The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-08-15
Centennial Celebration of Buxton.
Observation-Disclosures ADDREss-CENTENNI-
AL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. &C.

Observation-Disclosures ADDREss-CENTENNI-
AL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. &C.
The Centennial Celebration of the town of
Buxton, York county, was observed yesterday
with imposing ceremonies. Preparations had
been going on for some time to render the &C.
casiod one of great interest.
The citizens of Buxton were astir at at an
early hour, and were busy preparing for the
event of their life time. A salute was fred at
sunrise, noon and sunset The copious rain of
the night previous had laid the dust, and al
though the sky. was cloudy, it rendered the oc-
aston all the more comfortable. Teams began
to pour in by scores soon as daylight and by 8
a. m, the Common at Buxton Lower Corner,
the scene of the celebration, was lively local
ity, men, women and children being in holiday
Trim. The residences of John d. Coffin, esq.,.
and D. B. Hill, ESQ.,, facing the common, were
open to the distinguished guests.
The train from Portland arrived at 81 a. M,
bringing large number of the sons and daugh-
tiers of Buxton resident in Portland and else
where, also the Portland Light Infantry and
Portland Mechanic Blues. They were escorted
to the Common by one of the marshals, accom-
panied by the Bar Mills Band.
A large delegation of sons and daughters and
friends from Saco and Biddeford arrived in car
riages, some 500 in number, accompanied by
the Dover Cornet Band and the Bradford Cho-
raj Union, R. NJ. Hobbs, Conductor.
A procession was formed at 81 a. M, and
marched to the Coliseum" a frame-shelter
erected for the assembling multitude. 1t was
covered with green branches, rendering it cool
and comfortable. 1t was 90 feet long and 120
feet wide. The procession, lengthy one, was
as follows:
Chief Marshal Gerry Rounds; Aids; Capt.
Joseph Davis, Capt, Stephen Berry, Thomas
Tarbox John Bradbury, George H. Libby, Po-
lice Detachment; Dover Cornet Band, w. j.
Newell leader; Portland Light Infantry, I'd
Lieut.. c. r. Todd commanding; Portland Me-
chanic Blues, LIST Lieut.. E. w. Loveitt COM
manding; Bar Mills Band; Buxton veterans of
the late war, mostly of 9th Maine, under COM
mand of Capt. j. F. Warren; officers of the
town including Seectmen j. q. A. Harmon,
Moses G. Hill and d. A. Townsend; Town
Treasurer, Samuel Hanson; Town Clerk, ~
ben w. Murch; Orators, Poet Officers of the
Day, representatives of the press, and other in
vited guests, Biddeford Choral Union, citizens
of Buxton and surrounding towns, men, wO-
men and children OH foot, numbering some two
thousand.
The &c oliseum'' was thronged with people,
some 5000 being under its canopy and as many
more outside and about the streets. Among
those upon the speakers platform were Presi-
dent j. L. Chamberlain of Bowdoin College,
Hon. E. HI. Banks of Biddeford, and several
of the venerable residents of the town. Alarge
arch handsomely trimmed with evergreen and
boughs was at the main entrance to the Coli
scum ground, and upon it the words, Buxton
welcomes her sons and daughters"
The exercises were as follows: Selection, by
Choral Union and Band Invocation, by Rev.
Joseph Bartlett of Windham; Introductory re-
marks by j. @. A. Harmon,l President of the
Day; Selection, "Ode on Science" by Choral
Union and Band; Welcome Address, by Joseph
Dunnell, esq.,; "Star Spangled Banner" by
Choral Union and Band, with solo by Miss Jose
Woodman, esq.,, of Cambridge: Selection, by
Choral Union and Band; Poem, by Chas. G.
Came, esq.,, of the Boston Journal; Selection,
by Choral Union and Band; Centennial Ora
ton by Hon. Mark H. Dunuell of Minnesota, a
son of the town; Selection by the band and
march to the collation. tent; Blessing by Bev.
S. H. Merrill of Portland; 'America," by the
Choral Union and Band, the vast assemblage
joining with grand effect; Toasts and resposes
by several speakers; social reunion; Selection
Aud Lang Syne, by Choral Union and Band.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS,
After brief apology for the lack of time
which his many duties forced upon him, ane
his consequent unwillingness to occupy tn
important and honorable position; and al
eloquent tribute to the memory of the lat
Capt. VIM. Goodwin who was to have beei
historian for the occasion and TO the most val
liable services rendered to the town by Mr.
Daniel bennett, he said: tNt,.
Buxton owes its origin and settlement t.
the War with the Narraganset Indians, which
after great disasters to the Colonists, culmin
ated in the distinction of the power of tina
tribe by the bloody victory over them, whicl
was won in December, 1875.
The forces which in that year were gather
ed to destroy, once for all, the power of tn
Narragansets, were promised by the govern
ment on Dedham Plain, that if they playe
the man, took the Fort and drove the enem
out of the Narraganset country which wa
their great seat, that they should have era
tuity in land beside their wages.
The promise then made remained unfulfll e'
for mere than fifty seven years. After mos
of those who were engaged in the fight ha
ceased to live, the act of April 26, 1873 wa
| passed, by virtue of which our town of Bux
ton became the property of Philemon Dane c
| Ipswich, and of one hundred and ninetee
other persons. This act was passed in tn
seventh year of the reign of George II. |
compliance with this act general meeting o
the grantees of the seven townships which ha
been granted to the Narragansett soldiers wa
held on Boston Common it is said on the Ct
day of June 1888. At this time Philemo
Dane and others were appointed committe
of the Ipswich Society, which society repr
sented one hundred and twenty of the soldie
who were in the Narragansett war. Ate
"viewing" the townships and presenting the
report, the report was accepted by the CouI
Gil and House of Representatives confirmir
our town to the Ipswich Society. This a
was consented to by Gov. Belcher, Feb. 2
l722-4. On that day Philemon Dane and h
one hundred and nineteen associates BEGAN
the legal proprietors of Narragansett No.
now Buxton.
The next duty of the committee was "
lay out one hundred and twenty-three lots
said township, no lot to exceed twenty acres
The lots SO laid out were distributed by dra,
ing therefor and on the oath of Novembt
1886, therefore the ownership of lands in Il
town by individuals first began. Having o
tanned title to their Township, the next ca
of the proprietors was to get the town settl
SO that the grant should not be forfeited.
meeting held May 80, 1877 it was voted !"
encourage by bounties the settlement of thir
families in this then uninhabited wilderness
The first meeting house was built betwe'
the 10th OF October, 1742 and the 18th
April, 2743. 1t was directed by vote to
"thirty feet long and twenty. five feet wi
and nine feet stud of hume timber and t
! roof to be borded and short singled
: On the llth of November, l743, the Hot
of Representatives in apprehension of "
i between France and the northern count
voted to expend fl0O, old tenor, in buildi
garrison in this town. Tradition places
at Salmon Falls as stated on Dement'S mi
1t was doubtless built of logs as well as
first meeting house near which it was blu
= At this time there were not more than twel
r men capable of bearing arms and after
v declaration of war they all turned tn