USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > History and proceedings of the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the settlement of Windham in New Hampshire held June 9, 1892 > Part 1
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE
WINDHAM CELEBRATION JUNE 9,1892.
M. L.
Gc 974.202 W73mo 1149715
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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N
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00083 6848
GENEALOGY 974.202 W73MO
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyproceedin1892wind
HISTORY
AND
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF
WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
HELD JUNE 9, 1892.
There comes a voice that awakens my soul. It is the voice of years that are gone ; they roll before me with their deeds .- OssIAN.
WINDHAM, N. H .: PUBLISHED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 1892.
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To the Descendants of the first Settlers, WHEREVER IN THE WIDE WORLD SCATTERED,
This record of a celebration in honor of the names, the birtues, and the deeds of
The Pioneers,
That gallant band of people of Scotch blood, toho founded the tobonship of Windham in Neto Hampshire,
This Volume is Inscribed,
By the Greentibe Committee.
1
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Windham Glee Club
Faces page 33
Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle
66
40
Hon. James Dinsmoor
66
66 45
Hon. George Wilson
83
Rev. William E. Westervelt
66
66
87
William H. Anderson
66
66 88
Hon. James W. Patterson
66
66 94
Hon. Albert E. Pillsbury
66
66 96
·
.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PREFATORY.
PAGE
Title-page
i
Dedication
iii
List of illustrations
V
Table of contents
vii
Preface
xi
HISTORY.
History . 1 .
Petition to the selectmen
2
Warrant for town-meeting
2,3
Action of the town, and committee appointed
2,3
Anniversary levees .
5-7
Appointment of committees
7
Selection of orator and poet, and letters to them
8,9
Proceedings of the annual town-meeting, March 8, 1892 9,10
Different committees on the celebration
10, 11
Selection of place for celebration
11
Committee's badge .
12
Report of the secretary
13, 14
Publication of historical article in Boston Journal .
14
Col. J. E. Pecker's article in Boston Journal, May 17, 1892 15-17
The invitation 19
The work expands . 20
Difficult questions solved 21
Work of committee on barges 22
Amount of funds collected for celebration 23
The committee vote to have the proceedings compiled 23
Vote of thanks to Hon. James Dinsmoor 23
The committee vote to print the proceedings of the celebration 24
Estimation of cost . 24
viii
Table of Contents.
PROCEEDINGS, JUNE 9, 1892.
PART I.
The programme
. 25-27
Dinner tickets 27
Haverhill (Mass.) band and list of members . . 27,28
Reception to Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle and Mrs. Tuttle 28
The marshal escorts visitors and speakers to the tent
. 29
PART II.
Forenoon exercises in the tent 29
Exercises in the tent . 29-76
Introduction of the president of the day by the marshal, John H. Dinsmoor, Esq. . 29
Reading of the Scriptures by Rev. E. B. Blanchard
. 29-31
The prayer, by Rev. Augustus Berry . 31-33
The Glee Club, and list of its members .
33
The song, "Give me your hand, old friend of youth "
. 33, 34
The song, " Hurrah for old New England "
. 34, 35
Address of welcome by the president
. 35-37
List of officers of the day, read by the secretary, Hiram S. Rey- nolds, Esq. . 37,38
Reading of the Petition for the Charter, with names of its signers, by the town-clerk, John E. Cochran, Esq. . 39, 40
Address of Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle . 40-42
Introduction of Mrs. Sarah Ellenwood, aged 100 years
42
Poem by Mrs. Margaret M. (Park) Dinsmoor
42-45
Address of Hon. James Dinsmoor .
45-73
Song, "Rock of Liberty," by the Glee Club
74
The intermission and dinner
. 74-76
PART III.
Afternoon exercises in the tent
76-104
Address of Evarts Cutter, Esq.
. 76-79
Address of Rev. Samuel Morrison .
. 79-83
Address of Hon. George Wilson
. 83, 84
Address of William C. Harris, Esq. The generous offer of Hon. George Wilson Address of Rev. William E. Westervelt Address of William H. Anderson, Esq. .
84-86
86
Address of Rev. Warren R. Cochrane, D. D. .
. 91-93
Address of Hon. James W. Patterson Address of Hon. Albert E. Pillsbury
. 94,95
. 96-98
Address of Hon. Frederic T. Greenhalge
98-101
·
. 87, 88
. 88-91
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Table of Contents.
ix
Address of Hon. J. G. Crawford
101, 102
Motion to adjourn to June 9, 1942 . . 102
Closing words of the president and adjournment
. 103
Poetical lines of Hon. Benjamin L. Baxter
103, 104
Prof. William S. Harris's article
· 104
LETTERS.
The old parish of Aghadowey, county of Londonderry, Ireland 104, 105
Letter of Rev. Gilbert A. Kennedy 106-108
Letter from the mayor of Londonderry, Ireland
108
Letter from John Carr, Esq. .
· 108
Letter from Thomas Dinsmoor, Esq.
. 109
Letter from Prof. Jonathan L. Noyes
109, 110
Letter from Orlando Davidson, Esq.
. 110
Letter from Rev. John H. Morison, D. D.
· 110
Letter from Hon. Jacob H. Gallinger
. 111
Letter from Daniel M. Park, Esq. .
111, 112
Letter from Rev. Carroll Cutler, D. D.
112
Letter from President Harrison
112
Letter from Hon. William E. Chandler Letter from Frank E. Park, Esq.
. 113
Letter from Rev. Joseph S. Cogswell
113
Letter from George S. Morison, Esq.
. 114
Letter from Hon. George A. Marden
114, 115
115-117
Letter from D. Wallis Morrison, Esq. Poem by Mrs. Mary Whitney Morrison Letter from Rufus A. Morrison, Esq. Letter from John Morrison, Esq.
117-119
.
119
Letter from Albro A. Osgood, Esq.
119, 120
Letter from ex-Gov. Charles H. Bell
120-122
Letter from Charles H. Milner, Fsq.
. 123
Letter from Samuel M. Nesmith, Esq.
123, 124
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114
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PREFACE.
On the day of the celebration, a court stenographer of large expe- rience and acknowledged ability was employed by the committee to take down the proceedings of the day. This he did, from the commencement of the public exercises to their close, with the exception of those addresses of which he knew a manuscript copy had been furnished me.
The regular method adopted by him in his record, the style, the form of address, and the exact language he used, have been adopted by me in this printed book, with the exception of a few unavoidable changes.
The addresses, as uttered or furnished in MS., are here given, together with the many addressed letters here printed; and, in the main, they are in the exact form of address and language of the speaker or writer.
I assume full responsibility for the preparation of the historical part of this book, and for the compilation. Whatever errors or inaccuracies may there appear belong to me.
Of the addresses and letters which are in this book, if anything appears in form of sentiment or expression to excite the criticism of any one, the widely scattered, genial, and philosophical authors will, no doubt, bear the same with good-humored complacency.
The long time which it has taken to secure engravings is the cause of the delay in the appearance of this volume. They who have inserted their engravings have the thanks of the committee.
L. A. M.
Windham, N. H.,
November 8, 1892.
HISTORY.
Since the first settlement of Windham one hundred and seventy- two years have passed away. Its founders have fallen asleep with their children and grandchildren, while those who remain in town of the fourth and fifth generations from their immigrating ancestors are the active men to-day. The memory of the olden time has been kept green. In many homes cherished mementoes of the past, of gener- ations passed away, and of old homes beyond the sea, have been hand- ed down from generation to generation. The lamp of political and religious faith has not been suffered to grow dim, nor devotion to sacred trusts to die.
The living descendants, in honor of their deceased progenitors, the founders and incorporators of the town, proposed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its incorporation. For more than ten years many of the people of Windham were watching and waiting for the eventful day and hour to come. As the anniversary drew near, they proposed to observe it with some attention, even in mid-winter, and with a more fitting celebration in the warm, glowing weather of June. It was deemed proper that the town, in its legal capacity, should take formal action for the proper notice and observance of the day. A petition to the selectmen for a special meeting of the town was pre- pared, of which the following is a copy, with the names of the signers. Others would gladly have signified their approval by appending their names to the document had it been necessary, but enough signa- tures were obtained to answer the legal purpose, and to abundantly show the general appreciation of the object and purpose of the cele- bration.
As it was an expressed desire by some that full details should be given of the proceedings of the committee, with quotations from the report of the secretary, I have made a full report of the proceedings and free quotations from the secretary's report, for the interest of the present generation in this town, and for the benefit of future ones.
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Warrant for Town Meeting, Jan. 23, 1892.
To the Selectmen of Windham, N. H .:
GENTLEMEN :- We, the undersigned, legal voters in said town, request you, at your earliest convenience, to call a meeting of the town, and insert in your warrant the following articles :
ARTICLE 1. To see if the town will vote to celebrate with appropriate exercises the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the town.
ART. 2. To choose such committees as may be thought necessary to carry the above vote into effect.
ART. 3. To decide on the manner of raising money to meet the ex- penses of the celebration.
ART. 4. To transact any other business relating to the celebration that may be deemed expedient.
Windham, N. H., Dec. 21, 1891.
William C. Harris, James M. Crowell, Abel Dow,
Isaac P. Cochran,
Samuel L. Prescott,
George P. Dow,
John E. Cochran,
David C. Foss,
Albert A. Morrison,
Horace Anderson,
Dalton J. Warren,
Henry J. Richardson,
Patsey Mahoney, John W. M. Worledge, Horace Berry,
George W. Johnson, Charles H. Barker,
Henry T. Wheeler,
Horace P. Dinsmoor, Benjamin E. Blanchard, Eugene W. Armstrong,
William D. Cochran,
Joseph P. Crowell,
Caleb B. Clark,
William H. Armstrong,
per L. A. M., John H. Dinsmore,
John A. Park,
George F. Armstrong,
Leonard A. Morrison,
William A. Thom,
Charles J. Miers,
Jos. W. Dinsmoor, Jr.,
Frank A. Crowell,
George E. Seavey,
Albert O. Alexander, per E. B.
A true copy of petition. Attest : JOHN E. COCHRAN, Town Clerk. A true copy of record. Attest : JOHN E. COCHRAN, Town Clerk.
The warrant issued was as follows :
[L. s.]
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
To the inhabitants of the town of Windham qualified to vote in town affairs :
Pursuant to an application to us of this date by ten or more voters of said town, you are notified to appear at the lower town hall in said town on Saturday, the 23d day of January, inst., at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, to act upon the following subjects :
First, To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.
Second, To see if the town will vote to celebrate with appropriate ex- ercises the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the town.
Third, To choose such committees as may be thought necessary to carry the above vote into effect.
Joseph W. Dinsmoor,
Chas. A. Reed,
James Cochran, John G. Bradford,
David C. Anderson,
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Action of the Town.
Fourth, To decide on the manner of raising money to meet the ex- penses of the celebration.
Fifth, To transact any other business relating to the celebration that may be deemed expedient.
Given under our hands and seal, this 9th day of January, 1892.
ALBERT E. SIMPSON, JOHN A. McVOY, AUGUSTUS L. BARKER, Selectmen of Windham.
WINDHAM, January 23, 1892.
We do hereby certify that on the 9th day of January last we posted and attested a copy of the within warrant at the place of meeting within specified, and a like copy at the store of John G. Bradford, a public place in said town.
A. E. SIMPSON, J. A. McVOY, A. L. BARKER, Selectmen of Windham.
A true copy of the warrant and the return thereof.
Attest : JOHN E. COCHRAN, Town Clerk.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Windham on the 23d day of January, 1892, at the lower town hall in said town, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, William D. Cochran was elected moderator. It was then unanimously voted to celebrate the 150th anniversary, and to choose a committee of two from each former school district, the following gentlemen being chosen :
No. 1. William D. Cochran, Leonard A. Morrison.
No. 2. Albert E. Simpson, John W. M. Worledge.
No. 3. Horace Berry, George E. Seavey.
No. 4. Hiram S. Reynolds, Alphonso F. Campbell.
No. 5. Augustus L. Barker, Joseph P. Crowell.
No. 6. William C. Harris, James Cochran.
No. 7. Charles H. Davis, Horace B. Johnson.
It was voted to leave the manner of raising funds in the hands of the committee, and they were authorized to fill all vacancies occurring in their number. The town also voted that the celebration should take place in the month of June, 1892, and that the date should be left with the committee.
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Names of Committees Chosen.
On January 29th this committee met at the lower town hall, com- pleted its organization, and considered the matter of raising funds to defray the expenses of the celebration. Leonard A. Morrison was chosen president ; Hiram S. Reynolds, secretary; Albert E. Simpson, treasurer; and William D. Cochran secretary pro tem.
It was voted to have a tri-semi-centennial festival on the evening of February 12, 1892, with a " C Supper," the tables to be furnished with articles of food commencing with the letter C. John H. Dinsmore was chosen president for the evening, John A. McVoy to sell tickets, John L. Bradford to collect them, John H. Cochran to care for the clothes, and John W. M. Worledge, William C. Harris, William D. Cochran, to procure posters and provide entertainment for the even- ing. The admission for adults, including supper, was fixed at forty cents ; children under twelve years, twenty cents.
The following announcement of the celebrating festival was sent out by the committee :
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ANNIVERSARY
LEVEE
TOWN HALL, WINDHAM, N. H.
FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. 12, 1892
By the citizens of Windham, for the purpose of raising money to (aid in Celebrating, in June next, the One Hundred and Fif- tieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town.
RICHARD
ENTERTAINMENT, BY CARLE. OF BOSTON
COMEDIAN
Ice Cream, Confectionery. and Flowers will be for Sale THERE WILL BE A GUESS CAKE, SPIDER'S WEB. AND MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS.
C SUPPER BILL OF FARE
CRANBERRY PIE
-CLAM CHOWDER CURRANT PIE CRACKER PUDDING
CHICKEN PIE
CHICKEN CUSTARD PIE CREAM PIE CHOCOLATE PUDDING CRANBERRY TARTS CURRANT TARTS
CAKE
COOKIES
CHEESE. CRABAPPLE TARTS COFFEE
CHINESE TEA
ADMISSION, including supper, 40 CENTS. CHILDREN, under twelve years of age, 20 CENTS.
If very stormy the Levee will be the first fair evening of the next week
Windham. N. H., Feb. 3. 1892.
Pres of the Werkty Mant. Derry Depot.
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The Festival of February 12, 1892.
The people of the town engaged with enthusiasm in the work of preparation, and the prospect for a brilliant success was never better. The daily papers announced "Much Disturbance on the Surface of the Sun," accompanied with dark spots of large size; which some journals insisted on proclaiming presaged heavy storms on this planet. Be that as it may, the storm came, and a severe one, on the day and night of February 11th. The wind blew with great violence, the snow fell rapidly, and before the dawn of the morning of February 12th a foot and a half of snow covered the ground. The evening was one of the finest. The moon was at its full ; the air was cool, crisp, and still, and not a cloud dimmed the azure vault above. A goodly company assembled in the town hall, and the evening passed away enjoyably, not the least of the attractions being the five handsomely laden tables in the lower hall. The supper was excellent, and was duly appreci- ated by the guests. A supplementary supper and entertainment were held in the same place on Monday evening, February 15th, and the proceeds from both entertainments, above expenses, were $115.
At a meeting of the town committee, who adopted the name of the "Executive Committee," holden at the town hall, February 13, 1892, several committees were chosen.
On motion of William C. Harris, a Committee on Finance were chosen, as follows : Albert E. Simpson, Joseph P. Crowell, William C. Harris.
On motion of Horace Berry, a committee of three were chosen to select an orator, and to arrange an order of literary exercises for the celebration. The committee were Leonard A. Morrison, William D. Cochran, William C. Harris.
On motion of Mr. Berry, an Investigating Committee were chosen to consult and see what would be an appropriate order of general exercises for the day of the celebration; to name the different com- mittees necessary to be appointed by the Executive Committee ; and to suggest a list of persons for these committees; the Investigating Committee to report their doing's within two weeks to the Executive Committee for their action upon the same. The Investigating Com- mittee were Leonard A. Morrison, Horace Berry, and James Cochran.
The committee to select an orator met and voted unanimously to extend the invitation to an honored son of Windham, Hon. James Dinsmoor of Sterling, Ill.
The following letter was sent to him :
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Letter of Hon. James Dinsmoor.
WINDHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE (Canobie Lake, N. H., P. O.) February 15, 1892.
HON. JAMES DINSMOOR,
Sterling, Illinois :
MY DEAR SIR :- At a special meeting of this town, holden January 23, 1892, it was unanimously voted to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the town. The incorporating act was passed on February 12, 1742; the celebration will be holden in the early part of June, 1892, when the weather is usually agreeable and pleasant. An Executive Committee were chosen to make arrangements, and to carry the vote of the town into effect.
It is proposed to render a tribute of honor, slight though it may be in comparison with their merits, to those Scotch people of heroic mould, who for opinion's sake fled from the mountains and valleys of Scotland to Ireland, and who themselves or their descendants, a little later, came to New Hampshire and founded this settlement. It was considered by the committee especially appropriate that at the celebration the histori- cal address should be delivered by one of their descendants, a son of Windham, and they have unanimously selected you as the orator who could very fittingly make that address. It gives me pleasure, in their name, as well as individually, to give you a most cordial and urgent invi- tation to again visit your own early home,-the home, too, of your fathers for four generations,-and to address your former fellow-citizens and friends, and those who will be present on that memorable occasion. Hoping that nothing will prevent you from accepting this invitation, I remain,
Sincerely yours, LEONARD A. MORRISON, . For the Committee on Literary Exercises.
This letter of invitation brought forth the following letter of accept- ance :
STERLING, ILL., March 15, 1892.
HON. L. A. MORRISON, Windham, N. H .:
MY DEAR SIR :- The request of the Committee of Arrangements for the proposed celebration of the 150th anniversary of the organization of our native town, to have me prepare an address for that occasion, has given me much pleasure, and at the same time not a little perplexity,- pleasure that while so many of the natives of that good old town have been called to active life remote from the home of our childhood, there yet remain within her borders sons who appreciate the physical and mental vigor and moral worth of the fathers of 150 years ago : perplex- ity that my present engagements and health will not permit me to make such preparation as may justify their selection. The latter has caused
9
Historical Town Meeting, March 8, 1892.
my delay in thanking the committee for the invitation, and expressing the hope that I may be able to contribute my mite to the meed of praise of our fathers of 1742.
Be so kind as to extend to the several members of the committee my kindest regards. Hoping this may find you in good health, I am
Affectionately yours,
JAS. DINSMOOR.
The Committee on Literary Exercises selected Mrs. Margaret M. (Park) Dinsmoor as the poet for the celebration, and the following invitation was given :
WINDHAM, N. H., February 18, 1892.
MY DEAR MRS. DINSMOOR :
There will be a celebration in June next in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the act of incorporation of this town. The Com- mittee on Literary Exercises, Leonard A. Morrison, William D. Cochran, and William C. Harris, have unanimously selected you as the poet, and desire, and now invite you to furnish a poem for that historic day. Hoping that nothing will prevent you from so doing, I am,
Sincerely yours,
LEONARD A. MORRISON, For the Committee.
To Mrs. Margaret M. (Park) Dinsmoor, Avondale Farm, Windham, N. H.
Mrs. Dinsmoor accepted the invitation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD MARCH 8, 1892.
At a legal town meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Wind- ham, on the 8th day of March, 1892, at the lower hall in the town house, in said town, at 10 of the clock in the forenoon, the meeting was called to order by William D. Cochran, chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
Leonard A. Morrison was elected moderator.
Prayer was offered by Rev. William E. Westervelt.
The moderator called William D. Cochran, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, to the chair, and introduced the following resolution :
Resolved, That we, the people of Windham, in town meeting assembled, on this, the 150th anniversary of the day and the hour when the founders of this town met in their first annual town meeting, under the act of incorporation, revere and honor those who established this township;
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The Day to Celebrate Selected.
that we hold their names and recorded acts in veneration, and would have them kept in perpetual remembrance.
Looking backward 150 years, we behold the fathers in their town meeting and tender them honor; looking into the future 150 years, we salute our successors of a remote generation.
When they shall gather in their annual town meeting in March, 2042, we commend to them the familiar names, the manly acts, the heroic vir- tues, of the founders of this town, that they may honor and emulate them, and in their turn commend to their successors of 150 years later the names of those whom we honor by this resolve, that their memory may not perish from among men.
He made some remarks in favor of the resolution, moved its adoption and that it be recorded with the records of the town. This motion was seconded in appropriate words by Horace Berry, and the town voted to adopt and record the resolution.
It was a singular coincidence that William D. Cochran, who called this meeting to order, was a lineal descendant of Robert Dinsmoor, chairman of the Board of Commissioners to call the first town meet- ing, and who undoubtedly called that meeting to order on March 8, 1742, just 150 years before, to the very day and hour; and that Lieutenant Samuel Morison, who was elected the first moderator in 1742, was the great grandfather of the person chosen in 1892.
On March 12th, the Committee of Arrangements met and decided to have the celebration at the center of the town on June 9th. Va- rious committees were chosen, as follows :
ON INVITATIONS.
William C. Harris, Leonard A. Morrison, William D. Cochran, Alphonso F. Campbell.
ON DECORATIONS. Horace Berry, John W. M. Worledge, Horace P. Dinsmoor, Charles H. Davis.
It was decided to have a brief synopsis of the history of the town and the proposed celebration prepared and printed in a leading paper, and to send the same to natives, former residents, and friends of the town. A Committee on Newspapers were chosen, consisting of Albert E. Simpson, William C. Harris, and Alphonso F. Campbell.
A Place Selected. 11
ON SINGING. Benjamin Edwin Blanchard, Hiram S. Reynolds, Albert A. Morrison.
ON BAND. Edwin O. Dinsmoor, Horace Anderson, Jacob A. Nesmith.
It was voted that the Committee on Reception should consist of the Executive Committee and their ladies, with Benjamin E. Blan- chard and Albert A. Morrison.
On motion of William D. Cochran, it was voted that Leonard A. Morrison and William C. Harris should constitute a committee to prepare a list of names which, when approved by the Executive Com- mittee, should, on the day of celebration, be the Honorary Committee. This closed the proceedings of that day.
Thus the good work went on and the hopes of the committee began to materialize.
The question of the selection of a proper place for holding the cele- bration had been an important one. Mr. Abel Dow, the manager and proprietor of the Granite State Grove, Canobie Lake, near the rail- road station at that place, had generously offered to the committee his spacious and beautiful grounds, and buildings with the exception of the skating rink, as a place to hold the celebration, if they desired. After due consideration, on March 12th, it was decided to hold the celebration at the center of the town, and the committee at their meet- ing on April 7th, on motion of Horace Berry, passed the following resolution :
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