The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-06-06
A GRANITE SHAFT.
Beautiful Soldiers Monument
Dedicated at Norridgewock Oh
Memorial Day.

Large Attendance Pine Process Ion and
Impressive Ceremonies
Memorial Day was an occasion 4 un-
usual Interest to Sorridge wock. this
year. 1t was Dedication Day a. wei a.
Decoration Day.
For many years, in fact ever since the
civil war, the veterans and citizen. u
the town have had In mind the erection
OF fitting monument In memory Of the
men who served their government In the
hour of its great peril and Of those who
laid their lives On the altar Of their
country.
About seven years ago, having in
mind the good of the town, its improve
ment and the identifying Of the public
places as well as private premises. the
ladies OF the town formed an organize
ton known as The Village Improvement
Society. This society embraced in its
membership the leading women OF the
town, including the Misses Rebecca and
Sarah Clark, better known to the read
ing public as sophia May and Penn
Shirley" Mrs. NJ. j. Hathaway was
elected president of the Society and her
services have been so acceptable that she
has been reelected annually to that
position. Soon after the Organization of
their society, the ladies resolved TO make
1t their business to raise the necessary
funds for the long desired monument and
they have been patiently at work for
over six years to accomplish their pur-
pose. The names of the committee of
five who had this arduous matter in
charge were Mrs. Electa P. Tobey.
Mrs. M. j. Hathaway, Mrs. Fannie
Hussey, Mrs. Blanche Ward and Mss
Henrietta f. Danforth and many and
varied were the ways used to raise the
necessary funds. Contributions have
been made by former residents and each
at home gave his mite toward the grand
aggregate to be attained until last au-
tumn they felt that they were warrant
ed in going ahead with the work.
Believing that men were better adapt
ed to the work of securing specifications,
making contracts for the monument.
etc., the committee appointed a sub
committee OF three gentlemen, Rev. j.
A. Jones, Fl. E. Hale and c. Il. Hussey
who attended to these matters. placing
the order for the work with johnson &
Taylor, Norridgewock firm, and they
have done excellent work.
The location is the beautiful little
triangular lot of land at the junction of
Bridge street with Main street aud
known under the name of "Peet's Cor
ner,' well known to all people in this
vicinity. The monument proper stands
upon large base with rough stone sides
which gives pleasing relief to the cut
and polished stone above it. Upon this
stone rests handsomely cut base and
sub base of Dodlin granite which sup
ports the polished die Of Quincy granite
bearing the inscription,
"IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN
HEROES AND TO OUR HONORED
VETERANS" on one side while the
reverse bears the date "l90l." The
members of Bates Post No. IS, G. A. R.,
In whose name the monument now
stands, fully appreciate the gift of the
ladies as do all who lost loved ones in
the strife of '6l.'65. The monument
was erected free from debt, credit to
the financial ability of the ladies of Nor
ridgewock and of the generosity of its
sons and daughters, home and abroad.
Norridgewock may we'll be proud OF this
work of art and monument to its valiant
soldiers.
The program was arranged for the
afternoon, so as to conflict as little as
possible with the Memorial Day exer-
cises in surrounding towns, and invita-
tions were extended to Grand Army
posts, Sons of Veterans and various
other societies in neighboring towns.
At little past 2 o'clock the process
sion left G. A. r. Hall made up in the
following order: Norridgewock Cadet
Band Uniform Rank, X. of P. Co. E..
Maine National Guards of Skowhegan ;
Bates Post. G. A. r., No. IS of Nor
ridgewock; Sergeant Wyman Post with
drum corps of Oakland; Russell Post
No. SO G. A. R, Wildes Camp Sons of
Veterans of Skowhegan; citizens and
school children.
The line of march was up Main street
to the South Side cemetery where the
graves were decorated. From the South
Side cemetery the procession marched to
Monument square where the unwilling
of the monument and the dedicatory
services took place. Mrs. Electa P.
Tobev for the committee from the Vii
lage Improvement Society, and Rev. ].
A. Jones of the erection committee pre-
sented the monument to +. l.. Ames,
chairman of the board of selectmen for
the town, and he in behalf of the town
presented it to the Grand Army post for
dedication. The dedicatory prayer was
by Rev. J. A. Jones and the dedicatory
address by George W. Cover, Esq, of
Skowhegan. The music for the occa-
sion was by the Norridgewock Band and
school children of the town. The
services throughout were impressive.
The short speeches by Commander
Wing, who presided, and by the others
named above were germane and pithy,
and the address by Mr.. Cover was an
eloquent one, received with much favor.
Following is Norridgewock's Roll of
Honor, the dead heroes whose names
were read at the dedication-95 in
number.
George W. Adams AsaIl Allen. Freiencs Boston
John II. Bates, John BlSiey, Charles A. Bates
William Bean, Jesse Fcai, Andrew T. BtShee, Leon
ard Baker, John Bgicy, Charles $. benson, Gardener
Bgelow, 2aocas Baker. Hiram H. Crosby, Roser
Chase, Bracey Cromwell, Joseph Crossman. William
b. Carey, Slas Davis, Henry H. DAVIS, William
Dunlap, William Dixon, hruUer French. ~amusi p,
Folsom, Henry II. Farrsnd, Charles H. Groves
Marshall p. Hale. Charles A. Harrington, Thomas
Heald. Payson Head, William II Head, Nathanie
Hut. Leonard Huf. Charles H. Hun, Jacob Hea'cv.
klttrdee Andrew kennison, Frank ki,tudse,
DANIEL T. Jones George LishneSs, Adshury Ia5c
James A. Littleheia Henry Lindsey. Charles Lindsey
John ii. Merrill Catlesiin Morton. William II
Mason Crosby Mitchell SvIyann> Nar,e. Hepry
Murphy, Wilanm Murphy, Elisha Packard, =-r'
Packard. Woodbury. r5meroy. Charles Pc ~.
| Edward le1se. Calvin Parker. JOSEPH Pierce I>as-
Powers, II. L. Powers, 3. f. Mitchell 6at.cs = #er
lonas sawyer, James sawyer. Harrison >tst-1~,
samuel Stevens Ansel stevens John ~h1-ry as
sylvester James Redmond, Isaiah ~aNic e.. .rz