The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-12
aIDDLETOWN CELEBRATES
BIG PARADE YESTERDAY BOTH OF
OIVlC And MILITARY.

Gowns of TiddleIield, Cromwell, Ports
land and Chatham Largely Hepre-
scented Greatest Day 1IiddIctoSvn Illus
Ever Known.
Middetown, Oct. 1.-THE spectacular
feature of MiddletoWns two hundred
and fiftieth anniversary celebration oc
CURED to-day when a parade, made up
of civic and military organizations,
floats representing trade, manufact-
lures, commerce and the arts, to the
length of more than three miles, passed
through the principal streets of the city
and over route four miles long. The
line was reviewed by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Lyman A. Mills Of Middletield,
who was accompanied by the COVER
nors staff, from a stand erected in
front of the municipal building on Main
street.
The city emerged from a period of
wet, muddy and disagreeable weather
this morning, attired in garb as gay
as that of the butterfly. Decorations
which had been hanging wet limp and
bedraggled from hundreds Of public
anu pllNdS Uuiiulll6S all ONCi lHS NAty
dried during the night and were shak-
IN out by the winds They haunted in
The eyes Of every passer-by and added
much to the holiday appearance of the
city.
Early morning trains brought MEM
bers Of the Second regiment, G. N. G..
which came with nearly full companies
and with about 600 men, in command of
colonel Callahan, who was accompanied
~ his staff. The two companies of the
Governors Foot Guards arrived at
about the same time. The daughter
towns of Middlefield, Cromwell, Port
land and Chatham sent large deega-
lions of citizens and floats to represent
their interests and industries in the
parade The streets were thronged
with a dense mass of humanity. and
fakirs were to be seen on every hand.
The line of march was formed at the
upper end of Main street and on the
side streets, and at a signal from Cen
eral Charles p. Graham, grand marshal.
the long line headed by 800 blcyclists,
began to move. There seemed a never
ending line of men, wagons and floats
emerging from the side streets after the
head of the line started, while the blare
of the bugle, the beat Of the drum and
the melody of the numerous bands in
the procession gave 1t truly military
aspect.
The day was a general holiday in the
city. Stores, banks and offices were
closed, and the busy hum of industry
was no longer heard in the factories.
Schools suspended sessions for the day
Every hall OF any size In town was
used as places to feed visiting organl-
cations and invited guests among
whom were many descendants of the
early settlers of the town. In some
respects this has been an old-home
week and hardly family in town but
that has guests, for this one day at
least
This evening the celebration was
brought to close with band concert
on the street by the Philharmonic band
of New Britain and Hatch's band OF
Hartford and a display of fireworks on
the river
In all respects. this has been the
greatest day that Middletown has ever
known. The addresses made at the
literary exercise held in connection
with the anniversary are to be incor-
porated in a history of MiddletoWn to
be published later. permanent me
mortal is to be erected on the site of the
first gathering Of the first settlers.