted to have a celebration, and chose as a committee to have charge of the arrangements, Messrs. J. W. Crosby, J. E. Foster. Eli S. Burns, E. C. Hutchinson, H. L. Bartlett, Geo. A. Worcester and Clarence J. Gutterson, and raised and appropriated the sum of five hun- dred dollars to defray the expense of the same.
( At a subsequent meeting the appropriation was increased to one thousand dollars, and W. F. French chosen a member of the committee, in place of H. L. Bartlett, who declined to serve.)
The committee met in the selectmen's room in the town house, on Saturday, March 25, 1893, and chose Col. John W. Crosby chairman, Geo. A. Worcester, secretary, and W. F. French treasurer. It was voted that the celebration be held during the week commencing JJune 17, 1894, ( This date was later changed to the 26th.) Also voted that the Hon. C. H. Burns of Wilton be invited to deliver the'oration.
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
COPY OF LETTER TO HON. C. H. BURNS.
MILFORD, N. H., MARCH 27, 1893.
HON. C. H. BURNS, Nashua, N. H.
Dear Sir: The Town of Milford, at its last annual meeting, voted to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation, and chose a committee of seven to make all needed arrangements. That committee have organized with Col. J. W. Crosby as chairman, and myself as secretary.
The exact date of the event, coming in the winter ( January 11 ), it was decided to have the celebration during the week commencing June 17,1894.
The committee were unanimous in their vote to invite you to deliver an oration upon that occasion. If the date selected does not conform to your other engagements we will change it to any other you may select.
Trusting that you will give this matter your early consideration, I remain,
Very truly yours, GEO, A. WORCESTER, Secretary.
COPY OF REPLY OF HON. C. H. BURNS.
NASHUA, N. H., MAR. 27, 1893.
To Geo. A. Worcester, Esq., Secretary, and the committee on the celebration the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation af the Town of Milford :
GENTS':I have received your invitation of the 27th inst., saying that you have unanimously voted to invite me to deliver the oration upon the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the town, and say- ing that you have fixed upon June 17th, 1894, for the celebration.
In reply, will say that I accept with great pleasure the invitation. and feel very much honored by it, and shall endeavor, Providence per- mitting, to deliver the address, and shall hope it will be worthy of the great occasion. The time fixed will be agreeable to me, and am specially pleased with the invitation at so early a date, as it will give me ample opportunity to prepare for it. I am with great respect,
Very truly yours, CHAS. H. BURNS.
=
MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The following is a copy of the invitation sent to Milford's absent
sons and daughters :
The Town of Milford, N. A., requests the honor of your presence upon the occasion of the Celebration of the One hundredth Anniversary of its incorporation June 26th 1894.
G. A. Worcester, E. B. Hutchinson, Committee an Invitation.
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
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INVITATION TO AMIIERST.
It was voted to invite the town of Amherst to participate in the ex- ercises, and the following invitation was sent :
MILFORD, N. H., JUNE 27, '94.
The Town of Milford to her mother town of Amherst sendeth greeting :
WHEREAS, the town of Milford proposes to celebrate in a fitting manner the one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation, on June 26, 1894, therefore, we do most cordially invite you to be officially represent- ed upon that occasion by such delegation as you may be pleased to send. The Centennial Committee, JOHN W. CROSBY, Chairman.
GEO. A. WORCESTER,
Secretary.
Amherst responded to this invitation by electing the following named gentlemen to represent her at these exercises:
EDWARD D. BOYLSTON, EDWIN K. BURTT,
JAMES F. WESTON,
WM. B. ROTCH,
GEO. E. FARLEY, HORACE HARVELL,
GEO. W. BOSWORTH,
FRANK HARTSHORN,
ALFRED J. McGOWN,
GRANVILLE PARKER,
DANIEL A. FLETCHER, JAMES U. PRINCE,
ISAAC B. DODGE, EUGENE C. HUBBARD.
COL. F. E. KALEY, Chief Marshal.
F. B. BARTLETT, Chief of Staff.
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Committees.
At meetings of the town committee held at subsequent dates, the following special committees were appointed :
PRESIDENT OF THE DAY, Judge Robert M. Wallace. CHIEF MARSHAL, Col. F. E. Kaley. RECEPTION.
John McLane, F. T. Sawyer, F. E. Kaley, J. E. Foster, C. E. Knight. J. W. Crosby, J. M. Burns, Wm. M. Knowlton, W. W. Howard, H. C. Buxton, C. H. V. Smith, M. F. Crosby. INVITATIONS, PRINTING AND BADGES. G. A. Worcester, E. C. Hutchinson. BANQUET,
G. V. Tarlton, J. N. Stevens, W. W. Dodge, W. F. French. A. M. Wil- son, Mrs. J. E. Webster, Mrs. J. A. Hill, Mrs. R. H. Pierce, Mrs. O. H. Foster. GROUNDS AND TENT, E. C. Hutchinson, G. A. Worcester. PRESS,
- W. B. Rotch, E. E. Hill, E. M. Stanyan, W. W. Hemenway. PROGRAMME AND MUSIC.
F. W. Richardson, F. W. Farnsworth, C. S. Emerson, Mrs. J. McLane. Mrs. B. F. Foster.
DECORATIONS,
H. H. Barber, W. A. Guild, F. W. Sawyer, B. F. Foster, G. A. Worcester. PROCESSION,
C. E. Kendall, B. R. Came, E. S. Heald, J. T. Young, A. W. Howison, H. A. Wilkins, W. R. Howard, G. W. Tarbell, E. C. Hutchin- son, J. C. Merrill, F. B. Bartlett.
FIRE WORKS, E. C. Hutchinson, J. McLane, G. A. Worcester. BICYCLE PARADE AND RACE, L. H. Hall, B. Mills, W. JJ. Elliott. HISTORICAL LOAN AND ART COLLECTION.
Mrs. J. McLane, Mrs. J. A. Hill, Mrs. H. H. Barber, Mrs. J. E. Webster, Mrs. W. K. Emerson.
Sunday Evening Services.
According to the invitation of the centennial committee, the various ministers of the town prepared a program, and invited their people and all interested, to unite in the town hall, on Sunday evening, the 24th, for a union service, thus initiating in a very befitting manner, the cen- tennial celebration of the week. The Rev. A. J. Rich acted as chair- man, read the Scriptural selections, furnished the original hymn with which the service closed, and pronounced the benediction, which Rev. Joseph Manuel was prevented from doing by absence from town. Rev. F. L. Knapp led the people in a helpful prayer, and a chorus choi ' under the leadership of C. W. Edwards, rendered excellent music. Rev. H. P. Peck, having been chosen by his brethren as pastor of the oldest church on the soil, delivered an address on the "Past and Future Work of the Churches in Milford."
He began by expressing his satisfaction with the idea of beginning the celebration of the first hundred years of our history by a grateful recognition of the Invisible Hand, which has led us the way, and then proceeded to ontline what he conceived to have been the special way in which each church has wrought, under this Divine Hand, for the devel- opment of the community. He held that the work of the First Congre- gational Church, whose first building, now Eagle hall, was erected on Union Square, at a cost of so much time and sacrifice by the original set- tlers, true to its history had been, not only to establish a free form of government, but also to ingrain into the early life of the town, the great Hebrew and Roman principle of justice and law. Its God had been stern and holy, in his chief aspect, hence his worshippers, with true Puri- tan heroism, sought to engraft these qualities, sometimes by force, upon church and state. Their great work was to lay foundations of law and order without which no country can enjoy permanent prosperity.
The Baptist Church, established in 1809, has a history older than Congregationalism, and has ever stood for the complete liberty of the individual under God, using the Bible as its only authority, and making
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND CHAPEL.
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
little of mere creeds, being thus democratic, not only in government. but in doctrine. This principle must thus have been wrought into the citi- zen life of Milford the most of the century, stimulating the sense of in- dividual liberty.
The Methodist Church came into history, as every one knows, as a new and living breath of the spirit of God, re-animating the cold and lifeless church of England, and bringing a new impulse to the churches of America. This must have stimulated the religions feeling of Milford. and quickened it to new life.
The Catholic Church is the mother of us all, however much many of her children may have come to differ from her. She holds still, with all her imperial government and extended ritual, to a grand ideal of unity, and her influence has been, in the main. in the view of the speaker, in favor of law and order in this country. The present A. P. A. movement, whose purposes to keep all Roman Catholics out of every office within the gift of the people of this country, was emphatically condemned by the speaker, as both unjust aud unwise, because our con- stitution grants equal rights to every citizen, without regard to the form of his religion, and unwise because it is the very way to bring on the religious war which the members of that organization claim to fear.
The Unitarian, or Liberal Church, grew for the most part, out of the narrowness of the Orthodox Church. It claimed wider views, both of the love of God, and the rights and possibilities of human nature. It has also given us a clearer insight into the human life of Jesus. By way of criticism and outlook into the future, the preacher held that the old idea of justice and law need to be supplemented by that of unmer- ited kindness and generosity, that the old individualism needed to he broadened into materialism, that the spiritual Divine illumination by the Holy Spirit needed also the enduring qualities of education and culture. that the Catholic ideas of unity and authority needed greater adjust- ment to our American ways and institutions, that the Liberal movement needed a deeper sense of the Divine within its rich thought of human- ity, and that all needed a more tolerant appreciation of the fact that none held the whole of God's truth. while each had been elected to receive a portion of God's light and life. God's aim was not simply to bless them, but always for the ultimate salvation of the whole communi- ty! Let us cross then, gratefully and hopefully. the threshold of the new century, working and waiting together. until that one. true kingdom of God. which filled the vision of the ancient prophets be indeed come.
" When the war-drum throbs no longer, And the battle flags are furled ; In the parliament of man, The federation of the world."
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Centennial Poem.
God of our fathers, we
In soul and country free, Would praise thy name; From Thee our heritage,
Our century's bright page,
Our trust in each new age, Unchanged the same.
Like to Jerusalem,
Mountains our borders hem,- Symbol of strength ;
Our valleys laugh with corn,
Beauty the hills adorn,
Health crowns each smiling morn, And joy at length.
We thank Thee, for the past, Since here our lot was cast In this fair town ; For men of noble worth,
The church, the school, the hearth,
Religion's higher birth, Our being's crown.
The coming century bless, Our banner Holiness, Our hope in Thee ; Guard us from every ill,
Thy truth in us fulfil,-
To know and do Thy will, Our service be !
Hasten Thy kingdom's reign, The gospel's sweet refrain, The wide earth o'er ; When all at one shall be In righteousness and Thee, All sons of God most free, Hence evermore !
A. JUDSON RICH.
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The Day's Observance.
Tuesday, the 26th of June, the day appointed for the'observance of the 100th anniversary of the settlement of the town, dawned fair and bright. It was a proud day for Milford. And as has been said :
" Those having in charge the observances, knew well when the grass was greenest, and the beautiful trees that adorn our streets were wont to put on their richest dress ; when the birds sing their sweetest welcome, and the golden robin comes back from the sunny south to its cherished home in their branches, and they chose that month to;call back and wel- come, and to rejoice with the scattered sons and daughters of our good old town.
The response was hearty as the invitation was cordial, and the occa- sion was one of the commingling of kindred spirits, as when a long sev- ered family once again gather about the "old hearth stone " and talk over and rejoice in the recollections of early scenes and associations the familiar places and faces inspire."
The public and private decorations on the occasion, which were pro- fuse, were tastefully, and many of them elegantly arranged by Col. Beals of Boston, ¿whose ability and skill in this direction are unsur- passed. The public buildings were arrayed in gay attire, with chaste and elegant adornment of a varied character.
It would be an almost endless undertaking to describe all of the dec- orations ; it would be easier to give the list of houses not decorated. It is safe to say that 99 per cent. of the houses, except on the extreme out- skirts, made some kindof a display. "About all of the houses on the line of march were hidden behind flags, bunting, streamers, shields and other decorations, signifying the spirit of the dweller therein, and im- pressing visitors and strangers with the sincere welcome extended by an hospitable people.
The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells and the firing of an early morning salute by " Mollie Stark."
"Molly Stark" is one of four cannons" captured by the intrepid Stark at the battle of Bennington, Ang. 16, 1777, and is of French make, and after its capture did valient service for the Americans. Two of its
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MILFORD CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
mates are preserved in the Capitol of Vermout, and this one is the prop- erty of New Boston by right of conquest.
The first spectacle to be witnessed was the bicycle parade at 8 o'clock, which was participated in by nearly sixty riders, the procession being headed by Mills, Hall and Elliott. The wheels, many of them, were gaily decorated with flags and colored ribbons. The route was over the one pursued by the regular procession later in the day. The citizens along the line were greatly pleased with the finest parade of this nature that the town ever witnessed.
At 9 a. m. was the dedication of the Col. O. W. Lull Memorial Foun- tain, of which a complete account is given elsewhere.
While these exercises were taking place, a great concourse of peo- ple from the neighboring towns were filling the streets. The bands were giving open air concerts, and the trade procession was forming on the several streets, with the head resting on Railroad Square, awaiting the arrival of the special train which was to bring the Governor and his staff, and many other invited guests.
Decorations.
The town hall took precedence in the line of centennial decorations. The front was profusely covered with bunting, includings flags and streamers. Across the center was a semi-circular design with the in- . scription, "100 Anniversary of Milford." Over the front entrance was a large bronzed eagle, underneath of which, and surrounding both sides of the doorway, was a heavy draping of flags and shields. On the south side large flags were displayed in unique design, and in the centre of the building was a large canvas painting, representing a camp scene in soldier life, or as the artist might describe it, union and confederate soldiers after the surrender. Also a large inscription, " 1794, 100 Anni- versary of Milford, Greeting to All." Wide, red, white and blue bunt- ing was festooned along the entire awning in front of the stores.
The Library building was bright with the national colors. In large gilt letters was the inscription, " Welcome to our Sons and Daughters. In front of Masonic hall windows, hung suspended a large canvas paint- ing emblematic of the order. The interior of the hall was tastefully decked in red, white and blue, draped with lace about the stage and bal- conies. On the wall in rear of stage was the inscription, " Welcome Our Guests." Over the quarters of the fire department in the basement of the town hall annex, were numerous American flags enclosing a can- vas painting of a fire scene, steamer, etc.
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