USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Lancaster > The one hundred & fiftieth anniversary of Lancaster, New Hampshire, 1764-1914; the official report of the celebration held in August, nineteen hundred and fourteen; > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
Yes, Lancaster, I return to you to-day to join with your other sons for the sole purpose of paying tribute to you; but as I gaze over your beautiful streets, magnificent drives, beautiful valleys and hills, my mind falls back abashed and I realize how idle is human speech and how fruitless are the thoughts of men. I know you will keep your homes in the future, as you have in the past, pure and independent; that you will teach your daughters in the future, as you have in the past, that they perform their duties with modesty and patience, for these qualities are the charms of women; that they should do nothing obtrusively for that is unwomanly; your sons, that an honest conscience is every man's first political law, and that "His sovereignty rests beneath his hat," that honest labor, spent on the farm, from sixteen to twenty-one, is better than a like period of service in the army; that true patriotism does not require the smoke of battle in the front and the incinerating plant in the rear; but that no force can justify the surrender of the simplest right of the free American citizen.
I realize that I stand among sacred memories; that the graves of my parents are in the inclosure yonder; that my youngest child is buried in the cemetery at the head of Main Street; that in each of the other cemeteries I have many friends. God bless them all.
In conclusion I wish to say, standing here reverent and uncovered, among thoughtful men and women, that there is no spot in this country where boy or man can better learn the lessons of highminded citizenship, of fortitude, and self-reliance, than right here in this old town of Lancaster.
"The bridegroom may forget the bride, Was made his wedded wife yestreen;
The monarch may forget the crown, That on his head an hour has been;
The mother may forget the child, That smiles sae sweetly on her knee;
But I'll remember thee, Glencairn, And a' that thou hast done for me."
[109]
Ye Olden Tyme Dance
T \O be young again! Is it a wonder that such a sum- mons as this was sufficient to overcrowd the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, albeit that the ones that were so eager to go had been working or watching from early morning? It is certain that in some things the world pro- gresses at a marvelous pace, yet how eagerly those that are surfeited with the pleasures of the present generation grasp an opportunity to live again the days of their youth! Dignity and years were both left at home, together with modern costumes, on the occasion of "Ye Olden Tyme Dance" and youth, with a frown at Father Time, wandered forth from Lancaster homes clad in the costumes of long ago. This great gathering in the hall proved to be the long looked for "Fountain of Youth." Here the elders not only danced the dances of their youth, but they were filled with the spirit of that youth. It was as if the cloak of time had dropped from their shoulders and once again they were enjoying the days of their boyhood and girlhood. Modern dances had scarcely a place upon the program and for once the lovers of the dances of past days were in their glory. Many came to the hall dressed to represent the period of the dances. From secret chest had been brought forth heirlooms and gowns which had been worn upon wedding days, or perhaps had been handed down from earlier generations. It was a wholesome and never-to-be-forgotten sight upon which a crowded gallery looked that evening!
[ 110 ]
F. S. Linscott Frank Smith Merrill Shurtleff
ANNIVERSARY
The decorator had sensed the spirit of the occasion and heavy beams and somber finishings had been covered with light and airy draperies of many colors, blended together artistically, combining with the lights to give a brilliant stage- setting for the concert and dance. The crowd was so large that seats were put on the dance floor until the conclusion of the concert, while the capacity of the gallery was exhausted.
Dr. William H. Thompson, who had the event in charge, had been thorough in the preparations, and the large number was accommodated with little discomfort. The concert proved a happy introduction to the dances and when the first number on the dance order was called many took the floor that had been strangers to the dance for two score years. Dancing with them were those young in years as well as in spirit, and all shared in the pleasures of the occasion. The audience in the gallery remained throughout, finding much to amuse in the animated scene upon the floor or in the various spe- cialties.
The specialties deserve definite mention. The little maidens that gave the minuet in "Cinderella" repeated it upon the Town Hall stage and the graceful dancing of the little ones won instant approval. Lancaster rarely has laughed more heartily than she did at a series of old-time dances given by eight couples that knew how to dance them. They danced and danced with a tireless energy while the audience applauded them vigorously. These dances were in three parts: first, a Canadian eight-handed reel; second, a double four-handed reel; third, a cutting-out jig. The dancers that did so much to entertain and amuse by their work were John Carr, Michael Laughrey, James Donahue, Patrick Murphy, James Carr, Patrick Brown, John Mountain, Barney McGinley, Mrs. William Truland, Mrs. Joseph Coyle, Mrs. Ira Hicks, Mrs. Daniel Foster, Mrs. Joseph Lassone, Mrs. Patrick Sheridan, Miss Sarah Carr and Mrs. Emma J. Lorenze. John White, Patrick Praught and William McGee fiddled to their hearts' content and when the dancers had concluded their exhibition
[ 111 ]
LANCASTE R
they had given all a glimpse of what dancing really was in the days of their youth.
Previous to the regular program of dances there was an hour's concert by Nevers' Orchestra of Concord. Arthur F. Nevers directed the musicians through what, perhaps, was as fine an orchestral program as had ever been given in Lancaster, which is not a stranger to good music. The concert numbers were all enjoyable while the solo selections by Mr. Nevers, cornetist, and Mr. Tozier, clarinetist, won special approval. The program as presented was as follows:
1 March, "The Rivals," Von Blon
2 Overture, "Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna," Suppe
3 Cornet Solo, "Sphinx Temple Polka," Casey
Arthur F. Nevers
4 a-Polish Dance Kinawiak, Wienawsky
b-Famous Quartette, Rigoletto, Verdi
5 Clarinet Solo, "Serenade Badine," Marie
Charles E. Tozier
6 Grand Operatic Selection, "Faust," Gounod
7 Finale, "America Forever," Paule
The response to the call "To the dance" was immediate, and the crowd of dancers assembled upon the floor, and through the entire program there was the fine music that characterized the concert by the same orchestra.
Dr. Thompson, floor director, had gathered about him as aides, men familiar with the old dances, and so there was little confusion as quadrille or reel was called. The "old-timers" had not forgotten the way they danced two score years ago and needed but little prompting from the aides, Fielding Smith, Charles Wentworth, Isaac W. Hopkinson and William R. Stockwell.
When the dance order, presented below, had been com- pleted, there also had ended the play time of the dancers. "Ye Olden Tyme Dance" had made happy the many that once again renewed their youth and entertained the larger number that had witnessed the scene of gaiety.
[112 ]
ANNIVERSARY
THE PROGRAMME NUMBERS Exhibition of Old-fashioned Dances
1 Plain Quadrille
2 Virginia Reel
3 Fisher's Hornpipe
4 Polka
Exhibition of Old-fashioned Dances
5 Money Musk
6 Tempest
7 Lanciers Quadrille
8 Petronella
9 Waltz
10 Portland Fancy
11 French Four
[113 ]
The Automobile Parade
T HE chapter caption is that used upon the official program, yet it is inadequate to explain what greeted the crowds that were in Lancaster on Thursday fore- noon. Rather it might be termed a moving panorama of beauty in which one surprise followed another before the onlookers had had sufficient opportunity to admire to their content. A decorated automobile signifies but little, yet when used in connection with spectacular parades one thinks of flags and bunting draped from the body of the machine and perhaps flags and banners flying. It is not strange that when Roman Chariots, Cupids, Butterflies, Aeroplanes, and Flower Gardens passed along the streets that almost to a person the crowd remained in position until the moving line had toured the Town and returned to Main Street, that it might secure a second view of the beautiful spectacle.
One would not form judgment upon a work of art by the number of square inches of canvas nor would he estimate this parade of decorated automobiles by the number in line. Measured by quality it surpassed anything ever shown in Lancaster, ranking for the ingenuity of conception and the care to detail in workmanship with the parade of the previous day. It had been supposed that Lancaster had placed all of its emphasis upon the day before. It was hardly expected that there would be new ideas and further decided evidences of the artistic after Wednesday's parade, which would seem to have exhausted all such talent in Lancaster. Yet Lan- caster, when occasion calls, proves that its talents are not with the few but with the many, and thus the automobile
[ 114 ]
ANNIVERSA RY
parade was one of striking beauty, reflecting great credit upon the designers for their taste and originality. It was not a parade of a large number of cars with sufficient decorations to be classified as "decorated," but of fewer cars, each of which stood for work and for thought.
Lancaster deserves the credit for the display, as the cars were all owned in Lancaster and decorated by Lancaster men and women. The invitation had been extended broad- cast to others outside to enter cars, and several of the mountain hotels had promised to do so, yet when the parade started none appeared, and only Lancaster-owned machines were in line. Yet Lancaster not alone saved the day but made the day. The superior quality of the cars entered gave the exhibition a tone and quality that could hardly have been surpassed, and might easily have been diminished.
The parade started promptly at eleven o'clock from Soldiers' Park at the word from Bernard Jacobs, Esquire, master of ceremonies. Nevers' Band in a decorated truck furnished delightful music throughout the march. The cars proceeded at a slow rate of speed up Main Street and were greeted with continuous applause. Passing next through the principal streets of Lancaster, the paraders were greeted with decorated homes and the Stars and Stripes, while an equally admiring throng applauded as the cars sped on their way. The line of march was to the head of Main Street, countermarching to High Street, to Summer, Summer to Middle, Middle to Mechanic, Mechanic across Middle to Elm, Elm to Burnside, Burnside to Prospect, Prospect to Main and to Centennial Park. When the latter point was reached the occupants of the cars were welcomed by a living flag of little girls and boys, a spectacle which in its beauty was well adapted to the con- clusion of a parade in which splendor had been so conspicuous.
Several tiers of seats erected opposite the Park were filled with the children. The flag with its stars and stripes was made by the children, about 200 of whom were in the display; the girls in white dresses and the boys with red and blue
[ 115 ]
LANCASTER
shields provided the proper color. A vast crowd was assem- bled at this point so that many were priviledged to see the living flag, arranged by Miss Carrie Curtis, Miss Ola Hubbard and C. Bradley Jordan, Jr.
Much interest was aroused by the award of the one hundred dollars that the Committee had set aside for prizes. The judges were Harry M. Paine, Esquire, of Providence, Rhode Island; Mrs. Kate Lockwood of Chicago, Illinois; and Mrs. Ralph C. Robertson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The judges awarded first prize, fifty dollars, to Mrs. Lafayette F. Moore; second prize, twenty-five dollars, to Harry J. Whitcomb; third prize, fifteen dollars, to Frank Smith; and fourth prize, ten dollars, to Fred C. Cleaveland, Esquire.
THE CELEBRATION COMMITTEE occupied the first car in line. Six of the nine members of the Committee rode, being driven by L. G. Bailey in his car. The decorations of the machine were confined to floral garlands and hoops, draped from the four-sides, forming a delicate rather than elaborate scheme of decoration. Banners with the inscription, "LAN- CASTER'S CELEBRATION COMMITTEE" hung on each side of the car.
NEVERS' SECOND REGIMENT BAND filled a large auto truck which had been draped with flags and bunting in National colors. During the entire procession the band played popular marches.
MRS. LAFAYETTE F. MOORE in her entry brought a glimpse of the long ago, back to the One Hundredth Anniversary of Lancaster when motor cars were not even seen in the dreams of the four venerable women riding on this later day to a first prize. Imagine a large touring car completely buried with evergreen brightened by poppies, and an idea will be had of its beauty. Red poppies were used in relief upon the top of the hood, and upon the four doors while two rows of the paper flowers extended from back to front, over the running board and fenders. In the middle of the car was a standard covered with green but lettered in red with the inscription,
[116 ]
工程学南
1
E. F. Haley I. W. Hopkinson J. W. Haynes
ANNIVERSARY
"WE WERE HERE FIFTY YEARS AGO." Ropes of evergreen twined with poppies, extended from the rear to the standard, on either side, to the top of the radiator and to the front springs. Two thousand paper poppies were used in the decorations. The passengers were Mrs. Lafayette F. Moore, age 86; Mrs. Ossian Ray, age 77; Mrs. Charles Allen, age 76; Mrs. Jared I. Williams, age 76; Irving Jones (chauffeur), age 20. The car was awarded first prize.
MERRILL SHURTLEFF entered a car evidently just from the land of the butterflies. The machine had originally been draped in white but when it had entered the parade swarms of butterflies of brilliant hue had alighted upon its sides, picturing every color of the rainbow as the car passed on its way. Huge butterflies were on the hood and at the back of the body of the car, while hundreds of little butterflies in brilliant colorings literally covered the sides. The young ladies in the automobile were dressed in white and carried white parasols to which other butterflies had swarmed. In the car were Misses Priscilla Moore, Katherine K. Underwood, Sally F. Hening and Elizabeth W. Ladd. Herbert Woods was chauffeur.
MRS. SARAH J. EATON entered a car that was exceptional for the ingenuity of its design. An aeroplane exemplified the march of progress. The tonneau was buried beneath asparagus and upon this bank rested a huge aeroplane, decorated with green and white cloth. Each detail of the machine was carried out in the perfect model. The three foot propeller revolved as the automobile moved, being connected with the propeller shaft of the car by a belt that received its give and take as the body of the car moved up and down on the springs. Eaton Leith was the aviator in an up-to-date aviator's costume. John C. Temple was the designer and chauffeur. He wore a white uniform, trimmed in green. At his side sat Master Parker Carpenter, grandson of Mrs. Eaton, also dressed in white. The work on this unique exhibit, one of the most pretentious shown in either parade, as well as the building of the aeroplane, was done at home.
[ 117 ]
LANCASTER
HARRY J. WHITCOMB in his touring car won well deserved attention along the whole line. The car was designed to represent a floral conveyance, drawn by a large white swan. The latter was driven by two little children, dressed in white, who occupied a raised seat of flowers to the front of the wind- shield. The boys drove the swan with reins of white ribbon. The car was completely hidden by alternating rows of white and yellow chrysanthemums. The hubs of the wheels were covered with yellow blossoms and the spokes with white and yellow, alternating. The tires were the only visible part of the entire car. Mr. Whitcomb used 2,000 paper chrysanthemums in decorating his automobile. The passengers were all dressed in white, the ladies holding white parasols and wearing white bandeaux. The swan-drivers were Mr. Whitcomb's son, Master Raymond, and Master Howard Foshey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Foshey. Mr. Whitcomb was the operator and with him were Mrs. Whitcomb, Mrs. Walter H. Sargent, and Mrs. Richard Clayton (Washington, D. C.). This car was awarded second prize.
FRED S. LINSCOTT emphasized the changing of the seasons in his attractive entry. Maple leaves, which nothing can excel in beauty and variety of tints, were used in abundance. The "Change of Seasons" was represented by green leaves in front, gradually changing in color until the rear of the car showed the brilliant tints of autumn. The ladies in the car were dressed in white, carrying white parasols bordered with maple leaves. The occupants were Mrs. Bernard Smith, Miss Ruby Kennison, Mrs. Enos G. Fay and Mrs. Clinton Wheeler. Raymond F. Linscott was chauffeur.
FRED D. CARPENTER went to Japan for the scheme of his decorations, the brilliant colors of the far East being con- spicuous in the design. Japanese figured cloth was draped over the car and was then bordered with red chrysanthemums and ribbons of pale green. The brilliant Japanese costumes of the ladies riding in the car completed the striking effect. The passengers were Mr. and Mrs. Karl Scates of Boston, Mr.
[ 118 ]
ANNIVERSARY
Scates operating the car; Mrs. Frederic R. Langworthy, Miss Florence Droney, Miss Mary Page, Miss Lucia Bass and Miss Lillian Simonds. The ladies carried Japanese parasols.
ISAAC W. HOPKINSON had a car simply but tastily decorated. Sunflowers were the principal theme of decoration, while yellow streamers were also fanned by the breezes. Mr. Hop- kinson drove his car and with him were Mrs. Hopkinson, Mrs. Blanche Hayes (Moline, Ill.), and Mrs. Gertrude Burn- ham (Berlin, N. H.).
JOHN HENRY HAYNES represented a butterfly driven by a fairy. The color scheme of the handsome car was orange and white. The car was bordered by orange and white blossoms, and the wheels were covered with bunting of the same color. A huge butterfly was suspended to the front of the hood, and little Mary M. Haynes sat in a beautiful elevated canopy driving the butterfly with reins of ribbons. Mr. Haynes was at the wheel, and the other occupants were Mrs. Haynes, Miss Minnie E. Wilson, Master J. Wilson Haynes and Master Elvin Bedel Haynes.
DR. HARRY S. PRATT went to the Orient for what impressed many as one of the very prettiest cars in line. Few knew, however, that Dr. Pratt's car was decorated with Chinese material and that the costumes also had been brought over from China. The car was trimmed with figured satin banners of yellow and red. Dr. Pratt, Miss Olive McMann and Sum- ner Pratt occupied the car. The three were dressed in Chinese costumes. The machine was brilliant in its decorations and colorings.
FRANK SMITH entered a chariot of Cherubs, and Miss Ruth Graham drove the car. The scheme of decoration was very elaborate. Asparagus and poincettias, the flowers that surrounded Mr. Smith's Florida home, enveloped the body of the machine, which to all appearances was drawn by a mammoth butterfly of brilliant hue. To the rear was an elevated seat from which Cupid (Esther Jean Smith, daughter
[ 119 ]
LANCASTER
of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chester Smith) guided the butterfly with red ribbons. Cupid was perfectly impersonated, even to wings of red and gold. The inside of the chariot was a bevy of beauty with the golden-haired cherubs, Katherine Laughrey, Evelyn Gullen, Barbara Langworthy, Elizabeth Ingerson, Mildred Currie, Marion Currie, Loraine Chandler, Genevieve Estes, Annie McGinley and Florinda Maloney. The car was awarded third prize.
WILLIE E. BULLARD was at the wheel of the suffragette car, in which the banners and colors of the organization for woman's suffrage were conspicuous. The attractive car was festooned with orange and white bunting; orange and white pompons were at each corner, on the hood and surmounted the standard. This standard, at the centre, read, "VOTES FOR WOMEN," while streamers ran from the back of the car to the hood. Mr. Bullard guided the car and he was accompanied by Mrs. Bullard, Mrs. W. D. Marshall, Mrs. Frank Spaulding, Mrs. George F. Morris, Mrs. Louis A. Norcott (North Adams, Massachusetts), Mrs. Albert Belisle (Bridgeport, Connecti- cut), and Frank Smith.
ELMER F. HALEY and his guests rode within a flower garden of red poppies that was as dainty as taste and flowers could make it. At the point at which two floral arches intersected a basket of flowers was suspended. The arches were made of red double poppies, and the whole of the car was bordered with similar flowers. The body of the car was covered with white, the edges being fringed. The front and guards were also draped with the white bunting, dotted with poppies. Mr. Haley, in a white suit, drove the car, and with him were Miss Lurline Haley, Miss Hortense Kingsley and Miss Rena McKaig dressed in white and wearing red sunbonnets. Five hundred paper double poppies were necessary for the decora- tions.
FRED C. CLEAVELAND was at the wheel of a car that took one back to the Roman arena until he noted that the chariot was much too delicate to engage in fierce combat with Ben
[120 ]
Col. Cross Homestead Scene at Park Stockwell Farm Holton Homestead
ANNIV ERSARY
Hur and other charioteers. Mr. Cleaveland, who designed the car and did the mechanical work, was rewarded by the words of praise that were heard on all sides. The design was that of a chariot completely concealing the car. Two white horses (merry-go-round horses) were driven by the little charioteer, Dorothy Cleaveland, and the wheels of the chariot revolved as the car was in motion, giving the appearance of a chariot under guide of a driver. Mr. Cleaveland, who was at the wheel, operated the car from an opening invisible to the spectators. The car was entirely covered with white, relieved by rosettes of purple and white. The horses wore white blankets and the reins were of white ribbons. Miss Cleaveland was costumed appropriate to the period she represented. Mrs. Cleaveland trimmed the car, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. George N. Kent and Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil Twitchell. This car was awarded fourth prize.
[121 ]
Thursday Afternoon's Attractions Part I-From the Mountain Top
I T is considered a bit of pardonable pride for one to show his intimate friends his choicest and rarest treasures. It was, therefore, but natural that after Lancaster had entertained her guests in many and varied ways that she should desire to escort them to the summit of one of her grandest mountains, there to behold nature, spread forth in all her glory, a broad outlook of rivers, mountains, meadows and hamlets.
Many years ago the inhabitants appreciated that few moun- tain views excelled that to be secured from the summit of Mt. Prospect and a small hotel was erected which was the mecca of many before the White Mountains won world-wide renown. Gradually, however, local interest waned and the building fell into decay and with it the fame of Mt. Prospect, other than to the occasional mountain climber. It was left for one of Lancaster's sons, Senator John W. Weeks, to redeem Mt. Prospect and to awaken once more the interest in this charm- ing spot. Accordingly in 1912 he commenced the erection of a summer home at its summit and his generosity has caused the gate to be ever open and to-day Mt. Prospect is coming into its own, one of the select objective points of the tourists.
Senator and Mrs. Weeks invited the visitors to the Anni- versary to make a special trip on Thursday afternoon to their summer home and the Committee planned for auto- mobiles to carry the guests there. Many of the cars made second and third trips up the road, and as a result the hosts cordially received quite a large party during the after-
[ 122 ]
ANNIVERSARY
noon and served refreshments. To many it was the first visit to Mt. Prospect or any mountain summit. To all it will be one of the greatest events of the week. Mt. Prospect stands some 2,000 feet above sea level and 1,240 feet above Lancaster village. It is one of the companion mountains to Orne and Pleasant that make up the three so-called Martin Meadow Hills, about two miles southeast of the Town. The view from the summit in either direction is one of continued grandeur while the drive upon the well-made road furnishes a succession of scenic beauties. When the late George P. Rowell selected Mt. Prospect Farm, on the south side of the mountain, as his summer home he did so in the belief that he obtained the most perfect view of the Presidential Range. This, however, is but one of the gorgeous views that greet the eyes from the summit.
The road to the summit represents a feat of engineering. The highway is eighteen feet wide and about one and three- quarters miles in length. The grade at its highest point is but twelve per cent. and automobiles make the journey with but slight difficulty. Words cannot express the beauty of the drive to the summit. As the road winds about the mountain, presenting the grand and obstructed views on east and south one marvels at the broad area of mountains, and for the first time is able to appreciate just how extensive are the mountain lands of this fair New Hampshire.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.