USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mont Vernon > History of the town of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire > Part 18
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Dinner was served in Institute Hall. Dr. Kittredge presided, and the speakers were Hon. George A. Marden, Prof. Hunt, Prof. Campbell, John F. Colby, Lucius B. Hutchinson of New York City, Dr. W. H. Weston of New York, and H. P. Smith. Among those present was F. O. Kittredge of West Medford, one of the charter trus tees. The reunion closed as usual with a social gathering in the hall.
No. 13. The fortieth anniversary and the regular triennial reunion were held on Thursday, August 21, 1890, meeting at the church at 10.30. Eastman's orchestra of Manchester was in attendance. Hon. George A. Ramsdell of Nashua presided, and Hon. George A. Marden of Lowell, Mass., Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts, delivered an address on "The Relation between the Country Academy and the People among whom it is Located." The poem was "Reminiscences of School Life," by Rev. J. P. Mills of Michigan. The Matrimonial Record was by Alice P. Campbell, and the Obituary Record by Charles C. Stinson, of Port- land, Me. The record noted the following deaths, among others, since the last report : John F. Colby, Boston ; Jesse Hutchinson, Bal- timore ; William Barrett, St. Paul; Rev. Henry Marden, Turkey ; John W. Adams, Littleton, Mass. ; Dr. J. M. Emerson, Barnstead ; Thomas H. Thorndike, Pittsfield-all early graduates.
Memorial sketches were then presented-on Dea. William
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Conant, by Dr. Bancroft ; on John F. Colby, Esq., by H. P. Smith ; on Rev. Henry Marden, by Rev. F. G. Clark ; on Prof. W. H. Ray, by Miss L. E. Trevitt. An ode was then sung which was written by Dr. H. E. Spalding of Boston.
Dinner was then served in Institute Hall, and speeches were inade by Dea. W. H. Conant, Rev. John Thorpe, (then pastor), E. B. Gould, Esq .. Nashua, Hon. J. P. Bartlett, Manchester, Rev. Frank G. Clark, Plymouth, Dr. William H. Weston, New York, Rev. A. Berry, Mrs. Berry, Prof. C. S. Campbell of Pinkerton Academy, Derry, Prof. Oscar F. Davis (present principal), Col. W. H. Stin- son, Hon. Charles H. Burns, Wilton, IIon. George A. Marden, John H. Colby, Esq., Boston, H. P. Smith, Lucius B. Hutchinson, Rev. George E. Sanborne of Hartford, Conn., a former pastor, and Maj. D. E. Proctor of Wilton.
In the evening there was the usual promenade concert and social gathering in the Hall.
No. 14. This reunion was held August 23, 1893. The morning exercises were in the Meeting-house at 10.30. H. Porter Smith pre- sided, Rev. John Thorpe was chaplain. Hon. John P. Bartlett, of Manchester, delivered the oration on "The Educational System of our Country-its Moulding Influence on Character;" the poem was by Hon. Edward E. Parker, Judge of Probate, Nashua ; the Matrimonial Record was by Mrs. Fannie (Dodge) Clark, of Amherst; the Obituary Record by Clarence Trow, of Amherst; and the ode was written by Mrs. Emma F. Abbott, Wilton. Music was by Custer's Grand Hotel Orchestra.
Memorial sketches were read by Dr. Bancroft, on Dea. George E. Dean, Thomas II. Richardson, and Capt. John Trevitt, three members of the Board of Trustees.
Dinner was served by the Ladies' Home Circle in Institute Hall, and the after-dinner speakers were Dea. W. H. Conant, Rev. John Thorpe, Dr. W. H. Weston, Judge Bartlett, Judge Parker, George A. Marden, F. C. Mclaughlin of Somerville, Mass., a summer boarder, John II. Colby, and Prof. John B. Welch, the new Principal.
In the evening Custer's Orchestra (from the Grand Hotel just opened) gave a concert in the Hall, and a social hour was enjoyed.
No. 15. The date of this reunion was August 19, 1896, the exercises being in the church. Dr. W. H. Weston, of New York City, presided ; Rev. C. P. Mills, of Newburyport, was chaplain ; Rev. Frank . G. Clark, of Plymouth, was the orator; Miss Lucia E. Trevitt read
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the poem ; the Matrimonial Record was by Emily C. A. Starrett, of Mont Vernon ; the Obituary Record was by Hon. A. M. Wilkins, of Amherst; and the ode by Jennie B. Carpenter, of Andover, Mass.
Dinner was served in Institute Hall by the Home Circle. The after-dinner exercises had begun most merrily. Mr. F. O. Kittredge, the venerable and only surviving original Trustee, had been honored with great applause. Dea. Albert Conant had made an interesting speech on some of the Institution's financial trials ; Mr. Willard P. Woods had spoken with his accustomed energy on "The relation of the Academy to the Town ;" Rev. Thomas J. Lewis, then pastor, had made a happy speech on "The Church and the School ;" and the next speaker was Dr. C. M. Kittredge (or, as his boyhood familiars knew him, "Charlie M.") And there are few efforts on such occasions so happy, bright, cheerful and witty as his. He had especial delight in recalling boyish pranks and incidents with his old chums, and told, with great glee, and with evident looking forward to what would be said in reply, by his especially close chum, George A. Marden, a story of the time when they played piek-a-back and frightened an ox in a yoke belonging to Hiram Perkins as he stood chained to a stake at Capt. William Bruce's blacksmith shop, waiting while his mate was in "the swing" being shod, and so disturbed the animal that he flew around and broke the yoke. As the Doctor sat down amid cheers and laughter, at the close of his speech, he was noticed to fall back in his chair, and with a gurgle in his throat he became unconscious. Drs. Dearborn and Weston were at once by his side, and he was removed to the lower rooms, where he died almost at once. The lately merry gathering was awe-stricken at the sudden calamity. At the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Mills, two verses of "Nearer, My God, to Thee" were sung, and, when this had been done, Dr. Weston returned to the presiding officer's chair, and said, in tremulous voice, to the hushed audience, "the Doctor has gone from us."
Of course this ended the alumni reunion, but at a business meet- ing held later L. B. Hutchinson moved that Mr. Marden, Rev. Mr. Mills and Prof. George W. Cox, the incoming new principal, be a committee to frame appropriate resolutions for the occasion, which was done, and they were adopted.
No. 16. This triennial reunion was due to have been held in regular course in 1899. But as the year 1900 would be the fiftieth anniversary it was postponed a year, in order that the two events might come together. The semi-centennial celebration was held
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Wednesday, August 15, 1900. This was also the first day of the town's celebration of "Old Home Week," and the reunion and semi- centennial were, therefore, made a part of the town celebration. The exercises were held in the new meeting-house for the first time, and began at half past ten o'clock. After an organ prelude, prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Bancroft, Principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, an address followed by Hon. Geo. A. Marden of Lowell, Assistant United States Treasurer at Boston, and President of the Board of Trustees. This was followed by a duet, "O Salutaris," sung by Mrs. Browne, wife of the Rev. Donald Browne, then pastor of the church, and Mrs. John A. Woods of Manchester. An able historical address was then delivered by Col. Wm. H. Stinson of Dunbarton. The Matrimonial Record was by Mrs. Henry F. Robinson, Hancock, and was followed by a vocal solo by Harry M. Kittredge, of Fishkill, N. Y., son of the late Dr. C. M. Kittredge. The Obituary Record was by Edgar J. Kendall, Esq., of Milford, and the Ode was written by Geo. A. Marden.
At the close of the exercises dinner was served in Institute Hall, but without the usual after-dinner formalities and speaking.
In the evening there was a social reunion in the Town Hall, fol- lowed by a fine concert by the Tabasco Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Club of Lowell, with singing and daneing.
The seventeenth triennial reunion was held on Saturday, Sep- tember 15, 1903, in connection with the celebration of Old Home Week, and also in connection with the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town. As a full chapter further on gives a re- port of this joint celebration, it is unnecessary to give the details in this place.
CHAPTER XI.
OLD HOME WEEK.
ESTABLISHMENT IN 1899 BY GOV. FRANK W. ROLLINS-MONT VERNON
FIRST TOWN TO RESPOND-ELABORATE PREPARATIONS-THE GOVERNOR ATTENDS-THREE DAYS' FESTIVITIES-ILLUMINATIONS, FIRE WORKS, SPORTS, SUNDAY SERVICES, ETC .- CELEBRATIONS EVERY YEAR FROM 1899 TO DATE OF THIS HISTORY.
It was a happy thought of His Excellency Frank W. Rollins, Governor of New Hampshire in 1899, to issue the following procla- mation, which explains itself :
Old Home Week in New Hampshire Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, 1899.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
The residents of New Hampshire have conceived the idea of celebrating the week of August 26 to September 1 of the present year as "Old Home Week," and of inviting every person who ever resided in New Hampshire, and the descendants of former residents, to return and visit the scenes of their youth and renew acquaintance with our people.
It affords me pleasure as governor of New Hampshire to extend this invitation in behalf of our people, and to assure those who may be able to accept that they will receive a cordial greeting in any section of the Old Granite State.
During this week our people intend to keep open house, and the doors of our hospitality will be swung wide open. A large number of towns and cities in the state will have local celebrations during the week, to which all are cordially invited.
Old Home appeals to every person of mature years, fath- er, mother, and childhood, and when you think of the old home,
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you bring back the tenderest memories possessed by man ; true love, perfect faith, holy reverence, high ambitions-"the long, long thoughts of youth." Few states have furnished more men and women who have achieved distinction and renown than New Hampshire, and our people hold these sons and daughters in high regard, In behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I heartily invite all to whom New Hampshire is a former home or place of nativity, to visit the State during Old Home Week.
(Signed ) F. W. ROLLINS. Governor.
Mont Vernon was the very first town to respond to the Gov- ernor's summons, and as an initial step an Old Home Week Association was formed, with the Hon. Geo. A. Marden as President, and Miss Ruth S. Conant as Secretary. The necessary committees were ap- pointed, and every arrangement was made for a first celebration of the new anniversary. An elaborate invitation was prepared. pub- lished in the newspapers, and sent to every native and former resident of the town, whose address could be learned, giving the details of the proposed celebration, which was to begin on the 26th of August, 1899, and to continue three days. This invitation was as follows :
TO ANY AND ALL WHO HAVE EVER LIVED AT MONT VERNON, N. H.
You are hereby cordially invited to come back to the old place to celebrate "Old Home Week" as recommended by Governor Rollins.
The local celebration will begin on Saturday Evening, August 26, 1899, and the following programme will be carried out as far as possible:
Saturday Evening. August 26. Town Social at the Town Hall. To this everybody in town at the time is cordially invited. There will be an informal social meeting for interchange of greetings, to be fol- lowed by dancing. Good music will be in attendance. If the Town Hall should prove inadequate, Institute Hall will also be thrown open.
A Grand Illumination of the streets and houses will be made dur- ing the evening, and a huge Bonfire will be lighted on one of the hills of the town nearby.
Sunday Morning, August 27. There will be, in the new Meeting- House, a service appropriate to the occasion, to be conducted by Clergy- men who have either been settled in the town over the Congregational Church, or who have at some time resided in the town.
Sunday Evening, August 27. The Evening Service will be con- ducted by distinguished laymen who have been residents of the town.
A special double quartette of good singers will furnish music for both the above services.
Monday, August 28. The morning will be devoted to rides and walks, golf, bicycling, tennis, and social calls; and in the afternoon a Basket Town Picnic may be held in the Splendid Pine Grove near the Grand Hotel, with such sports and entertainment as may be devised.
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There will be ample accommodation at the various summer boarding- houses, and at private houses, for all who desire, and at very reasonable rates. Those desiring to secure rooms and meals will be provided by addressing Mr. Will P. Woods, Chairman of Entertainment Committee.
Come back to the old hearthstone, and see what a nice. tidy, at- tractive village old Mont Vernon has become, and renew old associations, and meet old friends.
GEO. A. MARDEN, President Old Home Week Association of Mont Vernon.
Of the way in which these promises were carried out. the follow- ing dispatch to the Boston Daily Globe, from its special reporter, will give information :
MT. VERNON, N. H., Ang. 26, 1899 .- The "home week" cele- bration began here today, under the happiest auspices, the weather being all that could be wished for, and the projectors of the affair showing notable enthusiasmn in the enterprise.
Already it is evident that the inhabitants of this enterprising and hustling little town are determined to make their celebration the most notable one ever held in this part of the state.
To Mt. Vernon belongs the credit of having the first "Home Week" celebration in the state. The hotels, boarding-houses, and private residences are jammed full of visiting natives.
Today a large number came from Boston and other points to join in the week's festivities. The fame and beauty of the town also brought many strangers, who have entered into the spirit of the occa- sion as if they had been born and bred in the granite State.
Early this forenoon the people began to decorate their estab- lishments, and by noon almost every residence and other building was swathed in bunting and flags.
Soon after sunset hundreds of Japanese lanterns, which adorned the more pretentious residences along the main streets, were lighted. With the green foliage for a background they made a pretty picture.
Gov. Rollins's portrait, garlanded with flags and bunting, was to be seen as a part of the decorations on several public buildings.
By 8 o'clock bonfires and fireworks illuminated the town and made merry the erowds that perambulated the streets until midnight. Everyone, practically, kept open house. At 9 the town hall was opened to the public, and then the "home week" committee held an informal reception, enlivened by music furnished by the Second Regi- ment Band. Dancing was indulged in until midnight.
The most elaborate decorations of a public character are on the town hall, school-house. academy, and the Grand, Bellevue, and Campbell hotels.
Private displays worthy of special note, many of them made by people who are summer residents only, are given by Alderman J. H. Colby, Capt. E. G. Martin, F. O. Kittredge, A. W. Bragg, Paul Stucklen, all of Boston ; Hon. Geo. A. Marden of Lowell, Dr. J. P.
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Brown of Taunton, Hon. H. P. Moulton of Salem, Hon. A. H. Well- man of Malden, J. T. Bridge of Medford, J. F. Wellington and A. D. Clark of Somerville, Dr. C. F. P. Bancroft of Ando- ver, and the following local residents : Deacon A. Conant, Mrs. Blood, John T. McCollom, Col. Clark Campbell, G. W. Averill, Rev. Donald Browne, Benjamin F. Davis, W. H. Conant, Mrs. J. A. Holt, Lincoln Hall, W. P. Fox. Dr. W. I. Blanchard, W. H Kendall & Co., Mrs. P. F. Pike, George D. Pike, the Cutter cottage, Mrs. Fred W. Davis, Mrs. Maria Bruce, Walter Woods, Mrs. O. C. White, Mrs. William Stevens, W. S. A. Starrett, William H. Marvell, J. M. Gleason, Joseph W. Averill, W. F. Jenkins, Frank Smith.
It is worth while to go a little more into detail in narrating the story of these celebrations of Old Home Week, because the town has not been much given to celebrations generally, and because in those which have been held in connection with the Academy, and Old Home Week, there has always been a somewhat remarkable exuberance and enthusiasm.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, the second day, there was a special relig. ious service in the morning at 10.45 o'clock, in the charming little new meeting-house, every seat in which was occupied, and many chairs in addition were brought in, and some persons even had to stand.
The service began with an organ prelude by Mrs. J. F. Choate of Malden, a summer guest in the town, followed by the singing by a double quartette of "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," a hymn by the congregation, responsive Scripture readings, Scripture lessons, prayer, and a selection by a male quartette, "I Cannot Always Trace the Way." An offertory followed, and then came an able Old Home Week discourse by the Rev. Donald Browne, pastor of the church, dwelling chiefly on the duty of the sons and daughters of New Hamp- shire who have left the old state towards the home from which they had departed.
Addresses were also made by the Rev. Chas. E. Lord, D.D., of Newburyport, Mass., who was pastor of the church from 1856 to 1861, and by Rev. C. F. P. Bancroft, Ph. D., Principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., who was Principal of Appleton Academy in this town from 1860 to 1864. The double quartette then sang a selection entitled "The Homeland," the congregation sang " America," and the morning exercises closed with the benediction by Rev. Dr. Bancroft.
Governor Rollins did not arrive in town until 4 o'clock in the
SUMMER HOUSE OF J. FRANK WELLINGTON. Erected on site of old Dr. Daniel Adams House.
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afternoon, when he became the guest of an old schoolmate and townsman of his, Walter I. Blanchard, M. D., the medical practi- tioner in the village.
The evening exercises were denominated "A Laymen's Service," over which the Hon. Geo. A. Marden presided, and made an open- ing address of welcome to those who had returned to the old hearth- stones, and congratulated everybody on the entire success of the celebration, due to the hearty interest which everybody had manifested in carrying it on.
Mr. Marden then introduced Governor Rollins, who was greeted with great enthusiasm. The handsome little church had been appro- priately decorated and it was crowded to the doors.
The governor proceeded to make a plain statement of facts, as he said. He said that New Hampshire had been a farming state until fifty years ago, when the great west began to compete with the farmers of New England and rendered farming unprofitable. Then came the manufacturing. To his mind no country can be prosperous without a happy and contented yeomanry. It is the foundation of civilization and good government, he asserted. He spoke of the centralization of people in large cities, told of the evils springing from the crowding of people into cities, and pictured how much better off they would be if they would make their homes in the coun- try instead of living in city tenements.
He dwelt upon the large number of New Hampshire men who had taken up their abode in other states of the union, and pointed out what they had accomplished in building up the American nation. He expressed the hope of getting some of them back to their native soil, if only for a week in the summer time.
Governor Rollins then went on to tell the people what was needed. The first thing that should be done, he said, was to build some good roads. He intended to see that a start was made in this direction before he went out of office. The next thing was to protect the forests of the state, he said. And the next was to improve the district schools. He favored state supervision. He paid a warm tribute to the state grange, and told how much it was doing to im- prove the condition of New Hampshire farmers.
He said that he was very much pleased with the way the people had taken hold of home week, and that it was sure to be a permanent feature every year in New Hampshire. He especially complimented
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Mont Vernon on its celebration, saying that outside of Concord's cel- ebration Mont Vernon's was by far the best held.
Gov. Rollins was followed by Hon. George A. Bruce of Somer- ville, Mass., a native of the town, and former President of the Massachusetts Senate. He made an eloquent and stirring speech, as did Lucius B. Hutchinson of New York city, another native, and Mr. H. Porter Smith of Cambridge, Mass.
The exercises closed by appropriate singing, and benediction by the pastor, and the formal home week celebration so far as Mont Vernon was concerned was over.
The exercises on Monday were mainly informal, the visitors en- joying themselves in any way which seemed good to them, finding every latchstring out; and in the evening an impromptu reception was given the Rev. Benson M. Frink, a former pastor of the church, and to Mrs. Frink, they having arrived in town during the day, hav- ing been unable to be present sooner.
In 1900 the second Old Home Week celebration took place, in connection with the semi-centennial anniversary of the incorporation of Appleton Academy. As before, circular invitations were sent to everybody whose address was known. The Academy anniversary was celebrated on Wednesday, Aug. 15, and on the next day there was a golf tournament, and the day was given up to various informal social events. On Friday, Ang. 17, there was no formal exercise, but a good many people had arrived in town and were enjoying themselves.
On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Old Home Week celebration proper was begun with a Clam Bake in the beautiful pine grove on the old Woodbury (later the Hiram Perkins) farm, owned at this writing by the estate of Dr. Chas. M. Kittredge. It was a delicious summer day, and the First Regiment Band of Boston, a crack musical organ ization, furnished most delightful music at the grove. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon Governor Rollins and his staff arrived in a tally-ho coach with four horses, driven by Hon. John A. Spaulding of Nashua, who owned and occupied one of the cottages on Prospect Hill, and an experienced whip. The gubernatorial party were received at the Town Hall by a battalion consisting of a company of 44 young ladies in white, and a company of golf-players and caddies armed with golf elubs, commanded by Maj. W. I. Blanchard, M. D., and headed by the First Regiment Band. The party thus escorted marched to the
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Golf Links, and a charming dress-parade was held, the Governor and his party reviewing the parade. A pretty episode occurred, when the parade was dismissed, in a grand rush of the young ladies in white surrounding Governor Rollins and his staff and showering them with bouquets of flowers.
The Governor and staff then took supper at the Grand Hotel, and in the evening a complete illumination of the village occurred, and there was a parade, led by the caddies and the young ladies in a four-horse barge, with other vehicles, and with the band, and numerous banners, which made the tour of the village, preceded by a band con- cert on the Park. Fireworks closed the day, outside, and a fine ball was given at the Grand in honor of the distinguished guests.
Sunday morning a special Old Home Week service was held in the new meeting-house with a sermon by the pastor, Rev. Donald Browne, and with special music fitted to the occasion. The evening, as last year, was devoted to a Laymen's serviee presided over by Hon. Geo. A. Marden. There was singing by Col. Coit of the Gov- ernor's staff, Mrs. John A. Woods, Miss Kitty Osgood, and Miss Gertrude M. Sewall. Governor Rollins delivered an earnest and eloquent address in which he enlarged on the practical as well as sentimental value of Old Home Week, and Michael J. Murray, Esq., one of Boston's finest orators, followed in an address of rare power.
The celebration in 1901 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, Au- gust 24 and 25. The Saturday evening illumination and out-door concert were interfered with by a heavy rain, but the First Regiment Band of Nashua, a very fine organization, gave a concert in the Town Hall, where the crowd assembled, and passed a delightful evening in social festivities.
The Sunday morning service was conducted by the Rev. Henry Porter Peck, who had succeeded to the pastorate of the church, and who preached from a text taken from the 103d Psalm: "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" An orchestra from the band played at the service, and a charming violin solo was given by Miss Grace Whitmore of Boston, a summer guest. The band gave a saered concert on the Park toward evening ; and at 8 o'clock the now customary Laymen's service was held in the meeting.house, with Mr. Marden presiding, the orchestra helping out the music, and eloquent addresses were made by the Hon. Chas. J. Noyes, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Hon. Harrison Hume,
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