Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-06

by music from the Saundersville Band, and
justice was done to bountiful collation.. Rev.
Horace James of Worcester, made the prlnGi-
pal address, and addresses were also made by
Revs. Messrs. Miller of Saundersville, Virgin
of Grafton, Chick of Grafton, Donovan OF
West Sutton, w E. Slocum, Esq, Hon. ). j,
Woodbury. of Sutton, DIR. y. S. Flagg, w. R.
Hill, Esq. of WilkinsonvilIe, and Others
No accident interrupted the festivities of the
occasion, and all reached their homes in safety
it is believed, after day OF national enjoy
ment and profitable instruction.
The BrOoI1deId Observation-Disclosures Fourth
at West BroOISneId.
The morning of Wednesday opened with
heavy, foreboding Clouds which, however, 'in
honor of the day" soon broke, and the sun
looked down with gladness, shedding splendor
on the whole day and scene.
The decorations of Col. Beals were hung
around in great profusion, making the whole
village with its neat dwellings, its rich shad-
owy elms, and luxuriant naples, radiant with
bunting, part coored flags, national emblems,
and devices The new Town Hal. was be.
decked with flags and streamers, and on its
broad front were displayed large equestrian
design representing Washington, with the god
dess and cap of liberty ON one hand and the
blind goddess ofjustice on the other, while be-
low were arranged the coats of arms Of various
OF the states. Across all the principal streets
were displayed flags of all colors and devices,
conspicuously displaying the word "Welcome"
at each entrance of the village, and across from
the Town Hall was the inscription, "Welcome
home sons and daughters of Brookteld."
Many private dwellings were decorated with
flags and evergreen wreaths, as well as patriot
ic notices, most conspicuous among them be-
ing the old tavern opposite the Town Hall'
with the inscription, Hitchcock Tavern,
1850" The Wlckaboag House, near the
depot, was also tastefully decorated.
The citizens of West Brookfeld proceeded
at % clock, under the escort of the 0akham
band, to Fosters Hil the site of the first lorti-
tication, where they were met by fhe citizens
of North, South, and East Brookfeld with
the Brookfeld Cornet Band, and hafehed to
the common. Here jflIe final PROCESSION was
formed, with S. ID Cooke as chief marshal,
and marched through the village to the
grounds of E. B. Tamter Esq, where, enter
ing under a tasteful birch bearing the inscrip-
ton, 'Brookfield incorporated 1861" they
proceeded by the lane, which was formerly the
old stage road to the old burying ground, near
the entrance of which stood monument in
scribed =
Erected in memory of John White, Joseph Kel-
log, Stephen Jennings, benjamin Jennings Ebenez-
er Hayward, and John Grosvenor, who were killed |
by the Indians, July 20, no"
Thence the procession returned across the |
old Baldwin place to the street under an orna-
mental arch inscribed, 1880. The day we
celebrate. 1776," with the word "Welcome"
on the reverse.
Arriving at the large tent, which was set up
at the east end of the common near the old
Fisk store, the large company entered and
completely filled the tables, which had been
set for twelve hundred, leaving large margin
for outsiders who did not care to participate in
the dinner.
The meeting being called to order, Amasa
Walker, Esq, appeared as president of the
day, and introduced the venerable Rev. DIR.
Joseph Xailfof Palmer, who invoked the divine
blessing. 8 e saA. aA 81 Ast SE
The gathered host then spent half hour n
doing justice to the ample viands spread before
them by the caterers, Messrs. Cummings and
and Crowell. 1--we e. tit9 VI
The platform was appropriately arrah ged
with evergreen mottees and devices, and set
out with bouquets, which also ornamented the
long tables.
Conspicuous on the platform was a banner
having on one side sketch of an ancient
meeting house, with a gathering Sunday crowd
Oh foot and on horseback, in the olden style,
with the inscription, "Church of our Fathers"
The reverse bore sketch of the Indian at
tack on the fortified house in 1875, with the
inscription, "Attack on the Last House." and
'If God be for us, who can be against us 2"
Other inscribed banners which had been
borne in the procession were conspicuously
displayed in different parts Of the tent.
Upon the platform sat quite an array of the
old sons of BrookfeId, with gray and silyered
locks, which formed dignfed and touching
picture to the view OF the audience.
The edib!es being disposed of, the president
of The day, Mr.. Walker, offered, in eloquent
terms, welcome to the sons, daughters, and
former residents of the old town, to this his
torical reunion. Then recurring to 1860, he
said it was the time Of the restoration OF the
Stuarts one of the darkest and most gloomy
in English history. Louis XIVth was Just
entering upon his brilliant but desperate career
in France, and thus, when the cause of liberty
in Europe seemed hopeless, the early settlers
of New England were planting the institutions
of freedom in the new world. This settle
ment was not the mere outgrowth Of Il crowd
ed civilization, but an independent establish
ment; it was a vine planted in the wilderness
There were no settlements within thirty miles,
Lancaster in the east, and Springfield in the
west, and this was made half century before
any nearer was attempted-hfty -seven years
before Brimfeld, the first after, and eighty
nine years before Oakham, the next, while the
proud city Of Worcester was still a swamp,
and Leicester hills were covered with wild
forests. The great reasons why this was
made so early q DOint for settlement were