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 3
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I quote again from the secretary's report :
The subject of drinks comes up. It is suggested by H. Berry that we ought to have a clean barrel set near the town house, with ice water in itand supplied with faucets." The matter "was finally settled by a motion from H. Berry that A. E. Simpson secure two barrels at Law- rence, with faucets, so they can be used to supply the people with all necessary liquids, to cool the parched tongues and quench the thirst of the heterogeneous crowd. Carried.
The Committee on Barges, Horace Berry, John W. M. Worledge, and Alphonso F. Campbell, were instructed to make the best terms possible in procuring barges. They hired Mr. Abbott, of Derry, who charged 20 cents a passenger, each way, for transportation from Windham Junction to the town house.
The selectmen were authorized to hire four policemen from some neighboring city for the day of celebration, and the meeting ad- journed, to meet on Monday, June 6th.
On that day a portion of the committee and some others, to the number of fifteen, met at the town house and made the seats in the tent, built a stage at the north side of the tent, about equally distant from either end, for the speakers, and another at the west end for the band. The work was continued on Tuesday.
On Wednesday many of the committee and a large number of peo- ple met at the town house, when the tables were partially set in the lower town hall and in Goodwin's hall, and the provisions cut and
23
Collation Prepared.
arranged for distribution to the people in the large tent the following day. The people of the town provided liberally of provisions, with the exception of meats and bread, which were purchased by the Com- mittee on Collation, ready for use. The following morning, A. E. Simpson, member of the Committee on Collation, who had had prin- cipal charge of that important branch of the celebration, was, with his wife and family as helpers, and others of the committee and peo- ple of the town, early at the town house, making the final arrange- ment for feeding the multitude. Dea. William D. Cochran, chairman of the Committee on Collation, who, the afternoon previous, had arrived home from Portland, Oregon, where he was a delegate from the Boston Presbytery to the Presbyterian General Assembly, was present, and assisted in the work. The setting of the tables in the lower town hall was completed, all the work that could be done was accomplished, and everything was ready for the public exercises of the celebration.
The account of the celebration appears elsewhere.
The day following the celebration, June 10, 1892, the committee,' with others, met at the town house, where the dishes were washed and packed, ready for return to Lawrence; the seats were taken down and the lumber was piled up, and W. C. Harris was authorized to sell the same. Provisions and personal property on hand were sold by the committee.
From all sources $869.95 had been paid in, and A. E. Simpson, treasurer, reported that there would be a surplus. The committee were in favor of publishing the proceedings connected with the celebration, from the commencement to the close. It was moved by William D. Cochran, and seconded by Alphonso F. Campbell, that Leonard A. Morrison be authorized to compile the proceedings.
The committee adjourned subject to the call of the president.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee, July 29, 1892, the fol- lowing resolutions, introduced by Horace Berry, were unanimously passed :
Resolved, That we, the members of the Executive Committee of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Windham, N. H., tender our grateful thanks to our former fellow-citizen, Hon. James Dinsmoor, of Sterling, Ill., for his finely-written, able, and instruc- tive address, at the celebration on June 9, 1892.
Resolved, That the secretary be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to Mr. Dinsmoor.
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Vote to Print Proceedings.
At this same meeting, on motion of William D. Cochran, the com- mittee voted to print the "History and Proceedings of the Celebra- tion of the 150th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Settle- ment by People of Scotch blood, of Windham, N. H., held June 9, 1892," as prepared by Leonard A. Morrison.
Figures giving an approximate cost of the publication of the same were presented by Mr. Morrison, and the committee voted to have 1,000 copies printed ; to use the money in the treasury, $168.44, to re- duce the cost of the work; to charge 75 cents a copy for the same, after thus reduced, and that Mr. Morrison secure the publication and have charge of the same.
A
PROCEEDINGS.
JUNE 9, 1892.
The following was the programme prepared for the day by Leonard A. Morrison, William D. Cochran, and William C. Harris, Commit- tee on Literary Exercises. This was carried through successfully, as every person assigned, with one exception, was present, and filled his allotted place. Three gentlemen, Hon. James W. Patterson, Hon. George Wilson, and Hon. John G. Crawford, who were not upon the printed order of exercises, accepted invitations to speak.
CELEBRATION of the 150TH ANNIVERSARY of the INCORPORATION OF WINDHAM, New Hampshire, June 9, 1892.
-
PROGRAMME.
Ringing of the bell at sunrise.
Music by the band on its arrival.
At 9:30 a. m., the marshal, John H. Dinsmore, Esq., with the band, will march with the school children, under the charge of the School Board, from schoolhouse No. 6 to the town house, where they will disband.
The marshal will then escort the officers of the day, the speakers, and invited guests, to the speakers' stand.
1. The marshal will introduce the president of the day.
26
The Programme.
2. Reading of the Scriptures, Rev. E. B. Blanchard, Andover, Mass.
3. Prayer, Rev. Augustus Berry, Pelham, N. H.
4. Song: "Give me your hand, Old Friend of Youth," by the Windham Glee Club.
5. Address of Welcome, by the president, Leonard A. Morrison.
6. Music by the band.
7. Reading of the petition for town charter, by the town' clerk, John E. Cochran, Esq.
8. Poem, Mrs. Margaret M. P. Dinsmoor.
9. Music by the band.
10. Historical address, by Hon. James Dinsmoor, Sterling, Ill.
11. Song : "The Rock of Liberty," by the Glee Club.
12. Greetings from over the ocean : Letter of Rev. Gilbert Alex- ander Kennedy, of Aghadowey, county of Londonderry, Ireland.
INTERMISSION.
Invocation of the Divine Blessing, Rev. Cadford M. Dinsmoor, of Exeter, N. H.
A social hour will be passed, enlivened by music by the band. After dinner, speaking to be resumed in the tent.
RESPONSES TO SENTIMENTS.
1. The Town of Windham, Evarts Cutler, Esq., New Haven, Ct.
2. The Church of Windham, Rev. Samuel Morrison, Charlton, Mass.
3. Our Public Schools, William C. Harris, Esq., Windham.
4. Music by the band.
5. The Nesmith Free Public Library, Rev. William E. Wester- velt, Windham.
6. The Townships of Londonderry and Derry, Our Early Part- ners, William H. Anderson, Esq., Lowell, Mass.
7. Music by the band.
8. Our Scotch Forefathers in Scotland, Ireland, and New Hamp- shire, Rev. Warren R. Cochrane, D. D., Antrim, N. H.
9. The Law, Hon. Francis Alexander Marden, New York City.
10. Our Native State, New Hampshire, Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle.
11. Music by the band.
12. The United States, Hon. Frederic T. Greenhalge, Lowell, Mass.
1
27
The Programme.
13. Windham's Absent Sons and Daughters, and their Children, Hon. Albert E. Pillsbury, Boston, Mass.
14. Music-" America " by the band, and sung by the audience.
15. Closing Words by the president.
16. Music by the band.
TRAINS LEAVE WINDHAM JUNCTION
For Manchester and Concord,
1:48, 4:09, 6:28, 7:30 P. M.
For Lawrence and Boston,
3:04, 5:00 P. M.
A special train will leave Windham Junction, for Lawrence at 6:30 P. M. This train will connect with trains for Boston, and places South and East, and will enable visitors to remain till the close of the celebration.
For Rochester and the East,
2:20, 2:59, 4:34, 5:37 P. M.
For Nashua,
3:46 P. M.
Barges will leave the Town House and carry passengers to all trains.
DINNER.
150th Anniversary
Windham, N. H.
LOWER HALL.
The Haverhill, Mass., City band, an organization of high repute, furnished music. It is one of the oldest organizations of the kind in the country, being organized February 3, 1843. It had the honor of playing at the dedication of Bunker Hill monument, and its members have badges worn by former members on that occasion. This is the list of members present June 9, 1892 :
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Membership of the Band.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HAVERHILL CITY BAND, JUNE 9, 1892.
Albin Kneupfer, Musical Director, Haverhill. Haverhill. Haverhill.
Charles B. Huntington,
Haverhill.
George A. Keene, R. B. Edwards,
Franz Wilfert,
Haverhill. Haverhill. Lawrence.
A. D. Wingate,
Haverhill.
Joseph E. Goodrich,
Haverhill. Haverhill.
Michael McGirr,
Haverhill.
C. Oscar Kimball, Stephen Ryan, .
Haverhill.
C. F. Berry, ยท
Haverhill.
James C. Wilkes,
Lawrence.
Fred W. Connor,
A. G. Robertson,
Haverhill. Haverhill. Bradford.
Charles Leighton,
Haverhill.
William Bartoll,
Haverhill.
Henry Page,
Haverhill.
Walter Thomas, Drum Major,
Haverhill.
Gov. Hiram A. Tuttle and Mrs. Tuttle, together with Attorney- General Albert E. Pillsbury and Mrs. Pillsbury, came on the early train, from Boston, which reached Windham about 9 a. m. Leonard A. Morrison, president of the day, boarded the train at Canobie Lake, to receive Governor and Mrs. Tuttle. A proper equipage awaited them at Windham Depot. Governor and Mrs. Tuttle, Leonard A. Morrison, Hon. A. E. Pillsbury, and Rev. E. B. Blan- chard rode together from Windham depot to the town hall. Several barges were present to carry the throngs that had arrived from Mas- sachusetts on the train. On the route many places were beautifully decorated with bunting and flags, and historic places designated-no- ticeably, the houses of Horace Berry and Mrs. D. M. Batchelder, and " the Manse," occupied by Rev. William E. Westervelt. At Mr. Horace Berry's, the spot where the early Nesmith home was located was appropriately designated.
At the parsonage, the governor and party were met by the band, which played "Hail to the Chief." On reaching the upper town
William J. Godfrey,
Haverhill.
Herbert W. W. Downes,
Walter H. Goss, Agent, and General Business Manager, Solomon Lowe,
29
Reception of Distinguished Guests.
hall, members of the Executive Committee, with their ladies, Rev. 1
William E. Westervelt, Mrs. Westervelt, and their daughter, and other citizens of Windham, together with visitors and guests, were waiting to receive the governor and his party. The reception lasted till 10:30 a. m., when the marshal of the day, John H. Dinsmore, Esq., formed the officers and visitors in line, and escorted them to the speakers' stand in the great tent. The marshal headed the line, fol- lowed by the president of the day and Mrs. Tuttle, Governor Tuttle and Mrs. Attorney-General Pillsbury, Hon. James Dinsmoor, orator of the day, Mrs. Dinsmoor, and other distinguished guests, visitors, speakers, and officers.
Previous to this, at 10 o'clock, the school children of the town formed in procession at the Center schoolhouse, No. 6, and marched through the village to the town hall, conducted by the marshal, John H. Dinsmore. The procession was as follows : Haverhill City band, 22 pieces ; school board, Benjamin E. Blanchard, William J. Emerson, and John W. M. Worledge; students of Pinkerton academy, carrying a banner inscribed, "Success ;" scholars of the six public schools with their teachers, and carrying banners bearing the mottoes, " Punctual- ity," "Obedience," "Kindness," "Diligence," "Honesty," and "Per- severance."
EXERCISES IN THE TENT, JUNE 9, 1892.
The exercises in the tent began at twenty minutes to 11 o'clock. The marshal of the day, John Howard Dinsmore, Esq., entered the tent with the Haverhill City band, under the direction of Albin Kneupfer. Then followed the school children, in charge of the mem- bers of the school board, carrying pretty banners. They were hand- somely attired and took their seats on the left, facing the speakers' stand. The great tent was well filled when Mr. Dinsmore, ascending the platform, called the company to order, and said :
Fellow-citizens, ladies and gentlemen : I now have the pleasure of introducing to you, Hon. Leonard A. Morrison, President of the Day. [Applause. ]
MR. MORRISON :- Ladies and gentlemen, the exercises of this interesting occasion will begin with the reading of the Scripture by Rev. E. B. Blanchard, of Andover, Mass.
MR. BLANCHARD said :- I will select, from God's Word, the 44th Psalm, and read the first eight verses :
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Exercises in the Tent.
1. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
2. How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plant- edst them ; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out:
3. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, nei- ther did their own arm save them : but thy right hand and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
4. Thou art my King, O God : command deliverances for Jacob.
5. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever. Selah.
Also from Psalm 78, the first seven verses :
1. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2. I will open my mouth in a parable : I will utter dark sayings of old :
3. Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the gen- eration to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children :
6. That the generation to come might know them, even the chil- dren which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children :
7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
And from Psalm 102, verses 11 to 28 :
11. My days are like a shadow that declineth ; and I am withered like grass.
12. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever : and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
31
Scripture Readings.
14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary : from heaven did the Lord behold the earth ;
20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner : to loose those that are appointed to death ;
21. To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem ;
22. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
23. He weakened my strength in the way : he shortened my days.
24. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days : thy years are throughout all generations.
25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure : yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed :
27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
THE PRESIDENT :- Prayer will be offered by the Rev. Augustus Berry, of Pelham.
THE PRAYER.
Let us pray : Our Father, who art the Lord and the God of all the earth, whose we are and whom we should serve and acknowledge in all the scenes of life, we rejoice to recognize Thy presence and to recognize Thy government and Thy providence, and Thy beneficence as we are gathered on this occasion to remember the past, to recall the interesting and tender scenes of by-gone years. We thank Thee for this goodly town, this town whose sons and daughters have gone forth
32
The Invocation.
to distant states, and other parts of the world, and have come back to-day to commemorate the 150th anniversary of its organization.
We thank Thee for all that is benignant in the day : for the skies that are above us, withholding their moisture; for the beauties of the green earth, and for this glad assemblage which has gathered on this occasion. And now we render Thee thanks that in the past there was established this municipality which has conserved the rights and in- terests of generations ; which has stood for justice and for truth. We thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for the fathers who did establish gos- pel institutions, and who did care for the interests of education. We thank Thee for the regard which they had for Thy Sabbath and for Thy sanctuary. We thank Thee for the virtues of life which distin- guished them, and that there did come through them a posterity that has made its mark in the world, and has so stood for justice and right and for all the great interests of our humanity. We pray that Thy smile may rest in an especial manner upon this occasion: we ask, Heavenly Father, that Thou wilt sanctify unto those who have come from a distance, those who have come from homes in other places to this, the home of their ancestors and of their own childhood : and as the tender memories of life come to them and throb in their souls, may it be a grand uplift to their own souls, and give each a higher and more precious view of the privilege of life, and may it intensify in them the responsibilities of living, and may all go forth from this occasion better prepared for duty, and to glorify the name of God.
Remember those in an especial manner who have staid by the old homesteads, the old hearthstones, and the old interests of this munic- ipality. We ask that Thou wilt stimulate their hearts by the exercises of this day; and may the toil and service and sacrifice which they have made to render this occasion a grand welcome to their kindred from abroad, inspire them with greater hope, greater faith, greater fortitude, and greater joy in service : and wilt Thou spare here, among these hills and in these vales, homes of purity, homes of love, homes of Christian nurture, and homes of that intelligence which has char- acterized all the past, as long as the sun shall cause the green to come upon these hillsides and in these vales, and as long as the white man- tles of winter snows shall rest upon these same vales and these same hillsides.
We pray that Thy grace may abound in large measure on this occa- sion to this people, and to all that shall come to occupy homes here in the future, and when, at length, the great drama of time shall have been concluded, may this town have been found to have accomplished
1
William D. Cochran. Albert A. Morrison.
James Cochran.
Milan Anderson.
Edwin O. Dinsmoor.
Benjamin E. Blanchard.
Horace Anderson.
33
Give Me Your Hand, Old Friend of Youth.
manifestly and well her great part in human living. May Thy grace abound to us all ; may Thy benediction rest upon us, and may we be prepared for the sweet, for the blessed, and the eternal reunion in those vales where the sun never sets, and where sorrow and parting are unknown. We ask all in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who is our Lord, our righteousness, and our Saviour. Amen.
1
THE PRESIDENT :- Ladies and gentlemen, in 1856 was organized the Windham Glee club. From that time to the present its ranks have been unbroken by death. Although out of practice, its members have very kindly consented to render some music for us to-day, at the earnest solicitation of their many friends. They will now sing the song, "Give Me Your Hand, Old Friend of Youth."
The members of the Glee club, Benjamin E. Blanchard, James Cochran, William D. Cochran, Horace Anderson, Milan Anderson, Edwin O. Dinsmoor, and Albert A. Morrison, were applauded as they took their places upon the platform, and sang the following words :
GIVE ME YOUR HAND, OLD FRIEND OF YOUTH. 1. Give me your hand, old friend of youth, One hearty shake will do me good ; Though years have passed since last we met, The heart's the same-'tis love renewed. Talk not of palace, prince or crown, Or worldly wealth, that fickle chaff, But rather round our hearts entwine Sweet schoolboy's days and childhood's laugh.
Chorus-
Give me your hand, old friend of youth, One hearty shake will do me good ; Though years have passed since last we met, The heart's the same, 'tis love renewed.
2.
Give me your hand, old friend of youth, Though wrinkles on your brow are seen ;- Those eyes grow dim, but speak the words Of love-though years have rolled between. We've met the world with all its change, And sought its pleasures, felt its pain ; Now the bright moment's come at last, Of early days-we're young again.
Chorus. 3
34
Hurrah for Old New England.
3.
Give me your hand, old friend of youth, Gray though we've grown, old Time keeps pace ; Brothers are we, in love and truth- - No fears have we to end the race. Here's happiness to friends of old, Affection's urn brimful of love ; Soon will it blossom, and unfold, A glorious flower, in realms above. Chorus.
The club rendered the song with remarkable clearness, steadiness, and harmony, and, when they had completed, the applause was so prolonged that they felt bound to respond to the encore. This they did by singing the old-time popular air, beginning, "Hurrah for old New England and her cloud-capped granite hills."
HURRAH FOR OLD NEW ENGLAND.
1.
This is our own, our native home, Tho' poor and rough she be ; The home of many a noble soul, The birthplace of the free. We'll love her rocks and rivers, Till death our quick blood stills- Hurrah for old New England And her cloud-capped granite hills.
Chorus-
Hurrah for old New England And her cloud-capped granite hills. Hurrah for old New England And her cloud-capped granite hills.
2.
Shall not the land, tho' poor she be, That gave a Webster birth, With pride step forth, to take her place With the mightiest of the earth ? Then, for his sake, whose lofty fame Our farthest bound'ry fills, We'll shout for old New England, And her cloud-capped granite hills.
Chorus.
35
Address of Welcome.
3.
They tell us of our freezing clime, Our hard and rugged soil, Which hardly half repays us for Our springtime care and toil ; Yet gaily sings the merry boy, As the homestead farm he tills, Hurrah for old New England And her cloud-capped granite hills.
Chorus.
4.
Others may seek a western clime- They say 'tis passing fair, That sunny are its laughing skies, And soft its balmy air ; We'll linger 'round our childhood's home, Till age our warm blood chills, Till we die in old New England, And sleep beneath her hills.
Chorus.
This song was finely rendered, and was received with much enthu- siasm by the audience at its conclusion.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Leonard A. Morrison, president of the day, gave the following address of welcome :
Ladies and Gentlemen :
" We walk to-day the halls of story, 'Mid pictures of the olden time, And voices, from an ancient glory, That charm us like a silver chime."
It is well to meet upon this interesting occasion. It thrills our hearts with throbbing memories of a past historic, and fruitful of good deeds. It awakens recollections that are sacred; arouses a deeper veneration for all that was grand, true, and heroic in the char- acters and lives of our predecessors. It causes the patriotic fires to glow with a steadier, brighter, and purer flame. As we review the 150 vanished years-as there pass before our mental vision the silent generations with their accomplished labors-as we stand this day and
1149715
36
The First Residents.
moment in their sacred presence, on this ground which they trod- like the Jewish patriarch of old, we would remove the shoes from off our feet, for the ground on which we stand is holy !
Surrounded by these sheltering hills, on these lengthening vales our fathers founded their homes, and lived their eventful lives. With me, turn backward the rolling years, and behold the founders of this set- tlement. Behold them in their ancient homes-behold them here. Since their advent, 172 years have joined those beyond the flood, and 150 have passed since the incorporation.
This town was a bleak and cheerless wilderness at the advent of its first residents. It was uninviting to less dauntless souls-but they fal- tered not. With courage undaunted, with tenacity of purpose strong as life, they labored successfully, and laid deep and abiding the foun- dations of the institutions of this township.
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