The Portland daily press., 1886-03-27
PoRTLAND's CENTENNIAL.
Meeting Of the Centennial Commit
tee Last Evening.
Full Text of the Proposed Programme
of the Celebration.

Full Text of the Proposed Programme
of the Celebration.
A meeting of the city committee on cen
tennial celebration was held at the Mayors
Office last evening, His Honor the Mayor in
the chair. There was an attendance OF cwo-
thirds of the full committee.
Mr.. George c. Burgess, the secretary, read
the minutes of the last meeting, after which
the roll of the committee was called.
The report of the committee on programme
was read by the Mayor. The full text is as
follows:
The subcommittee on programme would ask
leave to make the following report, VIZ: That the
said Committee held meeting on Monday even
ing last ut the Mayors office, at 80 o'clock, at
which meeting all the members of the committee
were present. A number Of citizens had been in
eestions relative to the proposed celebration,
Some of whom were present and gave expressions
of their views relative to the celebration, which
were considered by the committee. Lewis B.
Smith Esq, one of the invited gentlemen present.
submitted in writing many important and valua-
The committee, after hearing the opinion and
views of the gentlemen present, held q meeting
by themselves and agreed upon the following pro-
PROGRAMME.
Sunday JiAy4.
In the morning, services at the various churches
and places of meeting, appropriate to the local
histories of the various churches and societies.
In the afternoon, at the option of the several
societies other exercises suitable to the occasions
and also at the City Hail. services to be held COM
memoratiye OF ancient styles of worship, and ac-
companied by music of the olden time.
In the evening, meeting to be held at the
City Hall at which appropriate services ana exer-
cises will be held.
Monday, Jasly5.
AT sunrise, Federal salute to be fired, accom-
panied by the ringing of all of the church bells
In the forenoon, at a suitable hour, process
sion to be formed, which shall move through such
streets in the city as shall hereafter be deSignat-
ed such procession to include the military, ire
men, civic and secret organizations OF our city,
school children, with delegations Of sons OF Port
sion to present in contrast the changes and prog
ress of Portland during the past one hundred
years IN forms, costumes ana netnous; @ one us
At noon, Federal salute, ringing of church bells,
blowing of steam whistles.
In the afternoon, at Deering Park, various
pleasing entertainments for the benefit of the
children of our city.
In the evening, illuminated tableaux of an histor
wheels. moved over the rails of the street railroad
on Congress street, and also torch light and
tiambeaux professions. Bands to be stationed at
different points along the line This exhibition to
take the place Of or be substituted for the ordina-
ry fireworks display.
Tuesday, jugs.
In the forenoon, at City Hail. the various litera-
ry historical and musical exercises, including the
oration poem, &c. The City Hall to be properly
decorated for the occasion
After the close Of the exercises in the Han an
visitors, and especially for their entertainment,
they to be the guests of the city. An old fash
ioned fish chOwder and modern clam bake to be
provided. Citizens to be allowed to participate
by paving cost prices.
In the evening, an informal reception by the
Cy ,n at Gty nsd HAIL a nd te gpbtad
Speaking If desired. Notable sons and daughters
OF Portland from abroad to be presented to the
and dancing in I the hem main % hail i for those who de.
sire. Special reunions to be had in rooms in the
building. An important one, that Of the old mem
held in the supreme judicial court room.
This reception at the City Hall will be the close
Of the exercises pertaining proper to the celebra
tiox.
Wednesday, July Z.
picnic excursion through the White Mountain
Notch, over the Portland and 0gdensburg rail-
road, free to the visitors. Citizens on the same
terms as to the Island excursion. This win not
only afford our guests pleasant and healthful
recreation; but give our citizens an opportunity
TO show what seeming difficulties have been over
come, and important commercial avenues opened
by the citizens of Portland who conceived the
idea, furnished the capital to build, and the men
to control and operate it.
In the evening. after the return from the excur-
sion, family reunions, and such other purely social
gatherings as the well known hospitality of our
people win readily suggestsand provide.
During the days OF the celebration let the news
papersof the:cty give reasonable portion Of their
columns to the publication OF Genealogical and
Historical articles, contributions in poetry and
prose- as well as editorials, together with the ac-
papers to be preserved BY the city in its archives
and in the collections of the Public Library and
Historical Societies. All the records of the pro-
ceedings from its inception to its close, compris-
ing the oration, poem, speeches, Sc, reported
phOnographicaliy all historical meteorological
papers, all poems read and accepted and all other
papers of value to be preserved, and as soon as
may be in a proper manner, printed and published
in memorial volume under the direction of some
person qualified for the work authorized to COM
During the days of the celebration the public
buildings are to be, and remain decorated. His
tOric arches are to be erected at different points,
and suitable tablets are to be placed on ancient
buildings, historic places and the birth places or
homes of distinguished men and women of our
city
Portland, March 26. 1885,
After reading the report, the Mayor said
that it embodied substantially the features
introduced by Mr.. Lewis B. Smith, which, in
general, had been published in the papers.
But there were some changes which the
committee had seen proper to make, as for
instance, they decided 1t was better to have
the out-of-door exercises Monday, and the
literary exercises Tuesday. 1t was also bet
ter to give the children an entertainment on
Monday afternoon. He also referred to the
immense amount of labor that would be re-
qufred to carry the arrangements into exc
cution, and of the cooperation that must be
expected from the citizens, formed into sub
committees for that purpose. The detail of
the programme would have to be decided
later. The celebration proper viii begin
Sunday, and close Tuesday night. The Sun
day celebration would properly, he said, Icon
sist of sermons by the various pastors, re-
lating to the work of their churches in the
past hundred years; in the afternoon, the
exercises at City Hall would consist of an
"olde folke's choire," and an address relat.
ing to a hundred years ago, while those in
the evening would refer to the great reforms
of the past hundred years in which Portland
had had her part.
The programme, as reported, was adopted
for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. 1t was
thought advisable to lay on the table that
part relating to an excursion over the Og-
densburg on Wednesday and the subsequent
suggestions. The decorating of the city will
depend good deal on expense. Mr.. Sawyer
suggested that if arches could be erected
without using much lumber, as for instance,
If wires could be run to telegraph poles or
either side Of a street on which flags and
drapery could be arranged, such arches
would be comparatively inexpensive. Ther
again Mr.. McCann thought, and his sugges
tion was favorably considered, that frs
class rowing regatta on Tuesday morning
would prove valuable and attractive fea
ture. An amendment to the programme tt
that effect was adopted
The discussion on the 0gdensburg excur
sion seemed to voice itself in the opinion
that the road should get up cheap excursion
to the Notch for Wednesday, to which citi
zens could procure tickets at low price
and to which sons and daughters of Port
land from abroad should be invited free. OF
recommendation of the committee. But M
action was taken ON this matter. AS to tht
procession it was thought that as everybody
was giving so much of their time free fol
this centennial celebration, that the city
military and civic bodies would parade in the
procession free Of cost.