Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-20
Celebrate the Centennial Is.


This year marks the 250th ami
versary of the founding of the good old
town Of York and it is gratifying to
note that a movement is on foot to
celebrate it in fitting and appropriate
Kramer. At the coming annual meet
ing the matter will be brought before
the voters Of the town and there is no
doubt that some action will be taken
to insure the proper celebration Of the
anniversary. There are few towns in
Maine that can boast of having been
founded or Incorporated. $50 years
ago. but each year now the centennials
Of some of our towns are occurring
and no town should allow such ami
versary to pass unobserved. About
100 Maine towns have now passed the
century mark. The centennial cele-
lrations of Dexter and Leeds, last
summer. show what can be. and should
be, done in such cases. They were
leading features of Old Home week
and were of direct and substantial
benefit to the towns and to all their
children. at home and abroad.
Beautiful and prosperous Waterville
Is 100 years old. this year, and is max
ing elaborate preparations to celebrate
the anniversary, though. for reasons of
its own. it does not elect to have the
celebration occur during Old Home
week At least one Maine town,
Rrownfeld. up in oxford county will
celebrate it's centennial, this summer.
and has it's plans well matured. These
are examples which many other towns
should follow. Other Maine towns
which were incorporated in 1902 are
Abbott. Baldwin, Chesterville, Indus
try. Linconville, New Vineyard and
Vienna. and it is not too late for some
Of them or all of them to make plans at
;he annual town meeting, few weeks
hence. 20 observe the centennial in
fitting manner. No elaborate or ex-
pensive celebration is necessary, but
there should be 4 general home-gather-
ing of former residents, grand picnic
day with the whole town present, an
address, a poem, a history. speeches
and such good time and happy re-
union as only such towns can know. A
local committee, or the Grange, or the
church or some society can go ahead
and make the arrangements, but the
whole town should join in making it a
success.
II is better that the arrangements
and plans should be begun a year or
two ahead. particularly in order that
the wandering sons and daughters at
a distance may be well informed of the
event. and there may be ample time
for the preparation of good and thor
ough town history. 1t is not too early
towns to take preliminary action whose
centennials will fall in 1908 and 1904.
The towns which will be 100 years old
in 1903 are Raymond, Wilton. Temple,
Surry. st. George, Albany, Dixfeld,
and Harmony In 1904 the following
towns will have completed a full GEN.
tn~y of corporate existence. Albion.
Rome, Hope. Andover. Gilead. Athens.
Embden. Madison, Mercer, Palermo
and Unity. Let the citizens of these
towns h. ar this in mind and talk it
over when they assemble.
York. which will celebrate it's 25Oth
anniversary. this year. is the second
town in Maine. kittery being the only
one that is older. In 1903 Kennebunk
and Wells will also pass their 25oth
milestone. while Dayton and Newcastle
will each round out q full 200 years.
All four of these towns should be
making their plans for suitable cele-
brations and the annual meeting, next
month. is just the time to make be-
ginning. The matter Of observing these
anniversaries is one upon which the
Journal has touched before and upon
which we shall doubtless speak again,
for we consider it of much interest and
importance to the towns themselves
and to the whole State.
There is woe in Baltimore. because