The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-21

fact its existence itself was due to an
accident.
Some years previous TO the date of
this story George Washington Redfield
went into western state on a pros
pecting tour to find an eligible site for
the erection of factory.
What this enterprise was cuts but lit
tle figure in this story. 1t is sufficient
10 know that the land upon which
Washington was afterward built suited
him, and the busy, lively, thriving town
was the result
The city owed its name TO series Of
peculiar events. IL was on February
e2 Mr.. Redfield first came upon the site.
1t took him just year to acquire from
the owners the land he desired and it
was on February % the first bargain
was made. These condolences point
ing SO directly to Washington's birth
day and the fact that his own name
call the place as he did.
These things all impressed the citi-
zens of Washington with the signifi-
canoe of the date, and, it being already
a national holiday, it became for that
town the chief holiday of the year. The
Fourth of July was nothing as COM
pared to Washington's birthday, and
Christmas and Thanksgiving day were
not mentioned in the same breath by
these patriotic townspeople.
If there was any one thing more
than another that the citizens of Wash
ington were proud of, it was it's band.
,;1of h,I Ia
an accident. The Washington's birth
day celebrations had come TO be great
affairs. They always had parade in
the afternoon ending finally in the
Courthouse square, where Maj. Conger
had chance to air his oratory Judge
Marsh, too, was always ready with a
eulogy upon the father of his country,
and Schoolmaster Perkins was never
denied the privilege of adding a pa.
triotic lesson for the benefit of his
scholars to those he gave every five
days in the week.
But the Washington band was the
pride and delight of the citizens, and its
music was the great feature of the day,
as it was the great feature of the night
when after a display of fireworks it
furnished the measure to which gallant
youth and maiden fair tripped until
the hand of the clock in the town hall
pointed warningly to the small figures
upon its dial.
1t was on the night of one of these
balls when the city was but five years
old that the music engaged from the
neighboring town of Charlton had
70 arrir In, hn Int
ment which ensued the idea of band
of their own was born. The idea grew
and waxed strong. The citizens freely
subscribed money for the instruments
and uniforms, and Joe Harmon was
unanimously elected drum major. The
hustle and activity noted at the begin.
ming of this story indicated a celebra-
ton. IL was the morning Of Washing
tons annual fete. IL was the ami
versary of Gen. George Washington's
birthday, and IL was the tenth birth
day of this little city of Washington.
"If Joe Harmon was only here again
20 lead the band, said many people that
morning.
Judge Marsh and his family were
among the early settlers IN tne new
town. His daughter julie, but fourteen
years old when she came TO live in
Washington, was soon great favorite
with all her new acquaintances. The
girls all loved her and the lads all, with
barely an exception, laid their fresh
hearts at her feet.
Joe Harmon was her first friend. lie
chanced TO render her father valuable
service on the day of the arrival at
Washington, and Jules look Of graft
tudc and her thanks made the young
man slave.
Joe Harmon was considered almost as
part of the town. lie had come with
Mr. Redfield, but after that gentleman's
death, which occurred just as the new
enterprise bad become an assured sue.
LII r.