USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of the city of Cleveland: its settlement, rise and progress, 1796-1896 > Part 43
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It was decided that the series of events for the Centen- nial summer should commence with July 19th, the Sab- bath preceding the anniversary of July 22nd, and end with September 10th, the day made memorable by Com- modore Perry's decisive victory on Lake Erie. The main features of the programme may be briefly outlined, as follows:
July 19th .- Sacred and patriotic selections on Trinity Cathedral chimes, at 8 a. m .; Centennial services in the churches, at 10.30 a. m .; citizens' mass meeting in the Central Armory, at 2.30 p. m. ; mass meeting of German Lutheran congregations of Cleveland and vicinity, in Music Hall, at 2.30 p. m .; Centennial services in the churches, at 7.30 p. m. ; mass meeting of German Protest- ant congregations in Central Armory, at 7.30 p. m.
July 20th .- Opening of the Ohio National Guard, and United States Regulars' encampment, at Camp Moses Cleaveland, at 2.30 p. m .; opening of Centennial exhibi- tion of Cleveland School of Art, at 8 p. m.
July 21st .- Opening of the log-cabin on the Public Square, at 2 p. m .; reception at the cabin, by the women of the Early Settlers' Association, between 10 a. m. and 5 p. m. ; Centennial concert, at 7.30 p. m.
July 22nd .- Founder's Day. Centennial salute, by the Cleveland Light Artillery, 12 midnight; national salute, at 5.30 a. m .; reception of guests, 8 to 9 a. m .; public exercises in Central Armory, at 9.30 a. m .; grand parade of military and uniformed civic organizations, at 2.30 p. m .; national salute at 5.30 p. m .; illumination of Cen- tennial Arch at 8 p. m., followed by historical pageant,
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"The Passing of the Century;" Centennial reception and ball at Grays' Armory, at 10 p. m.
July 23rd .- New England Day. Boat ride and street railway excursion, to Ohio editors, at 9.30 and 10.15 a. m. ; New England dinner, at 12.30 p. m .; carriage ride to Ohio editors, at 3 p. m .; Centennial comic opera, " From Moses to McKisson," in Euclid Avenue Opera House, at 7.30 p. m. ; open air concert, at 8 p. m.
July 24th .- Wheelmen's Day. Wheelmen's parade, at 3 p. m. [afterwards changed, on account of rain, to July 27th]; gymnastic and athletic exhibitions by united Ger- man, Bohemian and Swiss societies, in Central Armory, at 7.30 p. m.
July 28th .- Woman's Day. Exercises in Central Ar- mory, from 9 a. m. to 4.15 p. m .; reception in Grays' Armory, at 5.30 p. m .; banquet, at 6.30 p. m.
July 29th .- Early Settlers' Day. Annual meeting of the Early Settlers' Association, in Army and Navy Hall, at 9.30 a. m .; meeting of representatives of pioneer asso- ciations within the Western Reserve, at 12.30 p. m.
July 30th .- Western Reserve Day. National salute, at 5.30 a. m .; exercises in Central Armory, at 9.30 a. m .; military and pioneer parade, at 2.30 p. m .; open air con- cert, at 8 p. m.
August 10th .- Centennial yacht regatta; to continue until the evening of August 13th.
August 18th .- Centennial Floral Exhibition; to con- tinue until the evening of August 20th.
August 22nd .- Opening of the Knights of Pythias en- campment: Exercises to continue until the evening of August 29th.
September 7th. - Historical conference; sections of education, religion, and philanthropy; to continue un- til the afternoon of September 9th.
September 10th .- Perry's Victory Day. National sa- lute at 5.30 a. m; public exercises in Central Armory, at 9.30 a. m. ; grand military and industrial parade, at 2.30 p. m .; national salute, at 5.30 p. m .; spectacular enter-
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tainment on the lake front, at 8 p. m., "The Battle of Lake Erie;" official banquet of the Centennial Commis- sion, at 9.30 p. m.
There had been some changes in the Centennial Com- mission, since its formation, and, that justice may be done to many earnest workers not yet named, the members of that body, as it was constituted on the opening of the cele- brations, may be here given, as follows:
Honorary President, Asa S. Bushnell.
Honorary Secretary, Samuel G. McClure.
President, Robert E. McKisson.
First Vice-President, L. E. Holden.
Second Vice-President, A. J. Williams.
Secretary, Edward A. Roberts.
Treasurer, Charles W. Chase.
Director-General, Wilson M. Day.
State Members : Asa S. Bushnell, Governor; S. M. Tay- lor, secretary of state; W. D. Guilbert, auditor of state; Asa W. Jones, president of the Senate; D. L. Sleeper, speaker of the house.
Municipal Members : Robert E. McKisson, Mayor; Minor G. Norton, director of law; Darwin E. Wright, director of public works; Frank A. Emerson, president of the City Council; H. Q. Sargent, director of schools.
Members-at-large : William J. Akers, H. M. Addison, A. T. Anderson, Bolivar Butts, Clarence E. Burke, Charles F. Brush, Charles W. Chase, George W. Cady, John C. Covert, Wilson M. Day, George Deming, Will- iam Edwards, Martin A. Foran, Kaufman Hays, H. R. Hatch, Orlando J. Hodge, L. E. Holden, James H. Hoyt, M. A. Hanna, John C. Hutchins, George W. Kinney, John Meckes, James B. Morrow, Daniel Myers, Samuel Mather, E. W. Oglebay, James M. Richardson, H. A. Sherwin, A. J. Williams, A. L. Withington, Augustus Zehring.
Among those who also assisted in the labors of Centen- nial year, as chairmen of committees, to which special work was assigned, or in charge of sections and depart-
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ments. created by the Commission, the following may be named : Finance-Executive, C. C. Burnett; Military, George A. Garretson ; Music, Byron E. Helman ; Decoration, L. N. Weber; Log-Cabin, Bolivar Butts; Reception and Entertain- ment, Founder's Day, William Edwards; Public Observances, Founder's Day, L. E. Holden; Paradc, Founder's Day and Western Reserve Day, J. J. Sullivan; Pagcant, Founder's Day, George W. Kinney; Reception and Ball, Founder's Day, Mrs. William Edwards; New England Dinner, New England Day, N. B. Sherwin; Ohio Editors, New England Day, Ralph D. Williams; Bicycle Parade, J. E. Cheesman ; Public Observances, Western Reserve and Early Settlers' Day, Henry W. S. Wood; Yacht Regatta, George H. Worthing- ton ; Centennial Floral Exhibition, E. H. Cushman ; Knights of Pythias Encampment, James Dunn; Historical Conference, Section of Education, Charles F. Thwing; Section of Philan- thropy, J. W. Walton ; Section of Religion, J. G. W. Cowles; Speakers and Exercises, Perry's Victory Day, William J. Gleason ; Reception and Entertainment, Perry's Victory Day, F. H. Morris.
The officers and executive committee of the Woman's Department, Centennial Commission, were as follows:
President, Mrs. Mary B. Ingham.
T'ice-Presidents, Mrs. Mary Scranton Bradford, Mrs. Sa- rah E. Bierce, Mrs. Geo. Presley, Jr., Mrs. Joseph Turney.
Recording Secretary, Mrs. Ella Sturtevant Webb.
Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. S. P. Churchill.
Treasurer, Miss Elizabeth Blair.
Assistant- Treasurer, Miss Elizabeth Stanton.
Historian, Mrs. Gertrude V. R. Wickham.
Executive Committee : Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, chairman ; Mrs. Charles W. Chase, Mrs. T. K. Dissette, Mrs. H. A. Griffin, Mrs. M. A. Hanna, Mrs. P. M. Hitchcock, Mrs. O. J. Hodge, Mrs. John Huntington, Mrs. F. A. Ken- dall, Mrs. W. B. Neff, Mrs. N. B. Prentice, Mrs. W. G. Rose, Mrs. L. A. Russell, Mrs. M. B. Schwab, Mrs. Charles H. Weed, Mrs. A. J. Williams.
The formal opening of these prolonged and varied re-
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joicings, in which patriotic Cleveland was to testify of the many good things scattered along its first hundred years of lusty life, was fittingly found in the uplifting of many voices in that grand and appropriate chorus from Elijah, " Thanks be to God!" . In this noble strain the reverent gratitude of the people found expression. Already the chimes of Trinity had rung out selections from national and sacred airs ; already had the churches of the city, dur-
EUCLID AVENUE, FROM ERIE STREET.
ing the morning hours of this Sabbath day, set the seal of sermon, and song, and prayer, in approval of the cele- bration of the Centennial year.
A great concourse of people had gathered in the Cen- tral Armory, on the afternoon of Sunday, July 19th. The hall was fittingly decorated, the starry flag, of course, be- ing displayed in every quarter. All classes of citizens
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were represented, and on the platform sat members of the Centennial Commission and committees, leading clergy- men of various denominations, officers of the city govern- ment and Chamber of Commerce, and others who had aided the work in various ways. A large number of local organizations, military and fraternal, were also in attend- ance, in uniform.
The order of exercises was opened by J. G. W. Cowles, chairman of the Committee on Section of Religion, who asked the Cleveland Vocal Society to render the great hymn of thanksgiving, spoken of above. Prayer was then offered by the Right Rev. Bishop William A. Leonard, and at the conclusion, the entire audience, with heads bowed in reverence, accompanied him in the Lord's Prayer.
Mr. Cowles, as chairman of the section having this gathering in charge, then delivered a thoughtful and impressive address, in which he outlined the causes which, set at work one hundred years ago, had produced such wonderful effects. In opening, he struck the key- note of the occasion when he said: "In this historic hour, closing the century, we are gathered here, without distinc- tion of race, or sect, or creed, to review the records and recall the memories of the first one hundred years of our city's life. What can be more appropriate than that this first Centennial observance should be upon the Sabbath day? And, from what higher summit, or with what clearer and larger outlook, can we survey this period, than from the standpoint of religion?" In conclusion, he said: "What I have said is introductory, and suggestive only. It is for those who follow to exhibit, in various colors and relations, the religious life and progress of this city. In the great world-order, the Jew stands first, the Catholic next, and the Protestant last. But in our local history, the Protestant was the pioneer, followed, after thirty-nine years, by the Catholic, and, after forty-three years, by the Jewish church. The contributions of each one of these factors and faiths have been of incalculable value to this
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community and to mankind. Let each one speak for his faith, from his separate point of view, and speak well, for each faith deserves to be well spoken of."
In response to this broad and noble-minded invitation, addresses were delivered by Rev. Levi Gilbert, repre- senting the Protestant churches; Mgr. T. P. Thorpe, the Catholic church, and Rabbi Moses J. Gries, the Jewish church. Prayer was offered by Rev. Herman J. Ruete- nik, and these opening exercises came to a close by the entire assembly joining in the hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee!"
During the same afternoon, the various German Luther- an congregations of the city gathered in mass meeting in Music Hall, in like observance of the opening of Cleve- land's Centennial. The exercises were conducted almost entirely in German. The chair was occupied by Rev. Paul Schwan. The pastors of nearly all the congrega- tions represented, were present on the platform. The only decorations were the American flag, and in front of the stage was a banner bearing these words: "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow." Prayers, speeches, and songs were the means employed by the patriotic Ger- mans to show that they also claimed a part in the past of Cleveland, and were ready to do honor to the present. Addresses were delivered by Rev. H. Weseloh, Rev. W. H. Lothmann, of Akron, and the Rev. John Wepel, of Zanesville.
In the evening, there were further Centennial services in the churches, and yet another mass meeting, of German Protestant congregations, in Central Armory. Rev. F. Friedrich presided. The exercises were opened by a hymn and prayer, after which Mayor McKisson was in- troduced and made a brief address, the beginning of which was as follows: "This day has marked the opening of our long anticipated Centennial celebration. After many months of waiting and planning, a period of rejoicing, over the completion of one hundred years of the city's history, has arrived. This mass meeting is a mark of the
:
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strength of our German citizenship, and an earnest of your lively interest in the welfare and prosperity of our municipality."
Director-General Day was then introduced, and in a brief but stirring address paid a fitting tribute to the Ger- man character and German patriotism. In conclusion, he said: "May the churches which you represent ever be the fountains of the purest religion, the broadest culture, and the highest patriotism. In the name of the Centen- nial Commission, I greet you. God save the Fatherland! God save America!"
This conclusion touched a responsive chord, and the applause lasted for several moments. The entire audi- ence then arose and joined in singing "America."
An address in German was delivered by Rev. J. H. C. Roentgen, whose theme was the immigration of Germans into Cleveland, and its results. Rev. G. Heinmiller then spoke on "A History of the German Churches of Cleve- land." He gave a comprehensive review of the strug- gles of the early German Church in this city, and in Ohio. A hymn, followed by prayer, brought the evening's ex- ercises to a close.
Monday, July 20th, witnessed the opening of the en- campment of the Ohio National Guard, and United States Regulars, which had been established on the farm of J. B. Perkins, to the west of the city, and appropriately named "Camp Moses Cleaveland." At three o'clock in the afternoon, Hon. Asa S. Bushnell, governor of Ohio, arrived at the camp grounds, accompanied by members of his staff, Robert E. McKisson, mayor of Cleveland; J. G. W. Cowles, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and other distinguished gentlemen. The day had been one of rain and clouds, but at that hour a truce was called, and a short period of sunshine ensued.
The troops formed a hollow square about the Governor's party, who were standing by the flagstaff in the center of the camp. L. E. Holden, representing the Centennial Commission, then introduced Mayor McKisson, who after
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an eloquent speech, in turn introduced the Governor, in these words: "I now take pleasure in presenting, on be- half of the Centennial Commission, to Governor Bushnell, as commander-in-chief, this end-of-the-century encamp- ment. to be known as Camp Moses Cleaveland."
The Governor said: "Mr. Chairman and Mayor McKis- son, officers and men of the Ohio National Guard, and officers and men of the Regular Army :
" When freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her banner to the air, She tore the azure robe of night And placed the stars of glory there!"
At this moment the halyard was pulled, and the Star Spangled Banner shook out, in all its glory, under the now darkening skies, while the battery down below boomed its salute of twenty-one guns, in unison with the mightier artillery, which the elements had set rolling overhead.
The speech of acceptance of the camp, which followed, was brief, earnest, and to the point. Addressing the mayor, the Governor said: "I desire to thank you, and through you, the people of your magnificent city, for the generous gift of this camp, and I hereby accept it for the State, and dedicate it for the uses for which you present it, and christen it 'Camp Moses Cleaveland,' in honor of the founder of your beautiful city." It was in a down- pour of heavy rain that these words of dedication were uttered, and because of this the exercises came to an end.
Under the immediate advice and direction of those who had been, in their earlier days, sheltered in structures of that character, a log-cabin, fashioned upon the real sub- stantial lines of pioneer architecture, had been constructed by the Centennial managers, on the northeast quarter of the Public Square, and July 21st had been set aside for its dedication.
The human eye, and the human mind, can quite readily grasp any lesson taught by contrasts. In no better or more telling way could the advance of this completed century be shown than by the location of this facsimile of
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the pioneer dwelling under the very shadows of the great structures surrounding it. The mind was carried back to that day when General Cleaveland and his aids awoke the echoes of the Cuyahoga Valley with the sturdy strokes that created that first cabin, in which they found a home and headquarters during the summer of 1796; or that earlier "Castle Stow," down on the Conneaut River, that excited the amused wonder of even the children of the forest.
Many of the beloved mothers and fathers of Cleveland gathered within this rude structure, to assist in its dedica- tion. At 2 p. m., Chairman Bolivar Butts, of the Com- mittee on Reception, introduced Richard C. Parsons, chairman of the day. Colonel Parsons thanked Mr. Butts for the honor conferred, and then introduced the Rev. Lathrop Cooley, who asked the divine blessing upon the occasion.
The Arion Quartet sang "My Country! 'tis of thee," after which Mr. Parsons made a brief but eloquent ad- dress, in which he paid a fitting tribute to the log-cabin as the birthplace and home of some of our greatest men. Among other things, he said: "We come this day, not to dedicate the log-cabin, or inaugurate its use in Ohio. We come to honor and pay to it our most sincere homage of admiration and regard. We see in it the veritable symbol of our earliest civilization, in this country, and set- tlement in Ohio. The log-cabin is the cradle of the old statesmen of Ohio, the nursery of her stalwart sons and daughters. It has long been dedicated to the service of man and the house of God."
Speeches were then made by Mayor McKisson, James Lawrence, and W. S. Kerruish. Gen. J. J. Elwell was called upon, and in the course of his brief remarks made this telling comparison: "From this cabin to the build- ing of the Society for Savings [just across the street] is an object-lesson of what has been done in Cleveland, more impressive and instructive than anything I can say. Look at them as they stand! The log-cabin, with no money -
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not a cent. The bank, with twenty or thirty millions, be- longing to the citizens of Cleveland and the county. From poverty to wealth, is the story they tell."
George F. Marshall, a pioneer of Cleveland, whose pen and voice have given us so many bright and humorous accounts of the early days, next made one of his charac- teristic speeches. He spoke feelingly of those who had
THE PRESENT ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
worked so well to lay the foundations of our city and State so broad and deep. "These men have long since passed away," said he, "and with each name, with scarce an exception, was a woman who shared the joys and sor- rows of those who helped to make the far-famed Western Reserve one of the proudest districts of modern times. Since those pioneers have passed away, the generations
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which followed them would like to be rated as 'pioneers,' but they have encountered none of that wrestling with nature which the men were engaged in eighty or ninety years ago. Few who are here to-day may be regarded as pioneers. We are all too young to claim such honor. The first cabins were of the earth earthy; the last ones try to reach the sky."
This brought the formal exercises to an end. The women of the Early Settlers' Association held a reception from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m., and entertained many visitors. Great interest was shown in the many relics and heir- looms with which the cabin was stocked. All through the summer of celebration, this log-cabin was one of the things which the visitor would make sure to see.
The evening of "Log-Cabin Day," as it might well have been called, witnessed the Centennial concert ar- ranged for that occasion. It was held in the Central Ar- mory. One feature of especial attraction was the grand historical musical spectacle, entitled "Battles of our Na- tion." It covered the military history of our country for a hundred years. The music was furnished by Conter- no's Ninth Regiment Band, of New York City. The choruses were sung by the Cleveland Vocal Society, and the military maneuvers were executed by a company of the local organizations.
Founder's Day was, indeed, celebrated in a manner which showed that Cleveland was awake to the require- ments of the occasion. When the minute-hand marked the hour. of twelve, and Wednesday, July 22, 1896, stood upon the threshold of recorded time, the guns of the Light Artillery boomed forth their thunders, as a sign that the first hundred years of Cleveland's existence had been completed. Sunrise heard a national salute, and al- though the day gave little promise of good weather, the people universally made holiday.
The chief event of the summer was set for 9.30 a. m. of this anniversary day. Central Armory was again thrown open to a great throng. Exercises had been ar-
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ranged for a joint mass meeting, in which Old Connecticut and New Connecticut should together celebrate the anni- versary of an event of importance in the annals of both. The chief magistrates of both Connecticut and Ohio were present, accompanied by other honored sons of the two States.
It was near the stroke of ten, when H. R. Hatch, of the Centennial Commission, came upon the stage, accompanied by Joseph R. Hawley, United States Senator from Connect- icut, the principal orator of the day. Then came Mayor McKisson, Director-General Day, and James H. Hoyt, the chairman of the day; Asa S. Bushnell, governor of Ohio, and O. Vincent Coffin, governor of Connecticut; William Mckinley, ex-governor of Ohio, and Republican nominee for President of the United States; John Sherman, United States Senator from Ohio; Richard C. Parsons, ex-Govern- or Merriam, of Minnesota, and other gentlemen who had been invited to seats of honor upon the platform.
When the applause which greeted these distinguished gentlemen had subsided, Mayor McKisson, president of the Centennial Commission, called the gathering to order, and in a short and appropriate speech welcomed those who were present as the guests of Cleveland upon this occasion : "To formally open this patriotic celebration," said he, "and welcome to our beautiful city our distin- guished guests, is a great honor. I speak the pride of our citizens when I greet you to-day, and extend to you our hos- pitality and our fraternal hand of fellowship. To all of our guests, whether from the East or the West, from far or near, we dedicate this day, our city, and all it has or is."
James H. Hoyt was introduced as chairman of the day. As a preface to his remarks, he read the following mes- sage from the President of the United States, which was received with great applause :
" BUZZARD'S BAY, July 22, 1896.
" Wilson M. Day, Director-General: I congratulate the City of Cleve- land upon the close of her first century, with the wish that it is but the beginning of her greatness and prosperity.
"' GROVER CLEVELAND."
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Mr. Hoyt's speech was eloquent, and breathed a spirit of appreciation of the labors performed by the founders of Cleveland, and of the responsibilities of the present in connection with the fruits of the future. Said he: "When Moses Cleaveland and his companions made their memor- able landing, they could not have realized, even in small measure, what that landing meant. The silent forests did not prophesy, and the placid river gave no sign. Their present was perilous, and their future was uncertain. Yet, a short century after, and a city with a population of more than a third of a million; a city whose commerce reaches distant climes, and whose vessels plow distant waters; a city of wealth, of refinement, of enterprise, stands now where its sturdy pioneers then stood.
They labored for others, and not for themselves. Theirs was the toil and suffering, and ours is the goodly herit- age. Theirs was the privation and danger, and ours is the comfort and peace. They planted, that we might reap. The pioneers sacrified much for us. Let us, in turn, sacrifice something for those who shall come after us. On this Founder's Day, let us pledge ourselves anew to guard the trusts they have committed to our keeping."
The divine blessing upon the occasion was then invoked by the Rev. Charles S. Mills. Senator Hawley was in- troduced, and delivered the main address of the day. His oration was largely historical in character, dealing with the settlement of New Connecticut, and making special extended mention of the descendants of Connecticut, who had made their mark in connection with the history of Ohio. He followed General Cleaveland and his party into the wilderness, and summarized their labors and the results that have come therefrom. He then passed to a discussion of the questions that are demanding considera- tion and solution in the present, and in an able and thoughtful manner suggested the course of patriotism in connection therewith.
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