Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-06
The Fourth Of July at Leicester.
Celebration of the I5Oth Anniversary Of
the Town.

The town of Leicester, one hundred and fifty
years old, was the scene of grand celebration
on the fourth of July, in honor of its having at
tanned that age. The people of the town, and
people from other places whose lives began there
were all awake to the Importance of the occa-
sion, and much had been done in the way Of
preparation. Leicester hill is a slightly old place
for outdoor exercises as can be found in the
state, with village of ancient houses on each
side of the streets sloping down from the foul
sides of the summit, which is surmounted by
the stately old spire of the first Congregational
church. In front of that church, on the green
common, a tent covering broad space with its
canvas, had been pitched, under which long
tables were arranged for the dining of upwards
of thousand people East of the large tent,
and directly in front of the venerable brick
walls of the old Leicester academy,
were seats for the multitude among the elm,
maple and ash trees, which are scattered over
the common, and although stately and with
trunks of good size, look much the youngest of
anything to be seen in the town except the
children. Facing these seats was a stand for
the orator of the day, distinguished guests,
and the officers by whom the exercises were
conducted. This was covered with canvas, car
peted, and trimmed with boughs.
The officers of the day were: joseph A.
Denny, president; Hon. Waldo Flint, Abram
Firth, Esq, S. L. Hodges, Esq, Rev. Samuel
May, and John Woodcock, Esq, vice presi-
dents; Rev. A. II. Coolidge, chaplain; John f.
Russell, Esq, chairman of the committee of ar
engagements; Hon. John d. Coggswell, chief
marshal, and DR.. John N. Murdoch, toast
master. We recognized also on the platform
the mayor of Worcester, Hon. Edward Earle;
Hon. Nathan Sargent, of Washington; DIR.
Edward Flint, Samuel Watson. Esq, and
Abram Firth, ESQ., assistant superintendent OF
the Boston and Albany railroad.
The audience in front of the stand included
many aged people, among whom was Rev. John
Nelson, ID. d., eighty-iye years of age For
fifty-nine years he has been pastor of the First
Congregational church in the town, although
he is now somewhat infrm. The chaplain o.
the day, Rev. A. H. Coolidge, is the colleague Of
DR.. Nelson. The older portion of the inhabi
tants turned out in numbers that astonishef
every one; and many came who have not left theiI
homes before for months-and even years, il
some cases. The towns of Spencer, Paxton ant
Auburn, which were included in Leicester wher
the old town was Incorporated, were represent
ed by large delegations; and among those from
these towns there were also many aged mer
and women. From Worcester, many omnibus
loads arrived early in the day, while other
came in private teams; and from places abroad
the number was large. In all, there were pres
ent on the grounds between twelve and 6fteer
hundred.
The exercises were opened by few worf
from Rev. Samuel May, who acted for the chair
man of the committee of arrangements. Mr.
John Z. Russell, that gentleman being absent i,
Greenfield to join others of his family in the oh
servance of an anniversary of importance t.
them. Mr.. May called upon the band, whicl
was stationed on the right of the speaker
stand, and shortly after ten o'clock by music tn
days services began. The band was the Wor
cester National, A. w. Ingraham leader, and th
music furnished by it was excellent. After tn
band piece the following invocation hymn wa