Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-08-18
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Town of Albany Celebrates Centen.
NAL of Incorporation.

Town of Albany Celebrates Centen
| NAL of Incorporation.
AN APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCE OF TIL
OCCASION, UNDER SMILING SKIES, AN
WITH A LARGE ATTENDANCE.
The town of Albany can lay claim t
the only public function which marke
the observance of Old Home Week Il
Oxford County. On Wednesday of las
week the town observed the centennia
anniversary of its existence as town, |
having been Incorporated in 1903. Tn
exercises were held in Beckler's Grove
a pleasant little spot near the tow
house in the centre of the town, ant
were very interesting and successful il
every way.
The weather opened up for the da!
very unpromisingly. Following an after
noon of showers and anight of rain came
a morning of cloud and fog. Early il
the day, however, the clouds began t.
break away, and by the time most of thu
people were starting from home the sky
gave fair promise of day of nothing
worse than showers. In fact, the wealth
er proved all that could be desired.
The people began to assemble as early
as s o'clock. They came from all direc
tions, and in every possible means Of
conveyance, from hayrack to an auto
p,nhsln nf tho arliaof N VI
were the vendors of badges and souvenirs
and they did lively business all day
By the time the exercises opened not
far from two thousand people were on
the grounds.
At the two entrances to the grove
arches had been erected, draped with
bunting in the national colors, and bear.
ing on one side the inscription, 1906
Albany-1903-Welcome," and on the
other, Observation-Disclosures" A stand
had been erected for the band and speak
ers, and seats for the audience on the
sloping ground above, making an excel
lent place for the exercises.
In the town house near by, which was
decorated with bunting and wild flowers,
was a register where all visitors were
requested to record their names. There
was also small collection of antiquities
and relics of the early days of Albany.
Among them were number of old
books, once the property of Deacon Asa
Cummings, one of the early settlers, now
owned by George Cummings; an ancient
tin lantern, owned by Mrs. Alma Jud-
kins; pewter plate at least 200 years
old, owned by William Chase; two old
flax combs, owned by William Chase and
Charlotte Cummings. Mrs. Nancy
Andrews exhibited number of ancient
articles. including quantity of old china,
an Indian stone hatchet found in town.
and tuning fork used in the old church.
A silhouette of Hannah Haskell, one OF
the earliest settlers, was shown, also the
foot stove which she used to carry to
now owned by Mrs. Isaiah judi
kins, and quantity of her dishes. A
less ancient exhibit was the Common
Sense Churn," patented in 1861, manu-
featured by Bean & Mason of Gilead,
and last used in the dairy of the late
Deacon J. II. Lovejoy.
The Bryant's Pond Concert Band,
twenty pieces, A. NJ. Chase leader, gave
excellent music for the day, and opened
the exercises with a concert of three
quarters of an hour, opening promptly at
10 o'clock.
The principal speakers of the day and
a number of the aged residents occupied
seats on the platform when the assembly
was called to order by F. G. Sloan,
chairman of the day. Prayer was offer
ed by Rev. William Hale.
A brief address of welcome was given
by George Cummings, and the audience
joined in singing America. The next
few numbers on the programme were
and Rotations by the
boys and girls. The selections were APP
to the occasion, and were much
enjoyed The speakers were Gladys
Grover. Herman Cummings, Harry In
man, Vivian Lord, and Alta Cummings.
After a selection by the band, con-
else but clear historical address was read
by Mrs. E. A. K. Grover. A portion of
this is given below.
The centennial poem, very worthy
production. was read by Mrs. Alma Jud-
kins. Souvenir copies of this poem were
sold during the day.
To close the forenoon exercises, the
oldest resident of the town, "Uncle
Sumner Hutchinson" IS years of age,
was introduced and spoke for few
minutes. Mr.. Hutchinson is man of
patriachal appearance, with silvery hair
and flowing beard, but with face still
ruddy and unwrinkled, and showing him
10 be man of much force of character.
His talk was mostly of personal recOl-
Lotions, and was naturally somewhat
He strongly advocated
prohibition and temperance, and closed
by singing temperance song, original
with distant relative of his, a member
Of the famous Hutchinson family of
singers, (which way is your musket a.
pointing to-day""
THE DINNER.
Only in the smaller towns is it possible
to set out dinner absolutely free to all
who come, and those who look at such
an entertainment from the outside can
but marvel at the courage and energy of
those who undertake it. 1t was done in
Albany Wednesday. In Beckler's field,
just across the road from his house, and
only a few rods from the grove, a long
canopy, wide enough to hold two tables,
was erected, and under this 400 people
were seated at one time. The signal for
dinner was given by a cow bell once
worn by the first four-footed domestic
animal ever owned in Albany, and the
people fell to. The dinner was of the
good old fashioned New England kind.
There were baked beans and coffee,
white bread and brown bread, and
pies and cakes in abundance
for the multitude. All ate and were
filled.
The place is beautiful for situation, in
the valley surrounded by the forests and
and the scene at the dinner
hour, with cloud flecked sky overhead,
and the brightly costumed people seated
under the canopy or strolling over the
green fields, was very attractive.
At2 O'Clock, after number of selec7
tions by the baud, Chairman Sloan again
called the audience to order at the grove
and the afternoon programme of address
es began, the first speaker being Rev. l..
F. Mckinney of Bridgton. Mr.. McKin-
ney, who has recently accepted call to
the pastorate of large church in Brook
lyn, is we'll known as "a ready and elo-
Guent speaker, and he held the close at
tention of the audience for nearly three
urarters of an hour. He is, as he ex-
planned, a native of Ohio, but has spent
a number OF years in New England. and
finds here many things to admire-includ.
ing the Maine climate between May and
November. In glowing words he told
his hearers to thank God that they were
born in New England, where the homes
are the sweetest to be found in the