Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-07
OAK GROVE ALUMNI
Gather at the Old School for
Annual Reunion.
Much Enthusiasm Over Plans for
Future of the institution.
Alumni Elect Officers-Fund Started
to Aid Needy Students.

Me, Aug. 6.-(SpeciaD.-The annual
reunion of the students of Oak Grove
Seminary was held, Wednesday after
noon and evening, at Vassalboro. The
keep away the crowd or dampen the
enthusiasm of the large number in at
tendance. During the forenoon they
arrived by train, carriage and on foot
until at noon $50 graduates and friends
of the institution present seems con-
servative estimate.
Owing to the heavy downpour but
little attempt was made at decoration,
much to the disappointment of the
committee. who spared neither efforts
nor pains to make the event an enjoy
able one and it seemed their one spe-
cial duty to make everyone happy and
feel entirely at home.
The early part of the afternoon was
pleasantly passed within doors, as the
program of games and out-of-door
sports, owing to the rain, could not be
carried out.
Old graduates and young grads
mingled together in the halls or might
be seen in some corner of the rooms
of the DAYS when they were students
n the Grove" With class reunions,
renewing of acquaintance and social
intercourse the afternoon was pleas
antly passed and at 4 O'Clock came the
assembly in the old school room, where
short addresses by former friends and
graduates of the school We're made.
The room was tastily decorated, the
stage being banked with a profusion
of ferns and potted plants, while over
the speakers platform was a crescent
of evergreen bearing the words Oak
Grove. 1S50-1902.'
Guy F. Healy, president of the
Alumni Association and master of
ceremonies. called the meeting to order
and after a few remarks introduced
George J.. Crosland, eX-mayor of Saco
and chairman of the board of trustees.
His straightforward. businesslike adj
dress impressed his hearers deeply. He
spoke especially on the value of edu-
cation, eulogiZing Oak Grove Seminary,
and concluding his remarks by men
tioring the work accomplished by the
school 1tltl the IdCIilIltS Which II OlleES
by reason of its environments. Prof.
Wilmott Il. Jones of Sanford, Conn,
tho next speaker, mentioned the rela-
ton of education to the Grange and
the necessity of having an institution
where specific branches Of industries
arc taught.
John J. Frye of Portland, a member
of the board of trustees, was called
upon next. He urged upon the sup
porters of the school and those inter
| estcd in it the necessity of their finan-
cial support, and at the close of his
speech voluntary subscriptions were
taken from those present
In order to stimulate an interest on
the part of the alumni toward the
| school. constitution was prepared by
q committee and read by Principal OF
School. a. w. Jones and accepted. The
constitution was then signed by the
members of the school present.
| Officers of the Alumni Association as
provided for in the constitution wert
| then elected as follows: President, Guy
+. Healy, Winthrop; 1st vice presi-
dent. w. j. Sayr, Fall River; I'd vice
president Miss Barton. Augusta: sec
\
/ Vassalhoro.
! a meeting of the trustees of OaR
| Grove Seminary was held during the
| afternoon. in which the progress of the
institution and the prospect of sue
cessful year were discussed.
| A fund was started for the help O.
needy scholars and for the improve
ment of the grounds and buildings. II
a few minutes S7o0 was raised and i
is thought that the amount can be
swelled to $4,000 eventually. The sub
scriptions were voluntary on the par
OF the members of the school.
After the meeting the members as
sembled around the piano and san:
college songs until O'Clock, when tn
seminary bell sounded forth its sum
mons to the feast that had been pre-
pared in the spacious gymnasium. II
two long columns. two abreast, tn
big crowd marched into the buildini
to the strains of Dennis Orchestra
| stationed in the east end of the hal
behind a bower of evergreens an
ferns.
And such n scene it was. One tina
will long remain in the minds of ever
member who sat down to enjoy tn
host of good things arranged. Fror
the rafters of the hall streamed lon
strips of bunting of patriotic color
relieved at intervals by Japanese Ian
terms pendant from the ceiling, whic
least n mellow light ovr it all. Aroun
the sides of the room and over IN
windows hung festoons of evergreen
while the north end of the hall wa
a solid bank of green. The tables q
far as possible were arranged in classe
and decorated in class colors, clustere
around the hail. forming clrcl
around the hall. in the center of whlc
sat the alumni committee and the
friends. Then came the good thing
Why. it seemed as if all the culinaf
trfumphs of the good wives of Vas
lsalboro had been brought forth for II
occasion. Everybody was fed to II
limit and nobody went hungry
Tsen the chairs were pushed asit
and the postprandial exercises bega