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GC 977.102 C59rob 1912831
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02481 1082
5
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/officialreportof00clev_0
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OFFICIAL REPORT 12831
OF THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE FOUNDING OF THE
CITY OF CLEVELAND Ohio Clevel AND THE SETTLEMENT OF THE
WESTERN RESERVE.
JE & RELLEN
NE PUBLIC LIBR 'S
Compiled by EDWARD A. ROBERTS, Secretary and Historian of the Cen- tennial Commission, and published under appropri- ation by the City Council.
7771 59
36666
THE IMPERIAL PRESS
CLEVELAND, O. : THE CLEVELAND PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO.
1896
ТЯОЧАЯ ЛАЮННО
СЕЛЬЕИИІІ ЕГЕВБУШЮИ
розни10 4001 11:30
СИАЛНУБЫЛО ПО УТО
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предан был удатетова татьяной A dRAwad yd bylgmb)
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-
1912831
CL
EVELAND
UNITY
PROGRESS
1896
1796
rEaster
390019
"In miles of pleasant homes thy people dwell, A thousand ships within thy harbor lie at ease, Ten thousand chimneys high thy prowess tell-
O, fairest mart upon the landlocked seas !"
36666
CONTENTS.
PREFACE
xi
INTRODUCTORY
xiii
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS
I-II
CHAPTER II.
TRIP TO HARTFORD-FINAL PREPARATIONS 12-27
CHAPTER III.
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT
28-30
CHAPTER IV.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES .
31-38
CHAPTER V.
CAMP MOSES CLEAVELAND 39-43
CHAPTER VI.
OPENING OF LOG CABIN .
44-51
CHAPTER VIL
FOUNDER'S DAY
52-90
CHAPTER VIIL
NEW ENGLAND DAY
91-97
CHAPTER IX.
WHEELMEN'S DAY
98-102
CHAPTER X.
WOMAN'S DAY
103-141
CHAPTER XL.
EARLY SETTLER'S DAY
112-150
PAGE.
. :
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII. PAGE ..
CENTENNIAL YACHT REGATTA 157-159
CHAPTER XIII.
CENTENNIAL FLOWER SHOW 160-162
CHAPTER XIV.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS' ENCAMPMENT 163-170
CHAPTER XV.
HISTORICAL CONFERENCE
171-214
CHAPTER XVI.
ARRIVAL OF RHODE ISLAND PARTY 215-216
CHAPTER XVII.
PERRY'S VICTORY DAY 217-246
CHAPTER XVIII.
ECHOES OF THE CENTENNIAL 247-256
CHAPTER XIX.
PRESS COMMENT ON THE CENTENNIAL 257-264 INDEX 265,
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FRONTISPIECE. PAGE. HON. WILLIAM MCKINLEY opp. 2
HON. ASA S. BUSHNELL . opp. 6
HON. ROBERT E. MCKISSON . opp. 10 OFFICERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION . opp. 14 CHARLES W. CHASE, WILSON M. DAY, L. E. HOLDEN, SAMUEL G. Mc- CLURE, A. J. WILLIAMS, EDWARD A. ROBERTS. MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION-GROUP I. opp. 18 HON. D. L. SLEEPER, ASA W. JONES, W. D. GUILBERT, S. M. TAYLOR, H. Q. SARGENT, FRANK A. EMERSON, MINER G. NORTON.
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION-GROUP II. . opp. 22 CHARLES F. BRUSH, GEORGE W. KINNEY, A. T. ANDERSON, SAMUEL MATHER, JAMES H. HOYT, GEO. W. CADY, E. W. OGLEBAY.
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION-GROUP III. . . opp. 26
JAMES B. MORROW, JOHN MECKES, H. R. HATCH, M. A. HANNA, JOHN C.
HUTCHINS, A. L. WITHINGTON, CLARENCE E. BURKE.
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION-GROUP IV. . . opp. 30
Cot. O. J. HODGE, JOHN C. COVERT, MARTIN A. FORAN, GEORGE DEMING, II. M. ADDISON, AUGUSTUS ZENRING, JAMES M. RICHARDSON, J. G. W. COWLES . 32
MEMBERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION-GROUP V. OPP. 34 DANIEL MYERS, COL. WILLIAM EDWARDS, BOLIVAR BUTTS, DARWIN E. WRIGHT, WILLIAM J. AKERS, H. A. SHERWIN, KAUFMAN HAYS. FINANCE COMMITTEE . opp. 38 GEORGE T. MCINTOSH, F. F. HICKOX, MYRON T. HERRICK, F. L. ALCOTT, H. S. BLOSSOM, C. C. BURNETT, HENRY HUMPHREYS.
COL. J. S. POLAND, U. S. A. 39
ADIT. GEN. H. A.' AXLINE It
TROOP A AT CAMP 42
THE LOG CABIN . OPP. 44
CHAIRMEN OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES-GROUP I. . . Opp. 48
N. B. SHERWIN, GEORGE H. WORTHINGTON, J. W. WALTON, GEO. A. GAR- RETSON, C. F. THWING, F. H. MORRIS, J. E. CHEESMAN.
DRESS PARADE OF REGULARS ON EUCLID HEIGHTS . OPP. 50
GEN. MOSES CLEAVELAND 52
CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES-GROUP II. OPP. 56
B. E. HELMAN, JAMES DUNN, HENRY W. S. WOOD, R. D. WILLIAMS, L. N. WEBER, W. J. GLEASON, ADAM GRAHAM.
MOSES CLEAVELAND MONUMENT 59
SENATOR JOSEPH R. HAWLEY . 111.00
.1.
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
HON. O. VINCENT COFFIN . opp. 68
THE CENTRAL ARMORY 70
CLEVELAND GRAY'S ARMORY 74
ASSEMBLING FOR THE PARADE ON FOUNDER'S DAY opp. 76
COL. J. J. SULLIVAN
77
VETERAN. VOLUNTEER FIREMEN THE WATER TOWER OF 1896 8 1
79
FOUNDER'S DAY PARADE . opp. 82
"SNAP SHOT" OF THE PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE 84
FLOAT-" CLEVELAND, 1796"-HISTORICAL PAGEANT 86
THE CENTENNIAL ARCH opp. 88
FLOAT-"CLEVELAND, 1896"-HISTORICAL. PAGEANT 89
HON. JOHN SHERMAN opp. 92
ASSEMBLING FOR THE NEW ENGLAND DINNER 93
JUDGE CARLOS M. STONE 98
"SNAP SHOT" OF THE BICYCLE PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE 99
THE BICYCLE PARADE opp. 100
MRS. W. A. INGHAM 103
REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF THE WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT
GROUP I. . opp. 104 MRS. GEO. PRESLEY, JR., MRS. E. S. WEBB, MRS. M. S. BRADFORD, MRS.
N. B. PRENTICE, MRS. S. P. CHURCHILL, MRS. SARAH E. BIERCE, MRS. JOSEPH TURNEY.
MRS. ELROY M. AVERY . 106
MRS. GERTRUDE V. R. WICKHAM 107
CROWD DISPERSING ON EUCLID AVENUE, WHEELMEN'S DAY 109
REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF THE WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT
GROUP II. . : opp. 114
MRS. T. K. DISSETTE, MRS. CHAS. HI. WEED, MRS. JOHN HUNTINGTON,
MRS. W. B. NEFE, MRS. W. G. ROSE, MRS. F. A. KENDALL, MRS. H. A. GRIFFIN.
REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT- GROUP III. opp. 126
MRS. C. W. CHASE, MRS. M. B. SCHWAB, MRS. O. J. HODGE, MRS. A. J. WILLIAMS, MISS ELIZABETH BLAIR, MRS. L. A. RUSSELL, MRS. M. A. HANNA.
"SNAP SHOT" OF BICYCLE PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE 128
CLEVELAND YACHT CLUB HOUSE 135
COL. RICHARD C. PARSONS opp. 136
EARLY SETTLERS AT THE LOG CABIN OPP. 144
HI. B. HANNUM 153
THE PIONEER PARADE opp. 154
YACHTS IN TOW, CENTENNIAL REGATTA 158
VIEW AT CENTENNIAL FLOWER SHOW 161
ILLUSTRATIONS.
ix PAGE.
MAJ. GEN. JAMES R. CARNAHAN
163
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CAMP PERRY-PAYNE opp. 166 WALTER B. RICHIE . 168
Y. M. C. A. BUILDING 172 OFFICIAL. CENTENNIAL BADGE opp. 176
VIEW OF PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE, WESTERN RESERVE DAY, 178 VIEW OF PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE, WESTERN RESERVE DAY, 184
HOWARD H. BURGESS 191
BOARD OF CONTROL opp. 194 ROBERT E. MCKISSON, MINER G. NORTON, DARWIN E. WRIGHT, GEO. L. HECHLER, E. A. ABBOTT, GEO. R. WARDEN, HORACE L. ROSSITER.
CITY COUNCIL OF 1896 . opp. 204 F. A. EMERSON, WILLIAM PRESCOTT, D. H. LUCAS, MORRIS BLACK, C. W. TOLAND, C. E. BENHAM, C. I. DAILEY, WALTER I. THOMPSON, H. M. CASE,
MICHAEL RILEY, FRANK BILLMAN, P. J. MCKENNEY, J. T. DREWETT, C. A. WITZEL, DAN F. REYNOLDS, JR., C. FRESE, GEO. H. BILLMAN, CHAS. P. DRYDEN, DR. D. B. STEUER, J. F. PALMER.
STATUE OF COMMODORE PERRY 2II
GOVERNOR BUSHNELL AND GOVERNOR LIPPITT WITH MEMBERS OF
THEIR OFFICIAL STAFFS opp. 214
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 219
GOVERNOR CHARLES WARREN LIPPITT . opp. 224
CAPT. W. J. MORGAN 232
PARADE ON PERRY'S VICTORY DAY . opp. 236
"' SNAP SHOT" OF PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE 241
THE CITY FLAG AND OFFICIAL CENTENNIAL MEDAL opp. 248 GOVERNOR BUSHNELL AND STAFF 260
PREFACE.
This book is designed to preserve in a form convenient for future. reference a report of the proceedings connected with a celebration which will stand for ages as a landmark in the history of a great city. During this celebration many public addresses representing a vast amount of labor and research were delivered, and demonstrations outrivaling any previously given in the State were conducted. It is due to those who took part in these exercises that some permanent record of their patriotic work should be provided. With this end in view the City Council Com- mittee on Appropriations arranged for the publication of this volume. No effort has been made at elaboration in the presentation of facts, but rather has the aim been toward simplicity and condensation. In the preparation of material the writer has sought to give those addresses most space which are of greatest historical value, and in all cases has this rule been followed where synopses have been made. Owing to the fact that arrangements for the production of the report were not com- pleted until near the close of the celebration, it has been necessary to rely, in a measure, upon the daily press for information. As far as pos- sible, however, original copies of the addresses have been obtained, and in every instance the formations of the parades have been secured from the chief marshals in charge. The writer desires at this point to ac- knowledge the co-operation of the Appropriations Committee, consisting of Dan F. Reynolds, Jr., Charles P. Dryden and M. F. Barrett, and of City Clerk Howard H. Burgess. Thanks are also due to Wilson M. Day, the Director-General of the celebration, and to the following per- sons for valuable assistance : Mrs. W. A. Ingham, President of the Woman's Department; Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, Chairman of the Execu- tive Committee of the Woman's Department, and to the speakers and marshals and all others who have contributed in any way to the success .. of the publication.
·
EDWARD A. ROBERTS.
٢٠
.31 .1:
INTRODUCTORY.
The passage of a hundred years in the life of a city is worthy of celebration. Especially is this so if that city, through industry and thrift, has brought itself prominently to the front in the race for great- ness. Such a city is Cleveland. In 1796 a wilderness - in 1896 a city with fifty thousand homes; in 1796 a bartering place for Indians - in 1896 the center of a vast commercial trade; in 1796 a drying yard for bark canoes-in 1896 the Clyde of the West; in 1796 an infant newly born - in 1896 an Apollo among the cities of the world.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-six was a jubilee year in the city's history. On July twenty-second of that year Cleveland became a fully- accredited centenarian. In keeping with the importance of the event, a celebration was arranged in which the story of its birth and growth was appropriately told. A programme of observances covering a period of seven weeks, during which public attention was impressively directed to the record of the century, was carried out. In honor of the anniver- sary, the city was in gala attire. Public buildings and business blocks, together with hundreds of private residences, were handsomely decor- ated with banners and flags. An arch of triumph was erected in the Public Square, where was also built a log cabin, typical of the early days. Public exercises of an interesting and instructive character were held, numerous civic and military pageants were conducted through the streets, frequent concerts were given in the parks, and a general period of re- joicing was observed.
The arrangements for the celebration were in charge of a Centen- nial Commission, composed of public-spirited citizens, including the Mayor and other officials of the city, and leading representatives of the State. Hon. William McKinley was Honorary President of this Com- mission until the expiration of his term of office as Governor of Ohio, preceding his election to the Presidency of the United States, when he was succeeded in this capacity by Governor Bushnell. Both of these executives manifested a lively interest in the Centennial, frequently visiting the city during its progress and taking a prominent part in the exercises. The city was also honored with the presence of Governor (). Vincent Coffin, of Connecticut, and of Governor Charles Warren Lippitt,. of Rhode Island, who with the members of their official staffs journeyed half way across the continent to exchange greetings with Cleveland. Besides these, the celebration brought to the city many other men of national prominence, among them being Ex-Governor Merriam, of Min- nesota; Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, United States Senator from Connecti- eut; Hon. John Sherman, United States Senator from Ohio; Hon. M. C. Butler, United States Senator from South Carolina; General Nelson A. Miles, commanding the Army of the United States; Hon. Miles B. Preston, Mayor of Hartford, and the officials of various sister cities, heads of organizations, and other persons of note.
The Centennial opened with religious and patriotic observances on
1
1
xiv
INTRODUCTORY.
July 19th, and closed with Perry's Victory Day on September roth. Owing to an existing financial stringency and national political agitation, and to other causes, the celebration was not as extensive as at first pro- posed, yet it was sufficiently elaborate to attract widespread attention and to materially increase the fame the Forest City had already gained. The programme comprised fifteen special events, so arranged as to cover as far as possible the different phases of the city's history. First in order came Founder's Day, which was suitably observed on July 22d, this being the anniversary of the landing of Moses Cleaveland with his party of surveyors at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and the found- ing of the city. Next came New England Day, July 23d, a day made memorable by the pioneers, their sons and daughters, in honoring their native States. Then came Wheelmen's Day, when the devotees of the popular and health-giving sport of bicycling engaged in a parade which brought out a large percentage of the youth, life and beauty of the city and the country round about. Following this came Woman's Day, affording proper recognition to the work done by woman in the develop- ment and progress of the city, and emphasizing the trend of woman's thought at the close of the century. Early Settlers' Day was a day given over to those who had a part in laying the corner-stones of the city, and was observed on July 29th. Western Reserve Day came on July 30th, when the patriots of Northern Ohio joined, hand and heart, in celebrating the glories of their capital city. In honor of the famous victory achieved by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry over the British fleet .on Lake Erie, September roth was chosen as the closing day of the Cen- tennial period, being designated and celebrated as Perry's Victory Day.
On many of these days orations were delivered by well-known public men, odes were read and songs were sung portraying the progress of the city from its early settlement to its proud position among American mu- nicipalities. On some of them, demonstrations were made attracting thousands of people from the surrounding towns and country. densely .crowding the business portions of the city. Aside from the pomp and display of the celebration, a valuable series of historical conferences were held, treating the topics of education, religion and philanthropy.
Among the special features of the Centennial programme were the encampment of the Ohio National Guard and United States Regulars, a grand Floral Exposition, a Centennial Yacht Regatta, and the biennial encampment of the Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias of the Worid, to- gether .with the convention of the Supreme Lodge of that Order. A long list of collateral events also characterized the Centennial year. Chief among these were the quadrennial conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the convention of the American Library Association, the annual meeting of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the convention of the Society of American Florists, and other important State and National assemblages.
Many important facts hitherto little known by the masses of the people were brought out by the Centennial. For decade after decade Cleveland had been growing and expanding, but never before had so favorable a time been afforded for considering its advantages and achieve- ments. The remarkable prosperity which had attended it, its culture, conservatism, beauty and wealth were emphasized as never before and Cleveland was crowned by all a leading queen among the civic products of the Nineteenth Century.
1
1.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.
JULY 22, 1893-FEBRUARY 5, 1896.
The first steps toward a fitting celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the city of Cleveland were taken by the Early Settlers' Association, a society of pioneers of the Western Reserve. This organ- ization was established in 1879, and had upon its membership rolls more than seven hundred representatives of the city's early inhabitants. Many of these were prominent in business and professional life, and their influence given to such a movement augured well for its success. They were patriotic, loyal and devoted, and were early imbued with the idea that so important an event in the history of the city should not be allowed to come and go without more than a passing notice.
Accordingly, this association, at its fourteenth annual meeting in Army and Navy Hall, on July 22, 1893, formally decided to start the Centennial project. The session began at 10 o'clock in the morning and was attended by a large company of pioneers. It was an opportune time for launching such an enterprise. Near the close of the session, Hon. John C. Covert, a well-known member of the association, intro- duced a resolution requesting the president to appoint a committee of nine, the president to be the chairman, to confer with the City Council, Chamber of Commerce and other local bodies to provide for a celebra- tion. Pursuant to this resolution the president, Hon Richard C. Par- sons, announced the following members of the committee: Hon. John C. Covert, Hon. A. J. Williams, Bolivar Butts, General James Barnett, George F. Marshall, Wilson S. Dodge, Solon Burgess and H. M. Addison.
Interest was at once manifested by the general public in the under- taking and the press of the city gave it strong endorsement. At the November meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the subject was dis- cussed and the following resolution, introduced by Wilson M. Day, was unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, The year 1896 will mark the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Cleveland, and,
WHEREAS, So important an event deserves commemoration in the degree to which Cleveland has made advancement during that period, in population, wealth, commerce, education and arts, therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, whose duty it shall be to begin at once timely and suitable preparations for an appropriate celebration of the city's Centennial, to the end that various impor- tant improvements now in progress or in contemplation may, by unity and harmony of action, be brought to a culmination in that year, and the occasion be thus distin- guished by tangible evidences of the city's growth and glory.
At the December meeting of the chamber, President H. R. Groff announced the appointment of Wilson M. Day, H. A. Garfield, Esq.,
2
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.
S. F. Haserot, V. C. Taylor, and L. F. Loree as members of the commit- tee provided for in this resolution. After canvassing the subject the committee prepared an elaborate report setting forth the possibilities of the proposed celebration, which was presented to the chamber and was enthusiastically received. The same committee, having been re- appointed, made a further report on February 7th, 1894, which con- tained a recommendation that the celebration be held in 1897 instead of 1896, the time for preparation being considered short in compari- son with the magnitude of the enterprise. It was further recom-
mended in this report that a Centennial Commission be appointed to consist of twenty-five members, on the following basis : Five from the State - the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Auditor of State, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives; five from the Municipality -the Mayor, the Director of Public Works, the Director of Law, the President of the City Council and the Director of Schools; fifteen at large, to be chosen from repre- sentative citizens of Cleveland, their appointment to be made jointly by the Mayor and the President of the Chamber of Commerce. There was more or less agitation relative to the plans during the remainder of 1894, but not until the month of May, 1895, was the appointment of the Com- mission effected. A conference was held in that month, attended by Mayor Robert E. McKisson, Mayor's Secretary Samuel G. McClure, President Wilson M. Day and Secretary Ryerson Ritchie of the Chamber of Commerce. At a subsequent meeting there were present Mayor Robert E. McKisson, representing the city; President Wilson M. Day and Secretary Ryerson Ritchie, representing the Chamber of Commerce, and Hon. A. J. Williams, H. M. Addison and Wilson S. Dodge, repre- senting the Early Settlers' Association. A discussion of the best date for holding the celebration developed the fact that the Mayor and the members of the Early Settlers' Association were in favor of 1896, while the Chamber of Commerce, in accordance with the report presented by its committee, favored 1897. . An amicable decision was, however, reached in favor of 1896, the anniversary year.
The Centennial Commission was then selected. In its original form it comprised the following members:
State .- Hon. William McKinley, Governor; Hon. Samuel M. Tay- lor, Secretary of State; Hon. E. W. Poe, Auditor of State; Hon. A. L. Harris, President of the Senate; Hon. Alexander Boxwell, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Municipality .- Hon. Robert E. MeKisson, Mayor; Miner G. Nor- ton, Director of Law; Darwin E. Wright, Director of Public Works; Dan F. Reynolds, Jr., President of the City Council; HI. Q. Sargent, Director of Schools.
Early Settlers' Association .- Hon. R. C. Parsons, George F. Mar- shall, Hon. A. J. Williams, H. M. Addison, Bolivar Butts.
At Large .- W. J. Akers, Henry S. Brooks, Charles W. Chase, Wil- son M. Day, Hon. M. A. Foran, L. E. Holden, Moritz Joseph, George W. Kinney, Jacob B. Perkins and Augustus Zehring.
The officers, as originally chosen, were Hon. William MeKinley, Honorary President ; Samuel G. McClure, Secretary; Mayor Robert E. MeKisson, President ; Wilson M. Day, First Vice- President ; Hon. A. J.
ومن
1
HON. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, First Honorary President of the Centennial Commission.
hc
3
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.
Williams, Second Vice-President; Charles W. Chase, Treasurer. The roster of the Commission and that of the officers were both changed in various respects by subsequent reorganization.
It was soon found that in order to properly meet the requirements of the undertaking, the services of a man who could devote his entire time to the mapping out and execution of the work were needed. The Commission, at a meeting held on July 11, 1895, unanimously elected Wilson M. Day, a well-known business man and President of the Cham- ber of Commerce, to the position of Director-General of the celebration, at a salary of six thousand dollars. Headquarters for the Commission were established at No. 340 Superior street, in the City Hall building, a corps of assistants was provided, and the real labor of preparation was at once begun.
An effort was made to obtain an appropriation of $50,000 from the City Council to aid in defraying the expenses. A resolution, introduced by Mr. Reynolds requesting the Director of Law to report if there was any legal objection to this plan, resulted, however, in the statement that in the director's opinion a municipal government had no legal right to make appropriations for such a purpose. A movement was also started to obtain money from the State, but this likewise proved unsuccessful. It therefore became necessary to raise money by subscription and a systematic canvass of the city was forthwith commenced.
Plans for an exposition, which had been closely associated with the Centennial idea from the first, were by this time well advanced under the direction of Henry W. Elliott, formerly of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. It was suggested that the co-operation of the governors of all the States bordering on the Great Lakes and the commercial bodies of the leading lake cities be invited to join in a grand marine and industrial exhibition commemorative of the development and commen- surate with the magnitude of the lake commerce, and that the United States Government be asked to contribute to the display. Mr. Elliott's drawings provided for a building to cover three and one-third acres of ground and to cost $180, 000, the structural work to be of steel, staff and glass. It was intended to accommodate 378 specific exhibits of home manufactures, which would demand a floor space of 23, 595 square feet, and historical, marine, educational and woman's displays demanding 20,000 square feet, both exclusive of aisles. A citizens' committee, con- sisting of the following representative business men, was appointed in August to proceed with this feature of the work: J. C. McWatters, W. J. Akers, L. E. Holden, Kaufman Hays, H. R. Hatch, H. B. Burrows, C. C. Burnett, W. R. Warner, A. McAllister, L. A. Bailey, O. G. Kent, F. B. Squire, H. W. S. Wood, William Edwards and George W. Kinney.
On the evening of September 10th, 1895, a mass meeting was held in Music Hall in honor of Perry's victory on Lake Erie. A secondary ob- ject was the promotion of the exposition and other plans for the Centen- nial celebration. The hall was beautifully decorated with flowers, flags and bunting. The audience was representative of the best citizens of Cleveland and the proceedings throughout were characterized by patri- otic demonstrations. The chairman of the evening was General James Barnett. In calling the meeting to order, he made a fitting reference to the great naval battle of 1813 and its illustrious hero. At the conclusion of his address, the Chamber of Commerce Glee Club sang a selection, and
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