Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-09-03
100 YEARS A SHIRE.
Orange County Bar Gen.
tennial.
Successful Commemorative Exercises
at Chelsea, Aug. 70.

III =
have two uCentennials" within the space
of twelve years, but this feat has been ac'
complished by an Orange county town.
In 1884, the good old town OF Chelsea cele-
bratsd the Tooth anniversary OF It's settie'
me1lt, and on Aug. 26th last 1t commence
rated the Tooth year OF its existence as the
shire town of Orange county. The hrst
centennial was under the exclusive auspl.
ces of the citizens of the town. me iast
one was under the management OF the or-
ange County Bar, aided by the generous
co operation OF the citizens OF Chelsea'
The idea OF this celebration had doupt-
less occurred to many, but the first public
suggestion in this direction was propaoiy
that contained in a souvenir NUMBER OF
the CHELSEA HERALD, Dec. b, 1880, ID
which it was said that "as the December
Term, 1896, will be the centennial OF TINS
towns history as the county seat, IL is 70
be hoped that the bar OF Orange county
will take some action respecting suita'
ble commemoration OF the OCCASION"
Ex-Gov. Roswell Farnham OF BRADFORD
is responsible for the first definite step
along the lines of the foregoing sugges-
ton. At bar meeting held IN the "
ange county court house, June II, 1870,
he introduced the following resolution'
WHEREAS; The Tooth anniversary OF
J0e SeS5IOu Vi oIah6S NOeAAsy
Chelsea occurs Dec. 18th OF the present
wear, and seems proper that SO interesting
an occasion be in some way observed:
RESOLVED, That the chairman OF the
Orange county bar appoint committee
of five mem bers of the bar TO arrange an
order OF exercises to be presented ana car,
ried out on some day to be nxeo pY saiu
committee for the celebration OF said oc-
casion: and that said committee be di.
rected and authorized to employ, without
expense, speakers and music, and arrange
for such other exercises as may seem prop
err and advisable for the occasion.
This resolution was adopted, ana, pur,
suant to it, the following were appointed
as members OF the committee: john b.
Pickett OF Bradford, Curtis ). Emery
and Hale K. Darling Of Chelsea, Jo-
seph ID. Denison of Randolph and Honey
| Nj. Harvey OF Topsham. In making up
| this committee, the chairman was evident
| ly governed by the consideration that
1warn rather than" counsel was required,
and so put the younger members OF tne
| committee ahead of the older ones. AS
matter OF fact, the duties OF this commit
| tee we're necessarily omething more than
passive, For although the resolution I'M
] Ger whio h they acted directed them to pro-
| coed "without expense 1t was soon seen
| that funds must be raised with which to
meet the many expenses incident to such
| an undertaking. rhegood people oil lhei-
sea readily came to the relief OF the COM
mittee in this direction. however, and
subscribed enough to make such cele-
+, bration as was desired not only possi-
| bility, but success.
| From the outset, the committee feit lnat
this celebration should be something more
i yaln 6au thai IL Sh0ul0 lie
snch an observance OF the historic occa-
sion as would form landmark in the MS
tory of the county and town. According
| ly, no antiques and horribles, no oaroa.
cue. no creased pig contest, nor any OF
| the features commonly associated Wild
the idea of "cele bration,n were included
in the program. Quality, rather than
quantity. was sought, and the order oil
exercises was arranged with reference To
profit as well as pleasure.
The committee soon found that IL Woulo
be impracticable to hold the centennial
exercises upon Dec II, (the date OF the
| first term OF court in Chelsealand accord
ingly selected Wednesday, Aug. rs, as
date that would best convene many whose
presence was especially desired,
This choice proved most happy one
The day was clear and cool, the travelling
fine. and as the result of this courteous
action on the part OF the weather bureau
every town in the county was, we believe
represented at the gathering.
The exercises were held in the elegant
and spacious town hall building, recently
erected at Chelsea through the munib'
cepce OF Hon. Alden Speare OF Newton
Mass. The auditorium, beautiful In it.
self was rendered more attractive by taste
full decorations, floral and otherwise, ar
ranged by local committee Of young la
dies. A few days before the celebration
the committee OF arrangements received !
telegram from city decorator In which
he offered to decorate the hall free OF ex
uense, but it was wisely decided tina
Hbome TALENT could do better, and thu
offer was declined with thanks.
By2p. M, the hour set for the com
mencement OF the exercises, the hall wa
completely flied with people, some diff
cultv being experienced in seating all VIII
desired admission. The front rows 0
seats we're occupied by members OF tn
bar, their families and friends, and spe
cially invited guests. The balance OF tn
seats were given to the general public OF
the basis OF "first come, first served" 4
large number Of ladies were in attendance
John B. Pickett, Esq, chairman OF tn
committee of arrangements, presided, ant
1t is due to him to say that the dignit.
and grace with which he performed tn
important duties OF his position contrib
uted in most material degree to the sue
cessful rendition Of the program.
Seated upon the stage, in addition to tn
speakers, were Hon. John w. Rowell
Judge OF the supreme court; Gen. Wm.W
Grout, member of Congress; Hon. Hemal
A. White OF Washington, who, admitte'
in 1S43, is the senior member OF the Or
ange county bar; Hon. VIM. H. Nichols
Judge of probate for the District OF Ran
dolph Ii on. Joseph Tebbetts Of West Fair
lee and Hon. Lewis Dickerman Of Tun
bridge, former assistant judges OF Orang
county court; Joseph d. Denison, ESQ.,
/, Randolph and George l.. Stow Esq, o
Chelsea.
The exercises commenced promptly OF
time with music by Gilson's Orchestra o
Bethel. an excellent orchestra, by the way
whose selections, at both afternoon an,
evening exercises, were very much en-
loved. At the conclusion OF the music
Rev. Frank s. Hatch of Monsoon, Mass,
native of Chelsea, offered most appro
pirate invocation.
The next number on the program was
song ,Goring Thomas ga Summer Mig Mt,
which was superbly rendered by Mis-
, Berth Blakely OF New York, who, wit
, her sisters, is at Bradford for the summer
Miss Blakel,'s voice is of wonderful pur
ity and compass. and her selection wa
enthusiastically encored. Miss Julie Blak
ly was accompanist.
Chairman Pickett then introduced Hon