USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > Historical sketch of Chester, on Delaware > Part 28
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Some of the important features of the different divisions may be noticed as follows :
In the first division the different tribes of the organization known
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
as Red Men received deservedly a great deal of applause for their appearance and excellent deportment. They composed the entire division and with invited guests made a very fine display.
The second division, composed entirely of firemen, elicited much admiration for their gentlemanly bearing and good marching The Volunteer Fire Association, of Philadelphia, drew after them an en- gine with a history. It was a small, stoutly built machine of wood, with a single pipe, capable of throwing a stream thirty feet It was built in England and brought to this country in 1748, and was pre- sented in 1866, to the William Penn Hose and Steam Fire Company, No. 18, by the Ex-Union and Slambank Company, of Salem, Mass. Three months ago the Penn Company gave it to the Volunteer Fire Association. The engines and carriages of the different companies were very tastefully decorated with garlands of flowers and flags. The men looked and marched well, and while expressing admiration for the appearance of the visiting companies, it must be said that our own firemen were not a whit behind them in any point.
The third division was a most interesting one, composed chiefly of the resident and visiting T. A. B. Associations and civic organi- zations. Larkin Circle, No. 66 and Good Intent Circle, No. 75, B. U. were conspicuous, and the Caledonian Club, of Philadelphia, and Robert Burns Club, of Chester, with the Scotch band, were the recipients of much flattering notice. The T. A. B. societies turned out in large numbers and our German fellow citizens were a mark- ed feature in this division.
In the fourth division the Pennsylvania Military Academy Cadets, Companies B, of Chester, and H, of Media, 6th Reg. N. G. P., and Post Wilde, No. 25, G. A. R., with visiting posts were much ad- mired and formed certainly a very important part of the parade.
In the fifth division all the different trades were represented. and some of the designs were novel and interesting, notably those of G. P. Denis, Shaw, Esrey & Co., J. Wm. Lewis & Co., Irving & Leiper, and James Stevens. The latter, besides having a wagon filled with ticking, had thirty men in line dressed in suits of the same material, cut by Robert Adams & Co., of Philadelphia, and they attracted much attention. The men were in command of W. T. Seth, captain, and J. K. Knott, lieutenant, and were drilled on the
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The Celebration.
street. The model of the steamship "City of Tokio," from Roachs' ship yard, was wreathed in flowers, and was drawn by four stout horses. It attracted much attention. The masts were too high to pass under Seventh street bridge, consequently the ship had to be taken around to Seventh and Penn streets, where it rejoined the pa rade. The model of the Pusey House at Upland, built in 1683, put in line by the Messrs. Crozer, was an attractive feature. The butch- ers held a position of honor in the sixth division, the rear of the line, and were a fitting conclusion to a procession of upwards of six thou- sand men.
The Volunteer Fire Association, of Philadelphia, were the guests of the Chester Fire Department; the Vigilant, of Altoona, and the Junior, of Reading, the guests of the Hanley; the Washington, of Conshohocken, and the Montgomery Hose, of Norristown, the guests of the Franklin. All were cared for by the above companies. The West Chester Temperance Cadets, and the visiting T. A B. societies were the guests of St. Michael's. They were handsomely entertain- ed at the latter's room over the Post Office. Post Wilde received two hundred visitors and lunched them in Thomas' Hall. The Red Men had a great many visitors whom they entertained most hospita- bly and concluded the day's festivities by a ball given in Armory Hall, which was largely attended and enjoyed to the utmost.
THE EVENING.
In the evening a fine display of fireworks took place at the corner of Ninth and Parker streets, which was witnessed by a great many people. The display was arranged by Prof Jackson, under the di- rection of the Sub-Committee on Fireworks and was, like all the rest of the celebration a success in every way. Every thing went off on time and to the general satisfaction.
Throughout the day, from beginning to end, nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion and everything moved as smoothly as if Delaware County had been in the habit of celebrating Bi-Cen- tennials every year. There was no disorder and very little drunken-
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
ness, if indeed, any that could be fairly called so at any time during the day or evening. All were determined to make the day a plea- sant one and the citizens of Chester and Delaware County may well feel satisfied with and proud of the manner in which the Bi-Cen- tennial anniversary of the landing of William Penn on the shores of Pennsylvania, was observed in Chester.
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Final Work of General Committee.
FINAL WORK OF GENERAL COMMITTEE.
Monday, November 13, 1889.
T
THIS evening a final meeting of the Penn Bi-Centennial Com- mittee of Chester was held in Council Chamber, Chairman Bar - ton presiding. There was a fair attendance and the Committee pro- ceeded at once to settle up its affairs. The first report was by the Finance Committee, Dr. R. P. Mercer, Chairman, who made the following statement of the collections:
Pennsylvania Railroad Company ... $500 00
Phila., Wil. & Balt. R. R. Co ...... 250 00 R. P. Mercer, South Ward & Upland 313 ' 0 D. C. Abrams. Radnor 250 00
William Rhodes, Newtown. 8 00 W. H. Eves, North Ward 203 50
Richard Miller. North Ward .. 173 00
W. J. McDowell and G. O. Yarnall, South Chester 168 00
I. H. Mirkil, Middle Ward 133 00
B. F. Baker, Middle Ward. 103 50 C. S. Esrey, North Chester. 75 00 B. M. Custer, Ridley . 40 00
William H. Martin, North Ward .....
25 CO
Samuel Rhodes, Aston 25 00
H. R. Manley, Media ..... 25 00 J. Hunter Moore, Marple 25 00
J. A. Wallace, South Ward 24 00 J. H. Kerlin, Lower Chichester 10 00
Ellwood Hannum, Concord 8 75
Prof. C. F. Foster .. 10 (0
John Roach . 100 00
Eddystone Manufacturing Co. 50 00
William Simpson & Son. 50 00
Total by Finance Committee .. $2,569 75
Proceeds from sale of lumber in
stands 105 75 School Board, for music stand .. 15 00
Total $2,690 50
The amount, $2,690.50, is exclusive of $400 appropriated by City Council for entertainment, which would make $3,090.50 entire re- ceipts.
The report was accepted and on motion of H. B. Black, the thanks of the Committee tendered the Finance Committee for their successful labors.
The report of the Secretary was then read, showing $2,690.50 re- ceived by the Finance Committee, and appropriations amounting to $1,767.51 paid, leaving a balance of $922.99, which the Executive Committee recommended be appropriated to the different societies
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
having visitors, and to defray the cost of erecting stands and others expenses. This absorbed the entire amount contributed, and set- tled up the affairs of the Committee in a satisfactory manner to all
The Chairman, Mayor Barton, took occasion to thank the mem- bers of the Committee for the hearty co-operation extended to him and all the officers of the Committee.
On motion of D. M. Johnson a vote of thanks was tendered H. G. Ashmead, Wm. Shaler Johnson and other members of the Historical Committee for their valuable services.
Dr. Mercer then moved that a vote of thanks be tendered the Sec- retary, J. Craig, Jr., for his services. D. M. Johnson moved to amend by extending the same courtesy to the Chairman, Mayor Barton, and Treasurer, H. B. Black, which was adopted, and the motion, as amended, passed.
The Committee then adjourned sine die.
This meeting in the business like simplicity and brevity which marked it formed a very fitting conclusion to the work of the Gen- eral Committee. Where all was done so intelligently and efficiently it may seem invidious to draw special notice to any Sub-Committee or individual, but it must be acknowledged that to the trying and often self-sacrificing efforts of the Chairman of the Finance Com- mittee, and those of its members who actively interested themselves in the object, and to the Chairman and members of the Executive Committee, whose duties were discharged with exceptional imparti- ality and tact, is due in a large degree the success which attended the work of the General Committee.
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UNVEILING OF THE >MEMORIAL STONE- November 9th, 1882.
THIS STONE MARK'S THE SPOT WHERE WILLIAM PENN LANDED OCTOBER 79 IG82 27
THE PENN MEMORIAL STONE.
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The Memorial Stone.
THE MEMORIAL STONE.
November 9, 1882.
C ERTAIN gentlemen connected with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Penn Club wishing to celebrate in some appropriate way the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Landing of William Penn, it was decided to do so by placing a Memorial Stone at the actual spot where the landing occurred in Chester (then Upland,) the planting of trees and a few simple commemorative observances. The time fixed for the occasion was the 9th of November, 1882.
The following circular was issued by the gentlemen signing it who acted as a Committee of Arrangements :
PHILADELPHIA October 31, 1882.
It is intended to celebrate on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9th. 1882. under the aus- pices of a number of gentlemen, chiefly members of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania and the Penn Club, the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the first landing of William Penn, within the bounds of the present State of Pennsylvania, at Chester, on October 28th, 1682, O. S.
The ceremonies will consist in the setting of a Memorial Stone on the place where Penn landed, the planting of trees, and a comme morative address.
At the close of the ceremonies, the party is invited to a luncheon at Codnor Farm. the residence of Col. Frank M. Etting.
A special train will leave Broad Street Station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at 9.30 o'clock, A. M., precisely, and will return in the afternoon, reaching Broad Street at 5.30.
P. PEMBERTON MORRIS, LLOYD P. SMITH, JOHN CADWALADER, ISAAC MYER, CHARLES CHAUNCEY, Committee.
The names of those from Philadelphia accepting the invitation were as follows :
P. Pemberton Morris,
Charles J. Stille, Robert Pearsall Smith, Charles Chauncey, George M. Conarroe, Charles H. Hutchinson,
Cadwalader Biddle, Samuel R. Shipley, John A. Clark, Dr. Thomas Wistar, E. Hunn Hanson, Benjamin G. Godfrey,
+349.
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
Frederick Brown, J. M. Power Wallace, W. Moylan Lansdale, George Crump, H. B. M. Vice Consul. Thompson Westcott, Louis C. Madeira, L. Logan Smith, John A. McAllister, John Biddle Porter, Stuart Wood. Lloyd P. Smith,
Clifford P. MacCalla. Thomas Meehan,
Macgregor J. Mitcheson,
Charles S. Keyser, Justice Cox, Jr., Charles H. Cramp,
Edward Wetherill,
Charles W. Alexander.
Edward R. Wood,
R. Francis Wood. Craig D. Ritchie.
Samuel Chew,
Samuel L. Smedley,
John Cadwalader, Charles M. Morris, George Blight, Henry S. Lowber,
Jacob E. Barr. J. M. Stoddart.
R. M. Mc Wade,
B. Frank Clapp,
Samuel Wetherill. .
C. H. A. Esling. William B. Smith.
Isaac Myer,
James Bateman.
Robert W. Smith, Dr. James J. Levick,
Eli K. Price, Jr ..
Thomas Stewardson,
Henry T. Coates.
E. Dunbar Lockwood.
Howard M. Jenkins,
Robert Coulton Davis,
Robert Lapsley Prle,
and Roose Jafirn from the Hague.
The morning of the Ninth of November dawned brightly and was succeeded by a pleasant autumn day. At half past nine the gen- tlemen above mentioned took a special train on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and after an enjoyable ride of half an hour reached Ches- ter. Here they were received in a very informal way by His Honor Mayor Barton and the City Council, with a number of the promi- nent citizens of the town and escorted to the ground, foot of Penn street, near the residence of Ex-Mayor J. L. Forwood. Col. Frank M. Etting, of Concordville, a gentleman who had taken much in- terest in the success of this celebration, met the party at the depot, as did also other residents of Delaware county.
The Memorial Stone had been erected on the Eighth of Novem- ber, the preceding day, and was covered with the National flag. Permission had been previously obtained from the city authorities and the owners of the adjacent property to place the stone on and within the curb line, on the northerly side of Front street, which would bring it within a few feet of the actual place where William Penn landed. The stone was of granite about five feet high and three feet by two feet at the base, weighing over two tons. On the northern or inner face was a marble tablet on which was cut the Coat of Arms of Penn and the words, "This Stone marks the spot where William Penn landed October 28-29, 1682."
Samuel J Sharpless,
J. Sergeant Price,
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The Memorial Stone.
The stone, which was designed by John Struthers, of Philadel- phia, was set upon a foundation of solid masonry, five feet square and three feet deep, the whole resting upon two thicknesses of heavy planks laid transversely
Upon reaching the ground the party found a large number of spec- tators assemble:1, and all were soon gathered about the stone.
Mr. CHARLES S. KEYSER, as Director of the Ceremonies, then said :
Citizens of Philadelphia and Chester :
The Committee by whom this Memorial Stone has been set here, has requested me to sty that the ceremonies arranged for the occa- sion will consist of a transfer of the Memorial Stone and the plant- ing of three trees beside it, so as to mark the spot where the Founder of our State first set his foot on the soil of his province of Pennsylva- nia, this day, two hundred years ago. The Committee will tender this granite record to the city of Chester, to be kept in the care of its authorities and citizens, in grateful remembrance of an event of such great import to humanity. They first desire me to request Rev. Henry Brown, D. D., Rector of St. Paul's, the oldest historic church in Chester, to ask the Divine blessing upon what shall here be done.
Rev. Dr. BROWN offered the following prayer :
Almighty God our Heavenly Father, who dost govern all things in Heaven and earth, we desire to recognize Thy good providence, which hath been over us from the beginning of our existence to the present hour. We thank Thee for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory.
We bless Thee that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and for the privileges we enjoy as citizens of this renowned Com- monwealth, protected in our civil and religious rights, under wise and just laws, giving to every man freedom of speech and liberty of conscience, with none to make us afraid And while we acknow- ledge with gratitude, O Lord, our indebtedness to Thee for the mer- cies we enjoy, may we not forget how much we owe to the fathers who preceded us, and especially to Thy honored servant, the Pro- prietor and first Governor of the great State of Pennsylvania, who based his government upon those principles of truth and righteous- ness which are the only sure foundations of States and kingdoms, and upon which Thy favor and blessing may be expected. .
We come this day to rear a monument to William Penn-who two hundred years ago landed on this spot- that it may remind us, our children and our children's children of the good deeds, and use- ful life, the integrity and uprightness of one who ruled in Thy fear, under guidance of Thy Spirit, for the welfare of his fellow men.
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
And now, our Father, as we know that except the Lord build the house, they labor but in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain; we beseech Thee to look favorably upon our present work, and preserve this monument from harm and destruction, that it may long stand a tribute of grateful praise to the memory of him whom we thus delight to hon- or, and when the waste of time and the ravages of storms shall sweep over it, and it shall be ten ling to decay, as all earthly things must, may others be found to revive and restore it, so that in future gen - erations many may rise up to call him blessed, who sought to pro- mote peace on earth and good will to men. And now, O God of our fathers, take us all under Thy protecting care and love, this State and nation ; our rulers and our whole people ; direct us in all our doings, and further us with Thy continued help; enable us all faith- fully to discharge our duties, and grant us Thy peace upon earth, and save us at last in Thy kingdom in Heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
After a few minutes of impressive silence Mr. Keyser said :
CHARLES J. STILLE, LL.D., will now, on behalf of the Commit- tee, tender this Memorial Stone to the city and citizens of Chester. Dr. Stille said:
Mr. Mayor and Citizens of Chester:
I have been asked to take the place of the Mayor of Philadelphia (who is necessarily absent) in performing the simple but pleasant duty of presenting this Monumental Stone to the city of Chester. You are happy, Mr. Mayor, in having within your jurisdiction thie very spot on which William Penn, the great founder and law-giver of a Common- wealth, now numbering more than five millions of people not sur- passed in prosperity and general intelligence by an equal number on the earth's surface, first landed when he came to these shores. The donors of this monument, many of whom are the descendants of the friends and companions of Penn, wish to place upon this spot a lasting memorial of the great event and they intrust it to your care and custody, not doubting that you in common with all Pennsylva- nians, will take pride in preserving such a land mark.
We are all citizens of a State whose population unlike that of many of the old thirteen, is of a somewhat composite character, many races of people having contributed their share to make it what it is. Before William Penn was born we had on this very spot the loyal, God-fearing Swedes and their tolerant spirit and their merciful treatment of the Indians; then the Dutch who though con- querors of the Swedes lived afterwards in perfect harmony with them. These prepared the way for the great work of Penn, which must be considered as absolutely unique in the annals of history. Then we had the Germans, sturdy Protestants of the Palatinate and
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The Memorial Stone.
Swabia, who have given to the State any conservatism which was lacking in the Quaker element, and lastly that great race, the Scotch- Irish settled like our own Alleghenies front Northeast and South- west, and forming at all periods of our history the moral, as our moun- tains do the physical, back bone of the Commonwealth.
All these races join to-day within our border, with the universal sentinient of christendom, in honoring the memory of William Penn. It was his character that shaped our destiny, and the spirit of his laws more than any thing else which has made us one people. To- day as we try to recall the scene of his landing here and think how friendly Swedes and Dutch and Indians met him on a day like this, when the soft breeze and the hazy light of the Indian summer made him feel that he had found in very deed a new world, then think upon all the blessings of the last two hundred years, let us be thank- ful, striving to cherish his memory and follow his example.
On the conclusion of Dr. Stille's remarks the drapery covering the stone was removed by William Shaler Johnson amid applause, and then Mr Keyser said :
His Honor JAMES BARTON, Jr., the Mayor of Chester, will represent the City and citizens on this occasion. I have the honor to introduce him to this assemblage.
Mayor Barton said :
Gentlemen representing the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Penn Club of Philadelphia :
In conformity to the purposes of your organization to preserve to posterity the landmarks and valuable historical facts connected with the history of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you have caused this Memorial Stone to be set upon the spot where William Penn, its founder, landed.
In the name of the City of Chester I accept it from your hands, and in doing so I beg to assure you that we shall endeavor to guard it from vandalism. and protect it, to the extent of our power, from the ravages of the elements. But although it may crumble so that the generations that come after us may not even recognize this spot, the influence of the teachings of William Penn's character and writ- ings will continue to roll down the centuries gathering strength from time and continually, though silently, leading men to higher and nobler aspirations.
Gentlemen, I extend to you a cordial welcome to our city.
Mayor Barton having thus accepted the memorial on behalf of the city government, Mr. Keyser introduced the Hon. WILLIAM WARD, Representative in Congress from this District, who spoke as follows, representing the citizens at large in his address:
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
Dr. Stille :- His Honor, Mayor Barton, in fitting language has given you official welcome to Chester. and accepted this Memorial Stone into the custody of the municipality. I have been delegated, as the representative of the great body of people at large, to ex- press to you and to the other gentlemen contributors of the His- torical Society and the Penn Club-the high appreciation felt by our citizens for this magnificent memorial; and their pleasure in being permitted by your invitation to join in the ceremonies.
We have long known of your societies as the industrious and faithful chroniclers of the traditions and history of the State; al- ways forward in every movement that promised its advancement. You have given us here a new evidence of your spirit.
What a scene surrounds us and what memories does it create. Looking back through the vista of years-on this spot at this mo- ment-the Present and the Past are before us. Look at the myriad white-winged messengers of commerce; behold the black smoke of the blast furnace, the rolling mill and foundry; listen to the clang of the hammers in the shipyard, and the hum of the looms and spindles in the factories that surround us on every side; see above us the telegraph wires bearing intelligence with a lightning flash; we are standing on the iron rails that form part of a railroad system thousands of miles in length, carrying the iron and coal from the far off mountains to the waters' edge. Read in all these living signs now in your vision the history of centuries of progress. All has changed from this day two hundred years ago, when William Penn landed on this spot. No, all is not changed; the same sky and the same sun are over us, and the same river that brought him to the landing place, to-day flows on in the same channel to the sea. The small party composed of the settlers of different nationalities and of Indians that surrounded William Penn on this spot two hundred years ago, was vastly different from the large assemblage I now look upon, but both are alike in the characteristics of loyalty to country and Commonwealth and devotion to the rights of civil and religious liberty for all men.
Gentlemen of the Historical Society. In the letter read at your banquet last night from Tennyson, the Poet Laureate, he described William Penn to be "no comet of a season, but the fixed light of a dark and graceless age shining on into the present-a good man and true."
The glow of that light is shining around us at this moment, and let us here resolve that the observance of the principles of the Founder-which have made the Keystone State great and glorious -shall continue imperishable as this sky and sun under which he pronounced them on that day centuries ago, and implanted deep as the bed of the river on the bank of which he then stood where we are gathered.
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The Memorial Stone.
Dr. Stille. The Mayor has assured you that this Stone will be zealously cared for by the authorities of Chester. ] et me assure you that it will have a surer and more sacred guard in the affec- tions of our people. There will be no brighter page in the Archives of your Society than the one which records the beauty of the senti- ment and the grace of the presentation which will make this spot marked by this Stone hereafter a Mecca, within the borders of the city of Chester, for the pilgrimage of the high appreciation of the liberty-loving, law-abiding and intelligent people.
The address of Hon. William Ward concluded the first part of the exercises and Mr. Keyser then spoke as follows :
In pursuance of an ancient custom the Committee now propose to plant three trees in memory of three men notably connected with the Founder's time and memory. The first of these men, as the most nearly connected with his work here, was James Logan. To the Founder he was the friend and companion-he was his re- presentative after his departure-holding, as their friend, the Foun- der's place with them to the hour of his death. So dear to them he was that when he was himself sinking under sickness, they said "when he dies may God send us just such another."
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