St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-30
New Hampshire's Festival.

SOuCOIQ, ~. liz Aus Nos-ANcW
shire's new festival, "old home week.
was auspiciously inaugurated at Roll
linsford, the home of the ancestors of
Governor Rollins, for whom the town
was named. The governor and other
distinguished people were present. The
exercises included q reception, dinner
and a literary program. A poem by
DR.. William Hale of Gloucester was
read. Mrs. Annie w. Baer delivered
an historical address, and speeches were
made by Governor Rollins, Judge Pike
Of the supreme court, and others.
In the course of his address, Gov
ernor Rollins spoke of the significance
Of the day, claiming, among other
things, that over 10000 natives Of New
Hampshire reside within a radius of 10
miles Of the state house in Boston. The
idea Of old home week was first mani
tested in speech by the governor at
a dinner of the Sons Of New Hampshire
held in Boston. The idea met with ap-
prevail, and of the hundred associations
formed in the cities and towns of the
state, Rollinsford was the first to OBJ
serve the occasion in public celebra-
ton
Governor Rollins said that he had re-
ceived hundreds of responses signifying
return for the week, many from per-
sons who had not visited their homes for
rs years. The speaker gave the grange
credit for putting the movement
through, and, in conclusion, he spoke
Of the help the grange will be in pro-
noting good roads and developing the
natural resources Of the state
Carroll, Freedom and Bridgewater
We're about the only other places to hold
special celebrations, most of the towns
in which old homestead week assoca-
lions have been organized having Sc
lected some day when larger attend
ance might be expected.
In answer to an expressed wish of
Governor Rollins, bonfires were lighted
on many hilltops in the state, in token of
welcome to sons and daughters Of New
Hampshire returning to their native
towns to enjoy reunion with relatives
and friends of earlier days.
Eight o'clock was the hour set for the
kindling of the beacon flames, but the
blazing of the fire on top of Beech hill,
in Hopkinton, at 1880 o'clock, was taken
as a signal for the firing of huge pile
Of combustibles on the summit of Rat
tlesnake hill, the highest point within
Concord city limits.
Kearsarge mountain was quick to re-
spond with a bonfire, prepared by d.
rection of A. N. Batchelder, secretary of
the State Old Home association. From
a point commanding view Of country
stretching over distances from rs to Sc
or rs miles, toward various points of the
compass, fires could be seen-one on
Sandborntown mountain, one on Knowl-
toms hill, IN Boscawen, another on Dun
barton's hill, and fourth on Oak hill
In London. Crowds of people in this
city sought advantageous points from
which to see the chain of beacon fires.
Judging from what is known here as
to the plans of the different town COM
mittees, New Hampshire must have
been dotted by fires from Coos to the
sea, from the Piscataqua to the Con-
necticuN 1t was an suspicious and pic.
turesqus opening for old home week.
In the well-remembered church on the
hill, the. chapel in the pines, or the more
modern temples on the busy city streets
were held yesterday throughout the
state, appropriate religious services as q
part of the observance of old home week
Former pastors occupied pulpits where
In days gone by they had expounded the
doctrine, past members of the choir
sought the singers seats and joined in
the old tunes, while the members of the
congregation again sat in the old pews
and recalled the Sundays of their child
hood days. Nearly every church in the
state had a congregation composed more
or less of seeming strangers, but who, In
reality, were old members. The services
were greatly enjoyed by all, and in near
ly every case the weeks observance was
the theme Of the days sermon.
Concord, N. H., Aug. 29.-There was
somewhat of lull in Mondays cele-
bration of Old Home Week. The in.
dividual town celebrations which hat
been planned are now about to begin
Mount Vernon and South Hampton
however, brought their special OBJ
servances to a close, each with a village
basket picnic, attended by many hun
dreds Of visitors. The shops and fac
tories will close on Thursday and specia
trains will bring into the city the larg'
est throngs in its history. 1t is eviden
that the chief end and aim of Old Home
Week, which was to secure the return
of sons and daughters Of the state for a
visit, has been reached, for reports from
all sections of the state show that the
mission has been we'll performed in this
| regard.