Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-18
nn1sroI,s OrnrRNn1An

BRIsTOL's CENTENNIAL. Its Big Celebration Yesterday-Crovvds
 Of PeOPle-A Fine Pageant-The Ad-
 dresses-A Memorable Day in the Old
 Town.
 The boom of cannon in Bristol yesterday: announced the beginning of the towns cen tennial celebration. Thirteen guns were fred Long before noon the old town saw crowds of people on it's streets and every where signs of gala occasion were mani fest. The decorations of buildings and resi- dences were fine.
 At o'clock the national salute of thirty | eight guns was fired, and at Il the remain der of the centennial salute of 100 guns (sixty- two) were discharged.
 ! About il o'clock there was an inspection of the Bristol fire department by the com missioners. The two steamer companies and the hook and ladder companies ara fine body of men and appeared we'll The grand parade at noon was viewed by about ten thousand people. The order of procession was:
 Grand Marshal Gilbert Penfield l 1st Asst, T. E. Hawley. 2d Asst, M. H. Barnard. 1 O. R. Palmiter, I. W. Tyler, M D. Edgerton
 w. sfsX W E BaAnes A IaPs R o vi Reac5 F, johnson E. Manchester. FIRST DIVISION. | Marshal and Aids ! Putnam Phalanx Drum Corps. Putnam Phalanx. 1 c,,,,.t THerryyilie HT E Drum 6s1 Band; | Plainville Cernet Band. Newton s. Manross Post, G. A. R. | SECOND DIVISION. First Assistant Marshal and Aids. | Chief Engineer and Assistants. ! Ex-Chief Engineers Veteran Bremen. Bristol Cornet Band. Uncas Steamer Company No. 3.
 zeaofs Hook and Company So | Plainville Drum Band Welch Steamer Company No. l. THIRD DIVISION. Second Assistant Marshal and Aids. Boys Branch, " M. c. A.
 Franklin Council No Is' S,,,s U. O. A. M' of Plain
 Invited Guests a, and ,.Rs;s Reception Committee ! Selectmen and Fire Commissioners in Carriages Kazoo Band. Citizens Generally. The line of march was through Mai n street to North Main, to North, to Maple, to Pros pect Place. to Summer, to High, to Bellevue, to the Green.
 Arriving at the Green the vast number of people, numbering nearly 1000, gathered about the grand stand erected and listened to the public literary exercises of the day. The parade was dismissed on completion of the line of march.
 The literary exercises began by Chairman Newell calling the assemblage to order, after which prayer was offered by the Rev. Everett E. Lewis, of Haddan Then MT. Newell de- ivered his address of welcome to the great gathering.
 THE ADDRESS WELCOME.
 We meet to-day to celebrate the first centennial of the incorporation of Bristol town \. The celebration of the anniversaries of great events has been customary in all ages and among all peoples. How much grander more important and imposing the celebration of the centennial of
 The majority of individuals are permitted to participate in the anniversary of events but par those events is granted to how few of the genera tions!
 Of those who were living at the time of the pas sage of the act of incorporation hundred years ago,not one is present; and yet how vast the null since the year 17S5. Thus it will be in the centuries to come.
 And while we meet to consider the past we should remember that stand in the same relation to pos terity that our ancestors do to us and as con the fathers so will our conduct and achieve ments be brought into judgment by. success sors.
 We all are to be congratulated and should be grateful to divine providence that we live at the time of the of Brstol's first centennial that can participate in the entertainments and pleasures of this occasion, and that we are per the "reminiscences of the past, which, except for such occasions as these, become mouldy in the cells The history of our New England towns is most in- teresting and Bristos certainly is 10 exception to the rule. When the town of Bristol was incorporated it embraced within it's territory what are the towns of Bristol and Burlington, and so remained until 1so6 when Burlington was set off from Bris- tol Bristol may therefore be called mother town. But Farmingtoni reyered old town, is not only grandmother and from the increase and prosperity of her children (which is apparentto to alp need become extinct. Pennington may well have just family pride Never will her children look upon her and her his tory except with reverence and admiration. Of Bristol we can tTTlthfully say that in re- in the State, the msst unselfsh it's disposition In the last one L hundred years she has furnished now has not sufficient for her own use. that Goud be to and nternr and profitable on such an occasion as this. is imposs How vast the subjects for consideration Through what changes and revolutions have the I nation the state and ir M these towns passedi with To those of us who reside here and whose lot it | and valleys it is. great joy and pride to behold celebrate this event and to welcome home so many of the sons and daughters of Bristol.s On the part Of the committee of arrangements | and the town of Bristol I extend to you a most | hearty and cordial greeting, and only desire that you all should be present at and participate in the celebration of Bristos next and second centen nial Your attention is now invited to the reading of the history of Bristol, which has been prepared with much labor by MT. Roswell Atkins and Epaph- l roditus Peck, both natives of the town and de | scendants of our older families It will be read by Mir. Peck.
 Among the letters of regret read were the l following, one from Governor Harrison, the other from ex-Mayor Welch of this l city:
 LETTER FROM GOVERNOR HARRISON.
 NEW HAVEN June 13 vitation expected to be in Vermont on the 17th have been unexpectedly called home. Engage. ments here, however, will nevertheless, deprive ofthe pleasure of being present at your centennial celebration. Hoping that your celebration will be in all re- Very truly yours
 H. B. HARRISON.
 BEHAVIOR WEIGH.
 NEW HAVEN, June 6, 1885 My dear sir-I have your favor of the 2d inst. | inviting me to participate in the Bristol centennial to b o Sat my sha n boass of being a ''nariveS or town f born, for my fathers family about 1s26 cold enough in the month Of March and as we got in front of Uncle George Mitchell's store he invited me to | mer of that year went into Mir. Mitchel's store as a clerk and remained there about four years and | men people of that day remember as well as | though but yesterday. But, alasl I see they are | M Since then Bristol has pushed on eranT ee dG snd Mountain, South Side and North sideI s rememi ean Der you all. remain truly, FOl1Owino the historical addrasa b-;af a5 I