Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-27
G0RhAm'S DAY.
ihe fSOth Anniversary Of its
settlement.
over Five Thousand People Gel
ebrate the Event,
booming of Cannon-A Procession
Addresses and Music.
lopecial to the Kennebec Journal I

A"is mas oeen an eventful day in the his.
tory or the staunch old town of Gorbom
ana one never to be forgotten bv its c,;zen.
anu 'hose interested in its welfare. II ia the
iooth anniversary of the settlement of the
town by John Phinney in 1885. csn+,r,
and half ago the face of this poodlv tow r
was wild wilderness; today it is dotted
with trim farm houses and it boasts Of a,
thrifty village as can be found in New Emo.
iahd. more prosperous municipality of its
size cannot be found in the State. and todax
the citizens with their friends have, with
holluay gladness mingled with reverence fo,
Things OF the past. commemorated the begin.
ming OF the town. The day has been vel
adapted to an event of this kind. The threat
enlng weather OF the early morning did moi
orlng ram, and the cool temperature anG
DISK WIND were much preferable to a scorcb
ing sun. There was multitude of
People in Attendance.
Not only was every citizen OF Gorham pres
ent, but the morning trains emptied throng.
into the village. The special from Port.
land at o'clock was made up of twelve
heavily loaded cars. There was steady
stream of teams from the surrounding coun.
try from an early hour in the morning until
high noon, the Portland road furnishing a
large quota. The town was most
Gayly CaparisOned
for the anniversary and there was no end tc
decorations. Stores and houses everywhere
oloomed with bunting, while bannerets, flags
and Chinese lanterns were interspersed in
available places. Governor Robes spacious
residence was profusely adorned, while the
headquarters flag of the Maine militia waved
at the main entrance. A handsome arch of
evergreen. twenty feet in height, beautiful in
design and finish, appeared on Main street
near the square. On its face, in imposing
black letters on white ground, appeared the
inscription, 736-welcome-1886" In the
square on raised base stood the life size
figure of an Indian with tomahawk and gun
in hand. Upon the faces of the base were
numerous inscriptions. On every hand were
to be seen inscriptions indicative of the char.
actersOf the day.
The Old Academy Building
which so many noted and prominent men and
women once attended was one of the centers
of attraction 1t told of memories dear tc
many of the former residents of the town
who had returned to the home of their more
youthful days. The large room on the lower
floor contained a collection Of the utensils
and ornaments of our forefathers which
formed valuable lesson of the lives of the
sturdy settlers who laid the foundation of the
town. The collection comprised rare old
furniture loaned by descendants of the found
ers of Gorham, portraits of the early resi-
dents of the town, the implements with which
their work was performed the arms they car
ried when engaged in war, and hosts of other
curious articles which well repaid careful in
spection.
The Reception Hall
in the second story OF the building had beer
trimmed with banners and bunting in tasty
designs bv the ladies, the staircase leading
to it being handsomely draped. A platform
embow cred in bunting and Paris drapery oc
cupied one end of the room and among the
quaint old portraits on the wall were those O
Mary Gorham Phinney, the first white chile
horn in the settlement and also that of the
first child born in the block house on For
Hill to which the inhabitants fled in the fire.
ouent and sanguinary struggles with the
Indians.
A Point of Interest
to visitors was the old Mcclellan house, q
short distance beyond the academy, com
menced in 1863 and finished in l773 by Rob
ert Mcclellan This was the first brick house
ever erected in the county, II not In the
State. 1t has never passed out OF the hands
of the family and today looks much as 1t did
in 1878. Near the square was to be seen a
small gray wooden bHilding labelled Ga part
of the second meeting house, built in l76f.'
It Was Proud Day
for Governor Robie The spacious residence
which he now occupies was the one in which
he was born aud has almost constantly re-
sided since 1t was occupied by his father.
tbe late Toppan Robie,. died some IA
years ago at the well rounded age OF SO years.
The Governor is thoroughly welded to the
nlace and he has exerted every effort to make
the celebration a success. This morning the
doors of his mansion were thrown open and
friends from abroad and near by were welc nled
NV both Mr.. and Mrs. Robie with cordiallty
which made eveIy guest feel perfectly al
home. "We are so happy that 1t dld not
raip." said Mrs. Robie as she greeted one OF
her guests, and everybody In "ttendance on
the celebration was glad the clouds proved
ra;rless The day was opened by the firing
of a salute on Fort Hill by the battery and
r;noing of all the bells in town at sunrise.
The Procession
was formed at $50 o CLOCK "A. w., ou oou."
street, as follows:
Chief Marshal.
Col Henry T. Mett.
Aids, -
Edward Harding, John A. Hinkley, DR.. William +
Watson, b. w. Feeney, George 1. Pratt.
Chandler's Band OF Portland. 25 pieces.
Portland Cadets, Capt. Henry Eastman oom
vi mandng.
'oA q A r.. Theodore Shackford, Commanding.
n n warren Post, No. s73, Department OF Name
" e. A. r., +. r. Wingate, Commanding.
pres,dent of the Day, Orator, Off ,ating Cergymeh
rre'ies GaneraI m Committee and Invited Guests, in
carriages. u,
Harmony Lodge, No; 80. E. = A. NJ Ere"
px.,r Iodge No II5, f. & A. n. Frank ii. Har
graves. w. NJ n :,
Dlrpo Lodge, No. q, X. of F., A brackeT p;ts p
Harragansett % Lodge, No; SO, X. of p g. NJ fike
Present and Past Officers OF the iown'
present and Former Residents.
School Committee.
corha,n u;oh School. F, w. Davis, Principal
District Schools. -
Gorham Grange, No. 81. ?. OF h. y. M r~Ae'
p,x.or cr.p.e. No. o5. P. of H., r. F. Carter
naap Cantain.