The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-26
ONE HUNDRED YEARS old YESTERDAY.
Guns Boom and All vlnaIhaven Helps
to celebrate
The Towns Prosperity Represented
In the Long Procession.
Bits of History of a Region Famed
for Brave Men.
Especial to the Press. |

non ushered in Vinalhaven's one hundredth
birthday at sunrise this morning and at an
early hour the streets were filled with peo-
pie, both residents and visitors from other
places whocame to witness the festivities.
At eight o'clock the procession of fantas-
tics, 60 in number, marched through the
streets headed by the Vinalhaven band, 0. P.
P. Lyons, leader. Indians, fat boys, clowns,
and local celebrities were represented. The
prizes for the best representations were
awarded to Walter Hopkins, Charles Has
kell and c. F. Noyes.
At $50 the Union church was crowded to
hear the literary exercises. DR.. e. N. Ly-
ford was master of ceremonies in tle church,
which was beautifully decorated fof the oc-
casion. After an impressive prayer by Rev.
M. II. Littlefield and the reading Of a poem
by Geo. w. White Of Rockland a native of
the town, the Grafton Of the day was deliv-
cred by Rev. Warren Applebee of Vinal-
haven. The speaker gave the origin of the
name of the group of islands of which Vinal-
haven forms a part Fox Islands arising
from the discovery of many silver gray fox
es there by early explorers. Then in brief
he described the geography of the place and
its early history An eloquent reference was
made to the part the town bore in the var
ious wars and the part it was now bearing
in the progress of civilization and industrial
progress. The resources of the town and
what it possesses in the way oforganizations,
schools, churches and the like were exhaust
lively and entertainingly treated. He i'm
pressively drew from the past lessons to
guide the future. 1t was an able effort.
After the oration thecentennial poem writ
ten by Miss Annie Coughlin of Rockland,
native of the town. was read and was a
were interspersed with music by select
choir and the band. Capt. Reuben Carver,
93 years old, hale and hearty, occupied seat
on the platform and was one of the most in
teresting and interested participants. After
tests, such as throwing the hammer, foot
races, ETC.. were participated in by large
number
At . o'clock the grand procession formed
in four divisions. The Vinalhaven Band,
LAFAYETTE Carver Post. G. A. RI. and the
fire companies led. The trade exhibits and
historical floats were very interesting and
instructive. One Hoat represented the shoot
ing of two British soldiers by John Perry of
Vinalhaven in 1779. Perry crept upon. the
his garden and shot them dead. He had
been provoked by repeated depredations. A
full-rsgged ship, with appropriate motto,
draped with flags and carrying AZ young la
dies and Miss Columbia, well represented
the Ship Of State. Two pictorial floats i
killing of Vinalhaven fishermen by Indians
on Murder Rock. On monster float
16 of the islands blacksmiths
were hard at work about their f0rges and
anyils, making granite cutters tools. The
Hrir rlyc rfr.fr o1rin hal
lows. ringing anvils. and smoke-begrimed
smiths made this a striking feature of the
display. Other interesting floats were those
occupied by the granite workers. One with
eight men illustrated the various ways of
cutting stone. the old-fashioned picks not
work cutting, while on neighboring float
five quarrymen were busy about their work.
Their brawny arms, picturesque costumes,
and the, flying chips made these two displays
trade and artistic exhibits besides these.
In the public library room, many relics
were gathered together, all with history
bearing upon this centennial anniversary.
There were old clocks, lanterns, warming
pans, foot stones, ,crockery and the like. The
cartridge box and haversack of John b. Carver
of Vinalhaven, who was killed at Castine,
in the revolution, was exhibited. An old
HeSsan gun, captured in the revolution. at
tracted attention, as did powder horn that
The celebration closed with the usual sun
set cannon salute and brilliant fireworks and
was in every way success. The best OF
order was maintained Col. L. G. Libby
was marshal Of the day, assisted by Fred L.
Carver, John W. Hopkins. D. II. Gldden, c.
f. Thompson. and j. S. Black.
Vinalhaver was discovered in 1903 by
Martin Pring, who sailed from England for
the New World and entered Penobscot Bay,
June 7th. In 1854. Theret, a French explor-
nr mt fhn nd n1,a1a
touched at these islands, but no special
record was made of it. The first permanent
settlement was made in 1765. In 1760 several
attempts We're made to settle Fox Island,
but the Indians proved so unfriendly
killed or driven away. David Woos-
ter, in 1862 was the first settler upon the
north island, and son of his was the first
white child born in town. In 1766, the Car
vers came, and from that time on the work
revolutionary war the settlers were harassed
by the British Shaving Mills" and many of
the settlers compelled to work on the British
Notifications at Castine.
In 1875, it was voted by the inhabitants to
petition the general court of Massachusetts
praying to be "quieted" upon their lots. The
first meeting of which we have any record
was held March IL. 1855, at the home of Ben
jamin Kent, North Island. The town was
Incorporated June 25. 1889, and was incorpo-
idtCu 40 v III uOuUI VI JUuu Nludl,
who rendered great assistance in 'quieting"
the people upon their lots. In 1897 the town
voted. to hire minister, raising
4io therefor. The. preaching evidently
was not satisfactory for in 1902 the town
voted not to hire a minister In 1906 the
town set shining example for the Maine
legislature and placed a bounty of ten cents
on crows and blue jays and 20 cents on
eagles. In 1907 the question Of separating
Maine from Massachusetts, came up. and the
town voted "a against the separation and
none for. In 1872 the island was the scene
of some interesting contests between the
British and the smart and saucy island fish
ermen. Matinicus Island, Hurricane and
North Haven were originally portions of
the town of Vinalhaven. The town had II
men in the war of 1872 and furnished 1870
men for the Rebellion. % of these losing
their lives in the service The town has
public library due in the main to the bene-
ficence of the late Gov. Bodwell; five schools,
being one of the few towns in the State
with free text books, and has various organ
izatons of Masons, Odd Fellows and the
like in fine condition, many Of them owning
fpa huildipuc