The Somerset reporter., 1902-08-07
SKOWHEGAN'S OBSERVANCE.
OLD HOME CELEBRATION A
GRAND SUCCESS.
All Honor to the Club Ladies
in Charge.


instant, was a pronounced success in
whole and In detail, without discordant
note to mar the harmony of the occasion.
1t Is usually the case that when the
ladies of our town put their hands to
any public function the affair moves
along In perfect cadence, In the best of
order and approved taste. Once let
Skowhegan women project scheme for
the public veal or enjoyment and the
men of the town have learned not to
borrow trouble about the result. They
know what is correct form, what will
please people, and knowing, do it with
just the right degree of momentum.
The event of Monday evening was in
no way exceptional to this rule, and
this rule Is one that needs no exceptions
wherewithal to prove II. The arrange
ment of Coburn Hall was excellent for
convenience and the enjoyment of guests
and the decorations were in accord with
artistic taste. The old auditorium never
looked better. 1t was not overdone,
just done to the turn. Harmonious
grouping of evergreen. plants, flowers,
bunting, pictures about the area and
upon walls and ceiling with the magic
words "Welcome Home in gilt letters
OF generous proportion on the face Of
the gallery opposite the main entrance
to the hall, all gave impressive evidence
of artistic ability In planning and patient
labor in execution, necessary to trans
form this large room into an exceedingly
attractive place, and to convey the
genuine spirit of "welcome home" to
all visitors.
A reception committee consisting of
ladies welcomed visitors to the hall, and
once they were therein, all seemed to
drink in the spirit of sociabilty of the
event and the hour, and enter heartily
upon the work of greeting old friends
and forming new acquaintance.
The platform exercises of the occa-
sion were presided over by Mr. r. Z.
Patten who performed his part with his
wonted grace and happy remarks In the
introduction of those who had part In
the program, which was as follows:
Words of welcome to our visitors,
William H. Fuller, ESQ
Song, "Home that Love-" quartette,
Messrs. Sturtevant and Taylor, Mrs.
Estabrook and Miss Marble; Miss Lewis,
pianist.
The State of Maine, E. N. Merrill,
Esq.
Song, Miss Neva johnson; Miss
Margery Morrison pianist.
Skowhegan, its past, present and
future, Samuel W. Gould, Esq.
Song, Miss Neva johnson.
Home Sweet Home,n quartette and
audience.
The speeches were pithy and bright
and were received with generous ap.
plause; the musical selections were
appropriate and rendered in manner
highly pleasing to auditors; the exer-
cises throughout were free from for
mality and adjusted so that sociablity,
the leading feature of the occasion, was
not unduly disturbed.
The attendance was large, the largest
that ever greeted Old Home week in our
town. All classes were represented but
the elderly men and women of our town
were present in larger relative numbers
than the younger. The oldest man
present was Mr.. Oliver Walker, nearly
96 years, but he was as keen in CONVEX
sation as one decade his Junior, and
he walks briskly or our streets on pleas
ant summer days. Other men in the
eighties were B. Il. Flagg, Gen, Isaac
Dyer, Mr.. B. F. Baker, Hon. William
Philbrick. There were many mature
men and women who carry seventy or
more years gracefully in the happy
company. All honor to these veteran
men and women of our town and
among its visitors, who gave this occa-
sion their cheerful presence and brought
the salutary memories of the olden time
to grace the event.
An interesting feature of the occasion
was the adjoining of the walls of the
hall with pictures including the portraits
of old time residents of the town.
Among them We're those of Samuel
Philbrick, Mrs. Betsy White Philbrick,
lchabod Russell, Mrs. Betsy Russell,
Mrs. Mary White Weston, Mrs. Mary
Weston Coburn, Coy. Abner Coburn,
Philander Coburn, stephen Coburn,
John White, Rev. Charles Miller, Mrs.
Susan Thompson Miller, Capt. William
Parker, X. f. Lyon, :. d. Arnold, Col
A. w. Wides, William Folsom, Esq,
Dr. G. A. Wilbur, Levi Emery, Col
John G. Neil, Mrs. John G. Neil and
John l.. Neil.
Several groups of sketches by Miss
Z4idee Morrison contained the likenesses
of many people of our town, familiar
personages in this day and generation
They attracted much attention and were
viewed with pleasure for their merit and |
local significance.
a good number OF views of streets |
residences, stores, public buildings, etc,
made from photographs taken some 80
or 40 years ago, loaned by Supt. of
Schools Colby, gave at glance an idea