The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-07-09
County News.
sTEPNEY AND VICINITY.

the village Improvement society. Step
ney took on a holiday appearance and
the occasion was quite an eventful one
for the quiet village. The committees
had done considerable bustling and by
afternoon the newly ixed-up village
green was quite picturesque. Nestled in
the valley and surrounded by thrifty
growth of shade naples, it is no wonder
that Maple Park has suggested itself as
Il name for the pretty park. Still others
prefer the name, Valley View Park, and
vote was in progress during the after
noon to see what the name should be, the
result of which was not learned. For
appropriateness, the first name mention.
ed certainly fits. For Monday afternoon
and evening platform had been erected
on the easterly end of the green, on which
WAS lavished the stars and stripes.
Strung about the sides of the green were
Japanese lanterns and at the westerly
sidde was tent where the good things
provided for the inner man were to be
found in abundance and of good quality
Webster Clark of Bridgeport and Mr. Ed
wards of Huntington had photograph
tent on the south side, across the road,
but people did not seem to be in picture
frame Of mind and the success of their
venture must have been limited. Some
Of the private residences also displayed
the national colors. 1t was after 4
O'Clock when the drum corpse led the
procession around the park to the stand,
George s. Coley acting as marshal.
Here Dea Burr Hawley, who acted as
president of the day, took charge of the
exercises and introduced the numbers on
lection by the organist, in a few we'll
chosen words he spoke of the gathering
as meeting in honor of the flag and in
dependence, which were our heritage
from a Divine Father, and introduced
Rev Mr. Luddington of Shelton to invoke
his blessing on the gathering. After the
prayer all heartily joined in singing
America" and there must have been
some 200 people on the grounds. Prof
Harris daughters, Misses Sarah and Eli.
"a, sang some pretty little selections and
Mrs M. B. Hawley on the organ and Neil
Gilbert on the mandolin gave pleasing
selection. Miss Grace Nichols on the ban
10, Mr. Powell on the violin and Mr. Gill
with pleasure in selection. Prof Harris
was introduced and gave very taking
exhibition of ventriloquism. Misses Ma
bel Hayes, Helen Broderick, Nellie Bri-
die and Willie Burgess and Miss Candee
were on the program for recitations, also
an exercise by five boys. The local drum
corpse, which was composed of Samuel
Seeley fifer, Oliver Bennett, Charles and
Arthur Morgan snare drums, and Edward
Osborne, Jr., base drum, were heard and
the choir of Stepney and Long Hill voices
rendered we'll several selections, closing
the afternoon program with the ANVIL
Chorus" Then followed the exchange
of social greetings and the visit to the re-
freshment tent, awaiting the evening
program, which included the fireworks.
The second march around the park was
made after o'clock. Mr. Hawley intro
duced Rev Mr. Braman, who offered a
prayer Of invocation, and Rev Mr. Warri-
ner followed with a reading of part of
the Declaration of Independence. Prof
Harris was again introduced and gave a
laughable performance, which was en-
ioyed by those about the stand. The
SOoNOoo "a AtbCAbJ ou0 AoE dGbGuud0GS
sang the "Star Spangled Banner while
red fire made the scene pretty one, and
Mr. Hawley announced that as it was get
ting late, although there were other mum.
bers on the program, the fire works, for
which all were anxiously waiting, would
be put up. A very pretty display fol.
lowed and the people that gathered for
the evening far outnumbered the after.
noon attendance, and seemed TO have a
regular Fourth of July good time. Just
what the financial success of the under.
taking was could os be learned at this
writing, but the untiring labors of those
on whose shoulders the brunt of the worb
came were deserving of a rich reward
- - IT.