Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-06-16

Bethel celebrates centennial every
| few years.
| In 1874 she celebrated the centennial
of the first settlement Of the town; In
1881 she celebrated the centennial Of an
Indian raid; and on Wednesday, June
10th, 1896, she celebrated the centennial
Of the incorporation of the town.
Bethel Ia town peculiarly fitted 10
observe these anniversaries. Historic
associations, especially of the pioneer
days, cluster around the name OF the
town as they do around few other towns
In the state; and when any such occa-
sion calls them home once more, the
town has long list of distinguished
sons at home and abroad, from which TO
select those who shall especially lend
lustre TO the affair.
THE DAY
Wednesday opened with salute II ar
tulery aud bells at sunrise, which was
repeated at noon aud sunset. The out
look, IS far as weather was concerned,
was gloomy. We had been having a
"spell of weather." and not CLEAN Of
sunlight penetrated the clouds and rain /;
but between and 10 o'clock the clouds
began to break away. the sun gradually
struggled through, and the day proved
10 be, after all, very good one.
Somewhere about 5000 people saw
Bethel's centennial celebration, but the
number would have been enormously
increased II the preceding day had been
fair, or even II the sky had cleared two
or three hours earlier In the morning.
THE DECORATIONS.
In spite of the unpromising weather,
the decorators were early at work. Two
arches We're erected, one on Main Street,
OF flags and bunting, bearing on one
side the inscription "l596-Bethel sa-
lutes her children--lS96," and on the
other, "Dear Old Bethel" The other
arch, at the foot Of Broad Street, WAS of
evergreen, aud was inscribed on one
side, Greetings to all our guests" and
on the other, Home, sweet home" 4
large number Of residences and places
Of business were also decorated with
flags and bunting, and when the sun at
deed n brilliant appearance. Most Of
the decorating was done by \. Il. Allen
\ Co. Of Lewiston, though several under
took the work for themselves. The most
elaborate piece OF decoration in the place
was the summer residence OF 4. Il. Rowe
on Broad Street. Among the other
places which showed handsome decora-
tons were:
\. T.. Herrick, residence.
The Elms hotel
Hon. Eucch Foster, residence
Ceylon Rowe. store.
p. 4. Rowe. block.
Ma g.. \. Hastings, residence.
The Daniel Hastings house.
Grand Army building.
&. 4. Beans store and Bethel Loige. ,, and
A
Ri Young and :. y. Buck, stores.
VI. Allen. store.
x =. l. farwcll, storc.
Hastipg. Brus.. store.
Cole Rock.
Chas Mason. residence.
Hon. T. W. Woodbury. and pca. j. l. furing
ton. resAencc.
=. : Chandler. residence,
Odd Fc,i1ws' Block.
Irving kimhali. studio.
{ G. Bryant. st0rv.
Goddard Bros. store.
-. 4. PlAistcd, residence.
John HapgOod, store.
,. Il. Goddard, store
,. brown. store.
"a 4. Packard residence.
Mr.. Hiram Young. residence.
Charles l.. Davis. residence.
l.. 4. Barker. residence
Calvin Bishec. store.
Nh. :. 2. tsth-0n. residence
John VI Philbrook, residence.
~ Young. residence.
Post Office and q II. Wiey's store.
Hiram Perkins, residence.
seth walker, residence.
Thomas Kendall. residence.
Edward King. store.
Ira 4. Jordan, store.
Woodbury. \ Purington, store.
i 4. Billings, residence.
II Hastings. residence.
Mr.. Nceiham. residence.
n. II. Maihcson, -torc.
Sebastian Robertson, residence.
Gen. G. =. Edwards, residence.