Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-15
Maine Town Centcnnials.

1t is happy features of Old Home
Week which includes the celebra ton
of the centennial of several towns i'll
various parts of tie State. At Dexter.
Yesterday. the occasion of the Tooth
anniversary of its settlement was cele-
brated in most fitting manner as in
dictated in our news dispatches in
another column. The town was par
ticularly fortunate in its orator and
poet. Hon Stanley Piummer one of the
most cultured and eloquent public
speakers of the State. and Holman +.
Day the young bard of Up in Maine
whose fame is national and unique.
This celebration by Dexter was the
chief Old Home Week event of
Penobscot county, and so over in An
droscogsin the centennial celebration
or Leeds. today. is the most important
feature of the week. Leeds is to he
congratulated in the presence as orator
of that one armed old hero of peace and
l..
only his native town Of Leeds but all
Maine and the whole country is proud
to honor.
These town centennial celebrations
are a splendid thing for the towns
themselN es and they serve To bring
hack from far and wide Il great gath
ering of those who have left the old
homes. A most gratifying and Valua-
BILE feature is the usual compilation of
a town history containing the local
story Of a century's events. the rec
ords OF families. etc. Unfortunate the
town which neglccts the preparation
of such a volume when hundred
years Of corporate existence nave
passed for in few years more it be-
comes impossible to do it with such
accuracy and thoroughness as is then
possible The sources of material for
local history pass rapidly away when
a century has elapsed. The Importance
of local history cannot be overestimated
aid it is gratifying TO know that both
Dexter and Leeds have had such his
tories prepared BY reliable and careful
comrlers. as Litch.i, Id did. last year.
and as several other towns have which
have recently celebrated their Tooth
birthday.
OF our Maine towns about 100 have
now passed the century mark and
many in recent years have celebrated
the event as do Leeds and Dexter. this
year This tendency is to be encour-
aged and 1t is to be hoped that not Il
single Maine town as it approaches the
Tooth milestone will fail to make
suitable provision for a fitting celebra-
ton. 1t need not be an elaborate or
expensive affair, but it should be a
grand old home gathering with great
picnic dinner. an Grafton. poem. and
speeches, and. most important of all.
good local history. Such contribu-
tions are q stimulus to local pride
and g direct and material benefit. The
anniversary of incorporation usually
falls in the winter, winter of old as
now being the meeting time of the
Massachusetts general court, but the
celebration is much better held in the
summer. and Old Home Week is the
ideal time. In such celebrations is one
of the best assurances CT the perpetual
ton and good results of Old Home
Week.
it is gratifying to know that Brown
field is already planning to cele-
brate in 1902 the Tooth anniversary OF
it's founding. Also in Waterville talk
grand Old Home Week celebration
next summer, i'll commemOration of the
incorporation of the town in 1902
We hope the proper steps Will
be taken, for Waterville has
much to celebrate and can do it well
Other Maine towns which We're incor-
porated in 1902 are Abbott Baldwin
Chesterville, Industry. Lincolnville
New Vineyard and Vienna, and we
hope some or all of these will observe
their centennial in a fitting manner
year hence. In 1903 the following
Maine towns will have attained the
dignity of 100 years Of corporate exist
ence and should now begin to plan ar
appropriate observance. Raymond, vii
ton. Temple, Surry. st. George, Albany
Dixfield. and Harmony. In 1904 thes,
towns will be 100 years old. Albion
Rome. Hope. Andover. Gilead, Athens
Embden. Madison. Mercer. Palerm,
ana Unity. In 1902 York will reach tn
age of $50 years, having been incor
porated in 1862. the second town IL
what is now Maine The first tow
was Kittery. incorporated five year
earlier. Surely York should not neg
lect to observe such an important an
niversary. Few of us expect to b
present when our native towns reac
the age of a quarter of a thousan