USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume II > Part 49
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later, the work having been completed, arrangements for the dedi- cation were made.
Invitations were sent to the Amoskeag Veterans, the Grand Army offieers of the Department of New Hampshire, the Sons of the Revo- lution, the New Hampshire Historieal society, and to many distin- guished persons.
Among those invited were Mrs. Tenney, Mrs. Campbell, and Mrs. Graves, granddaughters of John Stark. The president of the day was ex-Governor Moody Currier, with Harry Bingham and Oliver E. Branch as vice-presidents ; Edward B. S. Sanborn and Parsons B. Cogswell were secretaries. Charles C. Danforth was chief marshal, assisted by Andrew Bunton, W. H. D. Cochrane, Chauncey Greene, and Cornelius E. Clifford.
Thursday, October 23d, 1890, was clear but cold, causing discom- fort to those participating in the ceremonies, yet many eitizens and strangers were present. At half-past eleven the procession started from the Eagle hotel, marched down Main street a short distance, then countermarching to. the state house passed into the grounds. After music by the band followed by prayer, Governor Goodell prc- sented Moody Currier, the president of the day. At the conclusion of his remarks Miss Shirley of Goffstown unveiled the statue. The oration was then delivered by James W. Patterson, and the exercises closed with an original poem by Allan Eastman Cross of Manehes- ter, a student at the Andover seminary.
In April, 1890, a communication from William E. Chandler was received by David A. Taggart, acting governor, and the council, in- forming them that he would present to the state a bronze statue of John P. Hale. It was not, however, until the administration of Governor Tuttle that the statue was completed and arrangements made for its dedication. Wednesday, August 3d, 1892, was the day appointed for the unveiling.
Councilor George A. Ramsdell, chairman of the day, called the assemblage to order, and Dr. Alonzo H. Quint offered prayer. The unveiling was performed by Master Jolmn P. H. Chandler, son of the donor, and grandson of the statesman commemorated. Senator Chandler then formally presented the statue to the state, response being made by Governor Tuttle. After music by the Third Regi- . ment band the oration was delivered by Colonel Daniel Hall of Dover.
Following the oration interesting addresses and reminiscences were given by Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania, George S. Bout- well of Massachusetts, Frederick Douglass of Washington, Augustus Woodbury, D. D., Amos Hadley, Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., and John
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W. Hutchinson, one of the last of the famous family of that name, whose stirring songs of a generation before were well remembered.
During the legislature of 1889, which was the last of the old-time summer sessions, Benjamin Harrison, president of the United States, visited Coneord. Taking advantage of his presence in New Eng- land the legislature extended to him an invitation to visit the capital on Thursday, August 15th. Preparations were made by the state and eity to give to the event the character of a holiday. The presi- dent arrived from Manchester during the forenoon, attended by his private seeretary, Elijah Halford, and the committee of the legisla- ture. As usual on such days Railroad square was erowded with spectators. Major-General Ayling, representing the governor, and Stillman Humphrey, mayor of Coneord, weleomed the president to the capital eity. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired as the party proceeded to their carriages. The procession then marched through Main street directly to the state house, where the president and his escort walked through a double line of the Grand Army, the police, and the firemen to the main entrance of the eapitol. There Gov- ernor Goodell received him and presented the eouneil, and Mayor Humphrey introduced the members of the eity government. The gov- ernor, with the president on his arm, entered the representatives' hall, where the joint convention was assembled, and introduced him to that body. Standing near the speaker's desk the president spoke for a few moments and shook hands with the members as they filed past.
The presidential party then repaired to the platform ereeted over the steps of the eapitol, where the governor introduced the president, who spoke as follows: "Friends and fellow-citizens: That man is dull indeed who does not gain instruetion and inspiration from such a gathering of the people as the one before me. When the pressure of public affairs is upon the president at Washington, he turns to the people, who have only the desire that the government may be honestly and capably administered, and that public officials shall be faithful to their trusts and energetie in despatching their business. From that source one eannot fail to find rest and courage and in- spiration. I thank you most cordially for this generous and hearty welcome, and I will not further detain you in this unauspicious weather."
The famous President Pierce apartments at the Eagle had been specially decorated for the reception of the president, and there lunch was served. As an historic incident of the repast a pitcher used by President Monroe when he visited Coneord in the early years of the century was placed at the side of President Harrison by the proprietor of the hotel, John A. White.
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The engagements of General Harrison precluded a longer visit, so as soon as lunch was ended the eseort, consisting of Company C, Third regiment, conducted the president to the train in waiting and at 2 o'clock he was speeding on his way towards Massachusetts.
In accordance with public sentiment this resolution was passed by the city couneils on the 13th of January, 1891: "That a sum not to exceed twenty thousand dollars, be and hereby is appropri- ated for a Soldiers' Memorial, to commemorate the patriotism of the men of Concord who served their country on land or sea, in the several wars, to establish, defend, and maintain the unity of the Republic." The committee on the memorial was composed of the mayor, three aldermen, three councilmen, three citizens, and three veteran soldiers as follows :- Mayor Henry W. Clapp; alder- men, George B. Johnson, Henry McFarland, William J. Fer- nald ; councilmen, Leonard W. Bean, John H. Couch, Fred E. Cloudman ; eitizens, Giles Wheeler, Parsons B. Cogswell, Henry W. Stevens; veteran soldiers, John C. Linehan, Jas. K. Ewer, Harvey HI. Farnum. In selecting the site, the com- mittee sought the adviee of Soldiers' Memorial Arch . Frederiek Law Olmstead, a distinguished landscape architect, who, after examining White park, the City Hall green, and other places, finally recommended the site at the center gateway to the state house park. The legislature had passed an act granting permission to the city to erect the memorial on the land of the state. Plans for the work submitted by Peabody & Stearns of Boston were approved and bids called for. The accept- ed bid was that of Ola Anderson, John Swenson, and L. O. Barker. The contraet was sixteen thousand and seven hundred dollars. The eorner-stone of the areh was laid without eeremony on the 14th of May, 1892, and on the 17th of June the capstone was put in place. The committee, having appointed the 4th of July as the day of dedi- . eation, made appropriate arrangements for the occasion. It was esti- mated that the number of people present at the exercises was fully ten thousand.
The chief marshal, Solon A. Carter, with General Ayling as elief of staff, managed the procession with military precision, leading it through Main, Franklin, State, Capitol, Green, Pleasant, State,
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Thorndike, and Main streets to the place of dedication. In front of the arch a wide platform had been built, upon which the officials and invited guests assembled. Mayor Clapp called the assemblage to order, the Third Regiment band rendered Keller's "National Hymn," Dr. Daniel C. Roberts offered prayer, and Parsons B. Cogs- well, in behalf of the committee, presented the memorial to the city. The mayor responded, and amidst applause and strains of music the beautiful arch was unveiled. Joseph R. Hawley, United States sen- ator from Connecticut, delivered the oration, after which the day's ceremonies closed with a banquet in Phenix hall.
The movement for holding a legislative reunion at Concord was started early in the year 1896 by Joseph W. Robinson, and, gathering strength through assiduous committee work, it finally culminated in a successful meeting of two days' duration known as the First Leg- islative Reunion. Tuesday, June 30th, and Wednesday, July 1st, were the days appointed. By Monday evening animated groups of men in the Eagle hotel, and in the vieinity of the state house, vividly recalled memories of the old June sessions. The following morning several hundred past and present members of the legislature had assembled to remain until the afternoon of Wednesday. Phenix hall was the meeting place, and as early as 11 o'clock on Tues- day the floor and galleries were filled with members and spectators. Ex-Governor Cheney, president of the reunion, greeted the audience with felicitous words. Prayer was offered by the Reverend S. H. McCollester of Marlborough. Henry Robinson, mayor of Concord, welcomed the visitors to the capital city, the Third Regiment band played a merry medley, and Governor Cheney presented the orator of the occasion, the Reverend William J. Tucker, president of Dart- mouth college.
Following the oration was the banquet at the opera house, which continued until late in the afternoon. James O. Lyford, as toast- master, directed the speeeh-making. Among the speakers were ex-Lieutenant Governor Haile, George A. Marden, Albert E. Pills- bury, and William E. Barrett of Massachusetts, ex-Governor Wood- bury of Vermont, Rear Admiral Belknap, Senators Chandler and Gallinger, John G. Sinclair, Henry E. Burnham, and Samuel B. Page. After the banquet a reception was given in Doric hall by Governor and Mrs. Busiel. The festivities of the day ended with a grand ball at the opera house. Wednesday was devoted to renewing acquaintances, reciting reminiscences, and social intercourse. The only formal proceeding was the reunion of ex-members of the house and later of the ex-members of the senate in Phenix hall, where brief speeches were made expressive of the pleasures of the
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occasion. At a business meeting a permanent organization was formed, with Samuel B. Page of Woodsville as president. On the afternoon of Wednesday the last words were said, good-bys exchanged, and New Hampshire's First Legislative Reunion passed into the annals of Concord. It is not without local interest to recall the fact that the oldest cx-member attending the festivities was ex-Mayor Moses Humphrey of Concord, who proudly asserted his seniority by virtue of fourscore years and three.
On the last day of August, 1899, Concord added to her annals a holiday unlike any before. It was the celebration of Concord's first " Old Home Week." That the occasion was one arousing deep inter- est was shown by the claborate preparations made by the citizens. The idea of a festival which should call back to New Hampshire her sons and daughters originated in the mind of Governor Frank W. Rollins, and was first publicly announced at a banquet of the Sons of New Hampshire held in Boston several months before. The popularity of the governor's suggestion became at once apparent, and the project was favorably received. In Concord particularly much enthusiasm was shown, and the meetings for organizing committees were largely attended. The week beginning August 26th and end- ing September 1st was the appointed time for the festival throughout the state, different towns selecting such a day as might be most convenient. The Concord committee, as it fortunately turned out, chose Thursday, August 31st, as Concord's day, and work at once began. Committees selected with a view to every phase of a popular holiday were untiring in their labors; contributions of money were generously made; and all went forward under systematic and effec- tive management.
The opening feature of the celebration was the reception and concert held in Phenix hall on Wednesday evening. Here had gathered a throng of citizens with whom mingled many long absent sons and daughters, who had assembled to indulge in social inter- course and to listen to addresses of welcome and reminiscence. The music committee offered a choice programme, including the Third Regiment band, singing of "The Star Spangled Banner," by Mrs. Frank E. Brown, duets, and ending with "Auld Lang Syne," led by Ben B. Davis, the audience joining in the chorus. The speaking . began with a congratulatory address by Joseph B. Walker, followed by Moses Humphrey, John Kimball, Lyman D. Stevens, Sylvester Dana, and the Very Reverend John E. Barry, V. G., Concord's first resident Catholic priest, who took occasion to remind his hearers that he had lived among them for more than a third of a century.
Benign were the skies and delightful the temperature on Thurs-
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day, the day of the celebration. The good old custom of bell ring- ing announced from every church steeple in the city the advent of the unique gala day. From that moment until the last rocket of the pyrotechnic display late in the evening, amusements, contests, pageants, speech-making, concerts, parades, receptions, open-air thea- ters, followed one another with perplexing rapidity. Never had Con- cord done more to meet every form of taste and preference than on " Old Home Day." The business blocks along Main street were beau- tifully dressed with festoons of bright bunting, and the electric wire poles were transformed into Venetian masts hung with banners, so that the street presented a brilliancy the like of which Concord had never beheld. The state house was lavishly draped with flags and stream- ers, while the soldiers' arch and the elms and maples in the park were wrapped with the brightest of colors. The United States building was beautiful in holiday attire, as were also the city hall and police sta- tion, while the railroad station was ingeniously bedecked with exquisite and costly designs. Everywhere throughout the city were seen taste- ful decorations, and along the route of the procession there opened a beautiful vista of foliage and flags.
The first feature of the day's varied programme was the bicycle parade at 10 o'clock. Hundreds of wheels decorated for the contest, with not a few rigged out in comical designs, rolled into Main street and began their run to the North end and return.
During this performance the spectators increased, crowding the sidewalks and encroaching into the street, so eager was every one to secure a place from which to see the grand parade which was shortly to follow. Promptly at half-past eleven the Third Regiment band sounded the opening notes, and the procession began its march. Chief Marshal George S. Locke and staff, preceded by a platoon of police, led the way, and close behind rode Governor Rollins, escorted by his staff and the brigade and regimental com- manders of the National Guard. Constant applause and the waving of handkerchiefs proved the popularity of the state's chief magistrate in the city of his birth as he rode gracefully at the head of the line. Drawn out for more than a mile and a half, the procession traversed State street, then passing through West street to Main, formed in platoon front, and marched up Main street to the state house, where the parade was dismissed. The pageant was not only suggestive of material Concord by embracing artisans of all callings and the trades as well, but it portrayed business, social and official Concord with a completeness such as the people had never before beheld except in the procession of the 4th of July, 1876.
Fifteen hundred men and seven hundred horses took part in the
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parade. They were divided into three divisions, each led by a mar- shal and his aids. The first division comprised the governor and his staff, the military of the city, the Grand Army posts, invited guests, the mail carriers, and the employees of W. B. Durgin & Son's silver works, numbering a hundred men. The second division was led by Assistant Marshal John F. Morse. In that division were: Grand Canton Wildey, Uniformed Ranks Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of Hibernians, French Canadian society, Sons of St. George, the Concord Fire Department, visiting firemen, and veteran firemen dragging their old-fashioned machine. But it was the workmen from the Boston & Maine shops that formed one of the prominent features of the day and afforded the public an opportunity to see how impor- tant an addition had been recently made to material and industrial Concord. It was, indeed, an impressive picture to behold the well- drilled ranks from the Boston & Maine shops representing the various crafts as they marched under their respeeted leaders, all in working clothes and bearing in their hands the tools of their calling.
' The third division, under Assistant Marshal Frank E. Brown, was composed of floats representing the trades and business houses, with store teams, tally-ho coaches, business exhibits, private equipages, horsemen, decorated carriages, and many other interesting features.
The committee had arranged three separate entertainments for the afternoon of Old Home Day,-three attractions wholly different in character yet occurring at the same hours. At the driving park were the athletic sports and contests, and thither an excitement-loving crowd made its way soon after midday.
By 2 o'clock Phenix hall held an audience of ladies and gentlemen drawn thither to listen to the speaking. The governor and invited guests having arrived, the meeting was ealled to order by Joseph B. Walker, president of the day, who introduced Charles R. Corning as chairman of the meeting. Among the speakers of the afternoon were Governor Rollins, Mayor Martin, Senator Chandler, President Tueker of Dartmouth, Professor Bradley, Rev. Mr. Berle and Napoleon B. Bryant. The oration was delivered by James O. Lyford. Among the guests attracted to Concord by Old Home sentiment was Edna Dean Proctor, who had responded to the governor's invitation by writing an appropriate poem. Miss Proctor happening to be in the audience kindly consented to recite her poem and so added interest to the exercises. John W. Hutchinson, the last of the famous family of singers, on being recognized, came to the platform and sang several of his old-time anti-slavery songs.
At the close of the speaking the governor held a public reception in Dorie hall, at the state house. From 5 o'clock to the hour set for
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the display of fireworks, state house park and Main street presented a lively picture of a well-pleased throng of men, women, and chil- dren, some listening to the grand concert by the consolidated bands, some promenading, while others lounged on the grass and the state house steps, seeking a well earned rest.
That entertainment might be furnished for those not caring for athletic sports and the speaking, the committee had built an open-air theater on the Stickney lot, where Grant and Flynn's company of comedians delighted a large audience during the entire afternoon.
When evening came Bridge street was crowded with people wend- ing their way to the interval lot, where the exhi- bition of fire- works took place. This was a popular and successful part of the celebra- tion, and formed a brilliant close to the delightful holiday. Never liad Concord be- held so rich a festival of fire as on that night, and never before had the people seen so enchant- ing a spectacle, for special pieces had been pre- pared illustra- tive of the day, and when the The Perkins Statue. final piece was set off disclosing the picture of the old home farm- house and its well-sweep beautifully traced in lines of flame, Con- cord's first Old Home Day came to a close.
On Friday, April 25th, 1902, occurred the unveiling of the Per- kins statue. The foundations of the memorial had been completed during the previous autumn, and, before winter came, the statue had been set in place and the whole work covered with a temporary
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structure. The sculptor was Daniel C. French, a son of New Hamp- shire. The subject of this superb memorial, George H. Perkins, was one of the most distinguished naval officers in the Civil War, and who, although a native of Hopkinton, passed his youth in Concord and maintained a lifelong interest in the city. To his widow and to his only child, Mrs. Larz Anderson, Concord is indebted for this splendid addition to its statuary. The day of dedication had been fit- tingly chosen, for April 25th, 1862, was the day Perkins led Farra- gut's ships past the forts below New Orleans. The arrangements for the dedicatory ceremonies were carefully planned and executed. A low platform, upon which hundreds of chairs were placed, ex- tended up and down State street in front of the statue, while on each side of the memorial similar platforms were built to accommo- date the musicians, the G. A. R., and St. Paul's choir. The day was perfeet.
At half-past eleven the procession of invited guests, led by Gov- ernor Jordan and Mrs. Perkins, marched from the state house to the platform. Among the distinguished guests were many naval officers, at the head of whom walked another son of the Granite state, Rear Admiral John G. Walker, who was present as the representative of the secretary of the navy. Another naval guest was Commander Cowles, representing the president of the United States. Along the sidewalk on State street stood a company of marines from the navy yard at Portsmouth, who, with the two Concord companies of the National Guard, and a detail from the battery at Manchester, formed the military feature of the occasion.
When all had been seated the ceremonies opened with a prayer by Dr. Daniel C. Roberts. Rear Admiral Belknap, on behalf of Mrs. Perkins and her daughter, then presented the beautiful work of art to the state of New Hampshire. With eloquent words the gov- ernor accepted the trust. When the governor had concluded Hamil- ton Perkins, a brother of the commodore, escorted Mrs. Anderson to the base of the statue where she performed the act of unveiling. Immediately there arose cheers and hand-clapping mingled with music of Nevers's band and the fanfare of trumpets, while booming from Franklin street hill came a commodore's salute of eleven guns, fired by a section of the Manchester battery. A detachment of sailors hav- ing gathered up the flags draping the memorial, the statue stood for the first time revealed to the public. President Tucker of Dartmouth college then delivered the oration, and with the benediction of the Right Reverend William W. Niles, the interesting and impressive exercises ended.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
STATE PRISON.
JOSEPH B. WALKER.
Concord has ever welcomed such of its publie institutions as the state has seen fit to establish within her limits. In return she has always shown a generosity commensurate with her ability by eontri- butions in their behalf.
When, in March, 1782, the general court met in Concord for the first time, and the town possessed no other place for its sessions than the old North church, which could not be warmed, private enterprise fitted up a respectable hall for its aeeommodation in the upper story of a building now used as a dwelling-house, at the north end of Main street,1 and the proprietor 2 placed at the use of the governor and other state officials such rooms in his own house as their exigencies required.
The next year this ehureh was put in order for the court's aeeom- modation, and a few years later publie-spirited citizens contributed a suitable lot and five hundred and fifty-five dollars in money, to which the town, by a vote passed August 30, 1790, added "one hundred pounds, for building a house for the accommodation of the General Court," to be eighty feet long and forty feet wide, with posts of fifteen feet. In this the legislature thereafter held about one half of its sessions until 1808, when, having ceased to be migratory, this building continued as its stated place of meeting until 1819, when the state house beeame ready for occupancy and its site, some two ยท acres in area, together with all the stone entering into its construe- tion, transported to its destination, had been presented to the state as a free gift of the citizens of Concord.
Such also was the lot upon which the state prison had been erected half a dozen years before, and all of the granite required in its eree- tion, together with the opening of two new streets which gave access to this building.3
When, in 1840, the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane was about to be built, the town of Concord and some of its citizens con- tributed to that benevolent enterprise about ten thousand five hun- dred dollars, more than twice enough for the purchase of the exten- sive grounds upon which it was located.
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