The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-30
THE FALMOUTH HUTEL.
The Grand Opening.

The Grand Opening.
One of Portland's greatest events and one
that will long be remembered and alluded to
was the grand opening of the Falmouth Hotel
yesterday. From the commencement to the
time this noble structure was completed, it has
been admired and proudly spoken of by all as
one of the greatest works ever undertaken
here. But its magnifcence was not fully real
lzed till yesterday, when the doors were thrown
open and 1900 invited guests admitted, and
treated in manner truly representative OF
American hospitality. The pleasant and So
cial meeting of our citizens within these walls
with SO many from neighboring cities, will
long be an epoch in Porlland's history. At
about o'clock p. NJ. a special train of four
teen splendid cars arrived from Boston, bring
ing, with it the delegation from round about,
company of about 600. They were received
at the depot by Messrs. Ramsay & Wheeler,
with Sager's beautiful carriages, and headed
by the Portland Band, escorted to the Fal-
mouth About halt an hour was spent in
Walking through the building, when the call
was given for the Ju6 sg5-t -l1l-srs-I /
MAGNIFICENT COLLATION.
Nearly an hour was occupied in gratifying the
inner man and destroying the proportions of
the beautiful Dishes arranged in such fine
style by Ramsay 8 Wheeler's experienced
cooks. EGE
Soon after the collation., the voice of Ex-Gov.
Washburn was heard, who made a very neat
and appropriate speech, abiding to the occa-
sion as one of the pleasantest he had ever ex-
perienced, extending a warm welcome to our
visitors, and doing Just honor in his remarks
to Hon. j. B. Brown for his distinguished lib
erality in giving to Portland this splendid ho-
tel, So much needed. He hoped the enterprise
OF Mr.. Brown was fully appreciated, connect
ed as he has been and is now with all the great
projects to make our city one of the first in
the world.
Mr.. John Frost of Chelsea. and Mr.. Homer
| of Boston, were then called upon and respond
ed in very appropriate speeches, abiding to
the occasion, our relation to Massachusetts,,
&c. They were loudly applauded.
Gov. Washburn next introduced ex-Alder-
man Slack of Boston, who said that he had
just returned from two months visit out
West, where in every city he had met some
member of Mr.. Washburn's family Interrupt
ed by Mr. Washburn, who pleasantly remark
ed that the absence of the Washburns account
ed for the enterprise here at home) Mr. Slack
said that after his return he was giving a
young man description of the business out
there, and after he had got through, the young
man asked, "Do you know where would go
if were to leave Boston; would go to Port
land! There's where you find enterprise!''
Mr. Slack continued his remarks, compliment
in.r tbac
tors and said that Portland, with her pluck
and enterprise, had won the admiration of the
/ whole New England community. That our
citizens had made the Forest City the pride of
New England.
Mr.. Brown was next called, and made few
fitting remarks, expressing his pleasure at
meeting his friends of Portland and from
abroad; he would not respond at length, but
would leave that for his friends to do.
Gen. Shepley was next called for and COM
ing forward made some very appropriate re-
marks touching the occasion, and highly COM
plimenting Mr.. Brown for his enterprise, say
ing that if you want to find monument for
Mr.. B. look at Portland, not at the Falmouth
Hotel alone, for it was only the work of little
leisure time. He alluded to the future of our
city as brilliant one, and spoke of the hotel
as something which we had long needed sup
Piled. He said that one-half the employment
of the city of Portland is directly or indirectly
connected with Mr.. Brown. We wish only to
hear this testimony, that our visitors may re-
spect him as his fellow citizens respect him.
He was followed by John Rand, ESQ, in
few brief and fitting remarks. He then pro-
posed three cheers for Mr.. Brown which were
given with will, and three for the proprietors,
Messrs. Ramsay & Wheeler. He hoped that
they would long live to enjoy the fruits of their
experience. and the respect of the commune
ty. G-nas E6a 9ea siuH r
Gen. Oliver, of Boston, was then called, and
coming forward made few eloquent and ap-
propriate remarks.
Mr.. Coggswell, President of the Boston &
Maine Railroad, was called upon. vote of
thanks extended to him by the company, and
in response he said if he had been the means
of extending any facilities for the occasion be
was glad of it. He said that Portland was to
b. the centre of great trade, and that Boston
had no Jealousy on this account, but saw the
advantage of having a large city in such close
connection. d.H tWs
Secretary Warner, of Massachusetts,, was
next called, He said that this was almost his
first visit to our beautiful city, but he remem-
bered the great conflagration, and thought at
the time that it would take about ten years to
get Portland back to where it was before, but
he had now found that it had been more than
rebuilt in two years. ,is'tiga
He was followed by Mr.. G. w. Stevens, of
Boston, former resident of Portland, who said
that he had climbed every tree in behring's
Grove, and that he could almost say fellow cit
liens, although he could hardly recognize our
city with its many fine structures.
The meeting closed with three cheers for
Messrs. Ramsay & Wheeler. ,Ee II
The guests returned to Boston by special
train at 8 o'clock P. M a n