Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-07-07
P0MP AND PAGEANTRY !
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT AND Ex-
TeNSlve CELEBRATION EVER Wit
MESSED IN OXFORD COUNTY.

/ MESSED TN ONfO UNI OoONifs
July 18th, 1896 is g red-letter day
the history Of Norway and her sists
village, So. Paris. The great celebr,
ton to which everybody has been lool
ing forward, with such plessurable al
:icipstion has taken place and wa
eminently successful In every particr
| lar.
OF the thousands who witnessed tn
proceedings, all enthusiastically unite |
pronouneiug IL the finest 18th OF Jul
celebration ever held In Oxford County
No serious accidents occurred To una
the enjoyment of the days events ant
there was not a single drawback in tn
splendid programme which was carried
out in a manner 10 do great credit to tn
officers Of the various departments.
In the early morning smart shove
mercifully laid the dust and then, as |
Ia consideration OF the wishes OF tn
people, ceased. Throughout the day
although lowering clouds threatened 4
pour down their contents upon the heads
Of the assembled throng, the rain helC
back and the weather remained cool snC
comfortable.
The good citizens OF the two villages
received sufficient warning of the APP
proach Of the glorious fourth" frou
Young America who had enlivened mat
tiers all through the previous night with
the festive cracker and torpedo.
Az sunrise q salute of artillery usheret
in the day. George l.. Moves and
Timothy l.. Heath very ably carried out
this feature of the programme. Thre.
salutes were fired during the day, morn
ing, noon and night.
At : 100 the procession of Antiques
aud Horribles formed near the slaughter
house on Water street and passed down
Main street under the leadership OF II.
II. Hosmer with his band Of mounted
Indians. The procession was unique
and startling and many grotesque and
amusing rigs were exhibited. \ prize
of $500 was offered for the best and
most original rig which has not been
awarded owing 10 the committee of
award not having been appointed
While the procession was forming at
the slaughter house piece of rock from
a dynamite blast on the side ot Fixes
Hill put hole through one OF "Coot'
Ames horses. lie got another animal
aud moved on with the crowd.
The browning feature of the whole
was the grand trades parade
which formed IN four divisions on Pleas
ant, whitman, Bridge and Orchard
Streets respectively. Three divisions
heading upon Main Street, the fourth
upon Bridge Street. Both sides OF Main
Street from Printing House Square to
Beals Hotel were black with people
eager for the parade TO start. Soon
after Q A. N. the signal gun sounded the
march. The parade was headed by
Chief Marshal b. +. Bradbury with aids
&. :. Asers and W. e. Cole all attired in
neat white uniforms aud mounted on line
looking horses. Next came the Norway
Brass Band In white uniforms under the
leadership Of A. T.. Noteworthy, i'm
mediStely following which, marched
Company II. First Regiment, y. q. =.
NJ, Moses L. Stiles, Captain. command
ing. Next came column OF bicycliSts,
both lady and gentleman riders. Some
very prettily decorated wheels were
presented 20 the admiring gaze OF the
onlOOkers. The Young dies and gen
,lemen made very imposing array, re-
ceiyiug a great deal of applause.
The Brvant's Pond Cornet Band, \.
VI. Chase. leader, headed the second
division Of the parade in charge OF Geo.
l.. Hathaway. with aids. Following the
band were the fire organizations OF Nor
way, south Paris, Mechanic Falls,
Bethel and Berlin Falls, exhibiting their
hose carts and ladders. The two old
hand fire engines, oxford Bear OF
Norway and Pacific" of South Paris,
formed a conspicuous feature OF the fire
department parade. The fire laddies
looked very neat indeed 10 their natty
uniforms and IL would be difficult Ia de-
eide which OF the towns represented de-
served the palm. The Mechanic Falls
Fire Company was led by very fine
drum corp from that town which added
much 10 the effectiveness OF its appear
ance.
The next followed one of the most
beautiful features Of the entire parade,
the fancy driving bitches. Conspicuous
among them for artistic design aud
beauty OF decoration were those driven
by Mrs. l.. Il. Andrews of Norway and
Mrs. &. ". BOwker of South Paris.
Mrs. Andrews stood in an excellent rep
OF an ancient Roman chariot
holding the reins over the backs OF four
dark brown horses abreast.
so pleasing 4 spectacle did she present
with her equipage, that enthusiastic and
prolonged applause greeted her along
The whole route. Mrs. &. W. Bowker
attended by Miss Madge Wilson sat in
beautifully decorated carriage literally
covered with garlauds of roses. This
turnout gained universal admiration aud
applause. The prize OF $1,000 was
awarded by the Judges to Mrs. l.. Il:
Andrews. Mrs. {. W, Bowker received
special mention.
In the third division, were the various
floats representing the trades OF the two
villages aud the beauty, elsborateness
and originality of these beggars descrip-
ton. The division was led by the
Virginia Drum Corps consisting OF .
Young men dressed up as negroes,
gaudily rugged in white duck trousers,
red jackets and flarlng yellow ties. They
were loudly spplsuded. Nearly all the
industries and business firms Of Norway
and south Paris were here represent
ed. The floats were eleg sutly and
astilv gotten up showing great original
itv on the part OF the designers. Some
of the conspicuous ones were those oil
the Paris Manufacturing Co., the Nor
wav Shoe Factories, y. Dayton Bolster
4 Co, which was boat covered with
garlands of flowers drawn by two gaily
nIumed horses and containing four
OF south Paris fairest; c. W. Bowker
4 Cos. rig was a fine one in which a
bevy of prettily dressed young ladies'
sang snd shouted the praises OF the tirm.
c. +. RidlOn, W. c. Leayitt, II. j.
Bangs. otto Schnuer, C. b. Cummings
and Sons, the Norway Changers. NoyeS
= Andrews, Merritt Welch of Norway,
\. w. Walker, J. +. Plummer OF South
Paris were all represented in gorgeous
pageautry.
The prize Of $1,000 for the finest float
WAS awarded 10 Noyes Il Andrews
This float was certainly magnificent anc
reflects great credit upon its designer
Mr.. Fred II. Cummings. Six spiepdlt
gray horses, richly plumed, drew large
float elegantly draped in white ant
yellow on which was seated Miss Fear
Durham dressed TO represent the God
dess OF Liberty. Around her wer'
grouped nine young ladies representing
the Muses.. -Four Knights mounted oil
horses of the same color attended tn
float.
The line of march was from Mali
Street in Norway to Cottage, Beal ant
Paris Streets, thence TO Western Avenue
Gothic and High Streets and Marke
Square South Paris and returning I