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 3
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
The season of 1819 was long known as the "Dark Year" because of the large number of its dismal, dark days. We are told that "on Nov. 9th, the stars shone brightly by day through rifts in the clouds." These must have been times to try men's souls. It is no wonder that some of the settlers were ready to give up, leave the country and seek a more favorable climate. But nobler counsels prevailed, courage was renewed and new hopes implanted and the little colony lived on.
Now it may be very properly expected that on an occasion like this some mention should be made of our history as a Church, so I have decided to give a brief
SKETCH OF METHODISM IN LANCASTER
Methodism first came to Lancaster in 1799 in the preaching of John Langdon and Labam Clark. In 1800 Elijah R. Sabin visited Lancaster and preached many times, several conversions resulting. No doubt these preachers were followed by other pioneers of Methodism, such as John Broadhead, Martin Ruter, Elijah Hedding and others, though the record of their work is very brief.
In the winter of 1816-17 much religious interest was aroused. In re- sponse to a request from Lancaster people the Annual Conference sent a Methodist pastor, Rev. H. Davis, and the first Quarterly Conference was held in 1817. Varying success accompanied the work till 1831. On July 22 of that year a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a religious association under the name of "The First Methodist Episcopal Society in Lancaster." The organization was completed, a Constitution drawn up
[27]
LANCASTER
and signed by twenty-nine men. In the fall or winter of the same year a parsonage was built upon land donated by Harvey Adams.
On Feb. 4, 1834, Harvey Adams, Joseph Howe and Allen Smith were chosen a committee to "ascertain the practicability of building a Metho- dist Chapel in this village." Subsequently these three men were appointed a building committee and a chapel 40 x 60 feet with 16 foot posts was erected at a cost of upwards of $1000. Success seemed to attend the cause and Methodist preachers came and went according to the custom of the times.
The chapel was remodeled and repaired in 1858 at an expense of $1500. This building did service till 1888 when it was removed and the present edifice was erected in its place and dedicated Wednesday, March 20, 1889.
Three times has the New Hampshire Annual Conference met in Lan- caster-May 9, 1849, with Bishop Hamline as president; April 10, 1878, with Bishop Merrill in the chair; April 12, 1899, with Dr. J. H. Vincent as presiding Bishop.
As pastors, thirty-two different persons have served. Of these D. J. Smith served two terms, first in 1866-'67-'68 and second in 1879-'80-'81. Seven of these thirty-two men are now living-Revs. Otis Cole of Haver- hill, Mass .; Daniel C. Babcock of Claremont, N. H .; R. T. Wolcott of Manchester, N. H .; Thomas Whiteside now of the Maine Conference; A. L. Smith of Plymouth, N. H .; and the present pastor.
In 1893 at Grange, a distinct branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. A Sunday School and an afternoon preaching service have always been well sustained. In the summer of 1895 a neat and commodious chapel was built. Under an amicable arrangement made at the start the two churches have been served by the same pastor.
Such is a brief review of Methodism in our town. Men and women have toiled, all of them hard, some of them grandly. "Other men labored, ye are entered into their labors." What this Church shall be in the future depends not so much on what the fathers have done as what we of the present are doing. Let us make our work the grandest possible and pass on a noble legacy to coming generations.
[28]
ANNIVERSARY
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
REV. HENRY DEWOLF DEMAURIAC, Preacher
Text: "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."-Hebrews 11:10.
After explaining the Scripture lesson and giving a brief history of the three periods in the life of Abraham, the speaker continued in part as follows:
The transition which took place in the life of Abraham was from vague- ness of polytheism to the definiteness of the worship of the one true God; and from the position of mere man doing his duty to that of a man of power and wealth and thence onward to the position of a Friend of God. An enemy is a type of destruction. A friend is a type or symbol of progress and strength and hope. Abraham tried to build up God's work and he learned to trust God in everything so that his life was one of constant and hopeful progress. Basing each move that he made on this faith in God he went forth on his mission in the world and by that faith he was able to do the great things he did. It was all because he looked for the enduring city of God.
Something of this same attitude actuated the founders of our nation. They sought both political and religious freedom and came to America where there was room. They did not obtain their desire for many years. Like all the gifts of God this gift must come through faith and the faith of the pioneers must be tested. They had to be taught to look for the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Thus by faith they obtained their freedom and their land of promise. And, "without faith was not any good thing done that was done."
The same thing is true of those who settled in the parts of the whole nation. One hundred and fifty years is a precious segment out of the life of the nation if it has been dedicated to God. The two lone men who reached Lancaster in that far-off day and stayed in spite of their loneliness have grown to many thousands. The primeval forest with its hardships has become a delightsome wood in which a nation plays. The uncertain settlement in the wilderness has become a town of comfortable homes with a history of no small dignity. The earlier hardships have become inspiration to future effort. If the faith of 1764 overcame difficulties and obtained such a good result, who shall prophesy what the faith of 1914 will do?
[29]
LANCASTER
Very many things have been done, fine things, too. The need of the future is faith. Fifty years ago the people celebrated the one hundred years then gone, and then had a mind to work and started out to make another fifty years of life. We need not deny that mistakes have been made in the past and will be made in the future. Our confident assertion is that what has been done was done by faith and that the good to come must be brought about by faith. Without faith we cannot overcome the evil in our streets and we cannot conquer the evil in our hearts. We have much to be thankful for, and better still we have much to hope for. Let us be contented to take what we have and to go forward; to sojourn by faith in a land of promise with the other heirs of the same promise; and ever seek for the city which hath foundations and whose builder and maker is God.
[30 ]
1857
Hose Company Veteran Firemen Hook and Ladder Company
ANNIVERSARY
Other Services
At the conclusion of the services in the Congregational Church many present accompanied the Pastor to the Old Cemetery where they gathered for brief memorial services at the grave of "Parson" Joseph Willard, the first pastor of the Congregational Church and under whose leadership was built, in 1794, the first meetinghouse. Mr. Wilson first read the inscription upon the stone:
"Rev. Joseph Willard, Died July 22, 1827, Aged 66 years. For 28 years pastor of the Congregational Church of this town."
After which the audience sang, "Nearer my God to Thee," a quintet leading. Prayer was offered by Mr. Wilson, and Mrs. James L. Dow placed a floral tribute upon the grave of the man whose example and teachings did so much to encour- age the first settlers during their years of building the material and character foundation of Lancaster.
In the evening the congregations of the Methodist and Con- gregational Churches united in an "old-fashioned sing" in the auditorium of the former society. The service was largely attended and as everybody entered into the spirit of the occa- sion the songs were sung as they have not been sung in Lan- caster before for years. Apart from devotional services and brief explanations of some of the songs the whole service was devoted to the singing. Not only were the hymns dear to our ancestors on the program, but also such songs as "Auld Lang Syne," "Home Sweet Home" and "The Old Oaken Bucket." It was a grand service and a fitting conclusion to the religious observances of the day.
[31 ]
LANCASTER
At several of the churches the following Prayer of Thanks- giving, written by David Eugene Rowell, was offered :-
"Oh, Almighty Father of the Universe, on this day of rejoicing and happiness, we do with bowed head and bended knee, return to You our humble and hearty thanks, for during all the long years, in the dark nights of trouble, in the bright days of gladness, in the times of our adversity and in the times of our pros- perity, Thy hand hast led and guided us and our for- bears, so that by Thy Divine goodness we have been brought to this happy day, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
[32]
Music and Mirth
T UESDAY evening marked the opening of the festivi- ties of Anniversary Week, and the program had been arranged to encourage the spirit of sociability upon which to such a degree hung the success of the entire week. It was, therefore, eminently fitting that the informal meeting of old friends and the gathering of townspeople should in- augurate the celebration.
Man is by nature sociable and hence he was in a happy mood when he and his family wended their way to Centennial Park on this summer evening to chat with neighbors, to listen to the music and to start the celebration on its way. Even an over- cast sky held in its downpour of rain, apparently loath to dampen the ardor of the merry company on the Park below. The social instinct is a dominating trait among men, women and children, normally constituted. It was this instinct that was in the supremacy at this "get-together" gathering and sent the hundreds home at a late hour delighted at the first offering of the week.
The scene at the Park was inspiring in itself. Hundreds of electric lights illuminated the grounds, making a brilliant background for the assembly. Over the stage was a huge electric standard, "1764-1914," with a border of red lights. Little groups chatted under the elms while automobiles lined either side of Main Street, two deep, crowded with those that had come from a distance to enjoy the fine music. And the music was fine. It proved a very important factor in the program and encouraged the spirit of the hour. The concert was given by Nevers' Second Regiment Band of Concord,
[ 33 ]
LANCASTER
N. H., Arthur F. Nevers, director, supposed to be the best band in the State, and it did nothing during its engagement in Lancaster to detract from that reputation. Although the concert program and the other features prolonged the session until nearly midnight, few left the Park until the last number had been played, although the morrow had in store a continu- ous feast of good things.
This gathering belonged distinctly to the "people." It was Lancaster's personal welcome and greeting to her old residents and to the visitors. It was appropriate that such an occasion should open with the singing in concert of "Auld Lang Syne" and as the company were to leave for their homes all joined in singing "The Old Oaken Bucket."
Music was not the only offering of the evening. A little company of boys and girls, talented children, costumed for their parts, took old and young into fairyland, there to dwell for a period in perfect relaxation from care and worry, while they were escorted through several scenes of "Cinderella," as portrayed in pantomine by the youthful actors. Thus, early in the week, the boys and girls of Lancaster were brought into close touch with an event that would leave with them lessons of great value. It was proof that the Anniversary was to be an inclusive event, for old and young, for everybody in Lancaster. When the good Prince had been made content the curtain fell upon fairyland and in its place appeared the camp fires of the Indians and another generation of girls, members of the Camp Fire, appeared upon the stage and rendered an Indian dance to the delight of the company. Then there was more music, popular airs of the day and the classics of Rossini and Verdi, almost until the close of the day and the dawn of a new, completing a program that sent the company home in joyous anticipation of the coming events.
The detailed program rendered by Mr. Nevers and his musicians was as follows :-
[ 34 ]
Canton Coos, I. O. O. F. Knights of Columbus Uniform Rank, K. of P. Knights Templars
1252561
ANNIVERSARY
I.
March-Columbia, Overture-William Tell,
Burton Rossini Nevin
(a) Idyl-Venetian Love Song,
Famous Sextette-"Lucia," Donizetti
Cornet Solo-Cliftonian Polka, Arthur F. Nevers, Casey
Concert Waltz-The Flower of Italy, De Stefano
Grand Operatic Selection-"Traviata," Verdi
II.
March-Victorious Eagle, Rosey
Grand International Fantasia- "Patriotic Airs of All Nations,"
(a) Morceau-"Humoresque,"
Godfrey Dvorak
(b) Serenade-"The Warblers,"
Hutchinson
("Solo" for Piccolo and Clarinets)
Ballet-"Dance of the Hours,"
Medley-Latest Popular Songs,
Ponchielli Lampe Moquin
Finale-Post Band, ("Auld Lang Syne")
[35]
LANCASTER
"Cinderella in Flowerland"
One of the truly charming offerings of Anniversary Week was the operetta, "Cinderella in Flowerland," in which the dances and songs were given but the dialogue omitted. In this little story of Fairyland, Lancaster brought forward her very youngest entertainers and from the moment the dainty Fairy (Dorothy Cleaveland) in sweet song and graceful dance took the party into Fairyland until the special dance of fare- well by Miss Clarice McCarten brought the operetta to a close, all were charmed and delighted. Although only scenes were given from the play one saw the graceful Fairy and the gallant Prince, the disconsolate Cinderella in the simple garb of the Daisy transformed by the fairy-godmother into the fairest of them all, the Busy Bee and the faithful Robin Red, the jealous sisters with their scowls and their frowns, the little Blossoms in green gowns raving over their gorgeous bonnets, the fluttering butterflies gay in gold and silver and brilliant color, the dignified dancers of the minuet, the merry little Sunbeams with their frolics and songs, and the naughty little Raindrops in their long gray dominoes and large watering pots. It was a dainty little company in the woodland setting, dancing gracefully and singing sweetly the delightful story of Cinderella.
The operetta was well staged and perfectly costumed and was given under the direction of Miss Carrie A. Curtis.
The numbers included the welcome song by the Fairy with dance to special music arranged by Mrs. Fred C. Cleaveland; Song by Robin and the Blossoms; "Just Think of the Bon- nets," Blossoms; "I am Just a Daisy," Cinderella; Scene at Ball-"'Tis a Merry May Day," Blossoms; "Song of the Sunbeams," Little Sunbeams; Song and Dance by Prince Sunshine and the Blossoms; Butterfly Dance and Song;
[ 36 ]
ANNIVERSARY
"Dance Song, " by Blossoms, introducing the Prince and the Daisy (Cinderella); Solo, "Am I Dreaming?" Cinderella; Minuet for the amusement of Prince Sunshine and Cinderella by Elizabeth Gillespie, Kathleen Bernier, Alice Hening, Lila Johnson, Mildred Donahue, Dorothy Jacobs, Dorothy Cleave- land and Mary Blood; Second "Song of the Sunbeams"; Raindrop's Song; Grand Finale in which all sing and dance to Prince Sunshine and Princess Marguerite (Cinderella), in- troducing special butterfly dance by Miss Clarice McCarten and the Butterflies.
The cast of characters was as follows: Prince Sunshine
Fairy
Daisy (Princess and Cinderella)
Robin Red (Prince's Herald)
Bonnie Bee (Little Page)
Proud Sisters-
Hollyhock Tiger Lily Little Blossoms-
Poppy
Pansy
Daffodil
Violet
Sweet Brier
Mignonette
Lily Bell
Sweet Pea
Narcissus
Buttercup
Little Sunbeams-
Raymond Simonds Dorothy Cleaveland Amalie Smith Merrill Shurtleff, Jr. Herbert Lewis
Maragaret Keir Alice Hening
Dorothy Jacobs Lila Johnson Mary Blood Mildred Donahue Kathleen Bernier Elizabeth Gillespie Ruth Kingsley Ida Currie Olive Snow Anna Colby Florinda Maloney Dorothy Schurman Roxanna O'Dowd Olive Simonds Evelyn Gillespie Genevieve O'Dowd
[37 ]
LANCASTER
Little Raindrops-
Butterflies
Special Character-"Butterfly" Accompanist
Alice Elzada Fiske Kathleen McGoldrick Roxanna O'Dowd Evelyn Gillespie Doris Stone Elizabeth Ingerson Muriel Covell Evelyn Hill Miss Clarice McCarten Mrs. William A. Lewis
[ 38 ]
Lancaster Grange Mt. Prospect Farm P. J. Noyes Company Rebekahs
ANNIVERSARY
The Indian Dance
A delegation from the Camp Fire Girls made their first appearance at the Anniversary in an Indian Dance given by the light of the camp fire that burned upon the stage. The dancers were in Indian costume and gracefully went through the steps written by Mrs. Willard Hubbard, who later entered with a solo dance. The graceful movements of the young dancers in the dim red light was one of the pretty features of the joyful occasion.
THE DANCERS.
Accompanist, Mrs. William A. Lewis
Marguerite S. Armstrong
Marion Wark
Ruth A. Nesmith
Evelyn Whyte
Eva M. Woods
Vera Whyte
Lulu Currier
Elizabeth Gillespie
Agnes Truland
Kathleen Bernier
Lurline Gillanders
Edythe Carleton
Louise Conner
Clarice Craigie
Katherine Underwood
Amalie Smith
Ada Marchant
Geraldine Letter Helen Monahan Violet Praught
Millie Fisher
Hortense Kingsley
Ethel Parsons
Lillian Paul
Margaret Keir
Adelaide Monahan
Esther Hartford
Anna Smith
Helen Bailey
[39]
Civic and Fraternal Parade
Part One-The Parade
FIRST DIVISION Fielding Smith, Chief Marshal Charles A. Balch, George McCarten, Aides Berlin Brass Band North Star Commandery, Knights Templars (J. C. Breitling, Grand Commander) Float of Olive Branch Chapter, No. 1, O. E. S. Float of Ruth Page Chapter, No. 31, D. A .R. Lancaster Veteran Drum Corps Members Col. E. E. Cross Post, No. 16, G. A. R., in Carriages Float of Co. E. E. Cross Woman's Relief Corps, No. 36 Float of Unity Club
SECOND DIVISION Fred C. Congdon, Aide Nevers' Second Regiment Band
Canton Coos, Patriarchs Militant (I. O. O. F.) (J. D. Cummings, Acting Captain) Coos Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F. (H. H. Sanderson, Noble Grand) Float of Perseverance Lodge, No. 56, D. of R. Starr King Co., No. 11, U. R. K. P. (W. A. Thompson, Captain; A. L. Moulton and Carl Bennett, Lieutenants; H. J. Bennett. Sergeant)
THIRD DIVISION Robert J. Murphy, Aide Coaticook (P. Q.) Band
[40]
ANNIVERSARY
Bradley Council No. 1624, K. of C. (William E. Finnegan, Grand Knight and J. E. Hoey, District Deputy) Float of the Bradley Council, No. 1624, K. of C. Float of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union E. R. Kent Hose Company, No. 1. and A. F. & A. M. Bullard Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1. (Allan Moyle in command)
Veteran Firemen with old "Hand-tub"
Float of Mrs. Harry B. Carpenter
Decorated Carriage from Mt. Prospect Farm Float of the P. J. Noyes Company Float of White Mountain Temple, No. 9, P. S. Float of Lancaster Grange, No. 48, P. of H.
Float of Mt. Prospect Grange, No. 242, P. of H. Float of Metallak Club Float of L. G. Bailey
FOURTH DIVISION
Master Thomas Lyons, Aide High School Band Camp Fire Girls in Decorated Hayrack
Float of Grade Four of Public Schools
Float of Grade Three of Public Schools Float of "Cinderella" Cast Float of "Old Homestead" Cast Town School Children
The above gave to Lancaster what was without doubt the grandest spectacle ever witnessed upon Main Street. It was a moving line of brilliant color, representative of practically every local activity, and testifying in a definite way to the skill and ingenuity of Lancaster citizenship. It was highly inclusive of Lancaster's home, social and fraternal life. Vet- erans of the Civil War and fighters of fire, social organizations and fraternities, business houses and schools, each and all had places of equal prominence in this grand parade that
[ 41 ]
LANCASTER
inaugurated the program of Wednesday. There was superior music in abundance from four bands including the best in the State, and another that was undoubtedly the youngest, the Lancaster Boys' Band. In addition the veteran drum corps escorted the soldier boys as they have done many times before.
The conditions were ideal for the event and the occasion. Aurora never beamed more brightly than upon this fair August morning and her rays touched a scene of exceptional activity, brilliant in lavish decorations. Every Lancaster home was an "open house" to which brother, sister, parent or child had returned to join in the festival. Early morning trains brought their quota of neighbors, and automobiles added hundreds of mountain tourists to the assembly that listened to an excellent band concert while awaiting the start of the parade.
Complete preliminary arrangements by Charles W. Sleeper, who was in charge, and Chief Marshal Fielding Smith made it possible, in spite of the varied units, to start the parade promptly from the Town Hall at ten o'clock. The right of way was secured by closing all adjoining streets. As the column moved up the broad and shaded avenue, it formed a spectacle that will long linger in memory. The click of the camera could be heard on every hand in the effort to per- petuate the scene upon films. One marveled at the complete- ness of the whole and at the attention given to each minute detail. The score of floats represented skill in conception and labor in execution. The subjects were varied and appro- priate and the elaborate scheme of decorations, that stamped almost every float in the procession, surprised the stranger not familiar with the fact that Lancaster believes "a thing worth doing at all is worth doing well." It is worthy of men- tion that every organization in town in a position to enter a float in the parade did so and did that work conscientiously. It is commendable that practically every float design had been adopted before the announcement was made that prizes were
[ 42 ]
ANNIVERSARY
to be awarded. All of which proves that the compelling power back of the beautiful exhibits was the desire to co-operate in making Anniversary Week a success.
The character of the floats made it advisable in behalf of safety to confine the line of march to Main Street, a mile in length. As a consequence, two-thirds of the street had been traversed by the first of the column before the last of the fourth division had swung into line. This condition, however, but added to the attractiveness of the whole as upon reaching the upper end of Main Street the line countermarched and for about one-half the course two columns overlapped.
North Star Commandery, Knights Templars, whose local history dates almost to the birth of the Town, with the Berlin Brass Band as escort, paraded a large company, making an imposing sight in their elaborate uniforms. With these paraders were Knights who had held high office in the Grand Commandery. Starr King Company, Uniform Rank of Knights of Pythias, in their attractive parade uniforms of blue and carrying swords, won favorable comment; while Canton Coos, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., entered a good delegation which marched well and looked well in their dress uniforms. They were followed by a delegation from the companion order, Coos Lodge, I. O. O. F. Bradley Council, Knights of Columbus, was the youngest organization in line and although not a parading organization had a most com- mendable representation that won applause. The members wore purple sashes, straw hats and white gloves and had the Coaticook (Quebec) Band as escort. All of the fraternal organizations had many out of town members in line and the presence of the companies was a distinct adjunct to the parade.
Lancaster honored her founders in this parade of men, women and children and it was appropriate that she should remember her defenders, and therefore none received more generous recognition than the veterans who rode in carriages, members of the Post named in honor of Lancaster's valiant
[ 43 ]
LANCASTE ER
soldier, Col. Edward E. Cross, who was killed on the battle- field at Gettysburg. In the parade were the following veterans: Edwin B. Beach, Co. B, 9th Vermont Vols .; Hugh Corrigan, Co. H,5th N. H. Vols .; Don C. Clough, Co. H, 1st N. H., Heavy Artillery; Alden A. Dow, Co. E, 14th N. H. Vols .; Charles H. Emerson, Co. D, 8th Vermont Vols .; Charles Forbes, Co. H, 13th N. H. Vols .; John M. Farnham, Co. I, 1st N. H. Heavy Artillery; John H. Jordan, Co. I, 1st N. H. Heavy Artillery ; James N. King, Chandler's Company, National Guard; Michael Leary, Co. F, Ist Regt. N. H. Cavalry; Levi H. Parker, Co. K, 8th Vermont Vols .; John W. Stevens, Co. E, 1st Vermont Cavalry; Stephen Simmons, Co. C, 17th Vermont Vols .; D. T. Timberlake, Co. I, 23rd Maine Vols .; William H. Tripp, Co. H, 4th and 19th Maine Vols .; Austin Russell (Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts), 52nd Mass. Vols.
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.