Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-24
GU1LFORD,s GREAT DAY.

Fourth Annual Reunion of Bands
 and Drum Corps-Addresses of Well
 come-Concerts by Consolidation of
 Bands and Drum Corps.
 Early yesterday morning the inhabitants of the quiet old town of Guilford were ear ly astir and making great preparations to re- ceive and entertain the bands and drum corps which were to participate in the fourth annual reunion. The town presented hol iday appearance. Flags were floating from many of the dwellings and everybody took day off. There was a general exodus of peo- were the styles of vehicles from the country pressed into service to convey the people to witness the tournament Wonders of pies and sweet cider (Guilford is a no license town) did a thriving business. As soon as the drum mers arrived they were met by delegations of Guilford drummers and escorted to the Green and assigned 8 position in line. Shortly after 12 o'clock the procession, head ed by platoon of police, began the march over the following route:
 Down Harbor to Charles Walkley's house, countermarch to High, to South Fair, to Water, to Harbor, to Broad, to River, to York, to Fair. to Broad, to Church, to North, to State, to Union, to Park, to Boston, to Park, to Broad, to band stand.
 Although the march was long one the men did not mind it. for the day was chilly and it was only by exercising that they could keep warm. At the conclusion of the march the men were drawn up in line in front of the band stand, where the Rev. Mr. Vittun1 delivered the following address of welcome:
 Gentlemen-I presume at the first grand mothers looked into our faces only grandmothers can and said what beautiful little boy, and most of us puckered up beautiful little faces into 10 900 beautiful little wrinkles, opened our beautiful little mouths and sereamed In other & words, we nava aaYs Sovn t vbsl fo hae have pounded tin pans, some have blown whistles some have o kept eSt f Butler and some for Beiva Lockwood. In fact, we hs a as d of noises. Some are more agreeable than others. that kind of noise that we are listening to today It is as musicians or makers of musical noises that sober old place. but, we are good for what you can get out m of it. ,,.ee We hope @ you m will fractions of some other towns, yet will say this for our dear old home; If you search all connee- to make a noise The houses you see are not near ca together, left far apart on purpose, so that the noise can have plenty of room to play bo-peep and the is MSoe with nothing on it, plenty ef room for the noise ssus ss kick and play leap has been very quiet still place for fifty yearsa reg
 
 not think depreciate your music because call it noise We understand that this is the best kind of ouaiity and we expect the greatest possible quanti- ty. Shake it up. then; whoop it up. Make Puri- noise. and can only hope that You will enjoy your visit much as we enjoy hazing you here.
 After MT. Vittum's address came the con- cert by the consolidation of bands. The con cert was conducted by MT. Paul Lanudre of the Columbia band of Branford. The next number on the programme was the concert by the consolidation of drums corps. The men pounded the drums with will and each vied with his neghbors to see who could make the most noise. After the war had ceased the men adjourned to dinner. Gull ford may be slow town in some respects, but surely no other town can outdo them at furnishing a dinner. Over three hundred partook of the dinner and there was sufficient left to feed many more. After dinner each band and drum corps mounted the band stand and played piece of it's o VII selection. There were no prizes offered and where all did so we'll it would be a difficult matter to tell which was best. The playing cf Columbia bard of Branford, however, was excellent and they were applauded at the conclusion. The band has made great prog ress of late and is destined to become one of the finest in the State. They were handi- capped yesterday as their leader, Mir. Laun- dre, was unable to play owing to an acci- dent which caused 8 painful injury to his hand.
 The order of procession was as follows:
 
 Platoon of police commanded by Howard Lan- don.
 H. Pendeton, jr, chief marshal. Twenty five aids mounted. Columbia band, Branford, 21 men. H. G. Hubbard drum corps, Miadetown 10 men. Chester drum corps Chester, men. Old Lyme Cornet band, Lyme q men. Derby Thunderers drum corps, Derby, men. Clinton Cernet band, Clinton 21 men. Farrell Advance drum corps, Ansonia men. Middletown City drum corps, Is men. SECOND DIVISION. George L. Griswold, marshall 15 mounted men, Comstock 6 Cheney band. Ivoryton, Is men, Moodus drum corps, ,Moodus, 15 men. o V Coffin drum corps Middletown, f6 men. KilIingwerth drum corps Killingworth, 15 men. Essex Cornet band, Essex 2l men. Solid Five drum corps, Milford men. Menuncatuck drum corps Guilford. 24 men. West Haddam drum corps. 8 men,