The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-06-23
100 YEARS..
ATHENS OBSERVES ITS
CENTENNIAL.
a GRAND CELEBRATION
sALUTEs, RINGING OF BELLS, PA
RADEs, MUSIC. GRAFTON, FIRE
WORKS. BALL, ETC. MAKE
\ FULL PROGRAM

Great Gathering of the People of somer-
set.--Grand Home Coming of Former
Athenians.
The one hundred years of the corpo-
rate existence of the town of Athens ex-
pired with Monday, March It'll, 1904,
and for several months previous TO that
date the question of appropriately OBJ
serving 30 important an anniversary bad
been given serious consideration by
many of the leading citizens. The mat
ter took definite form early in the win
ter when meeting was called and a
committee chosen whose connection
with the business interests of the com
munity and whose knowledge of the
history of the town made it certain that
the day would have celebration beft-
ting the character and dignity of the
people who have lived in Athens during
any part of its century of existence and
who continue by their wisdom, thrift
and industry to make the town a model
New England community.
This committee subsequently met and
Esq.. president; George Aver, vice presi-
dent; Mrs. Harry Flanders, treasurer
l.. c. Williams, secretary; Chas. E. Tur-
ner, chairman, Harry Flanders Mrs.
Chas. E. Turner, Mrs. j. F. Holman,
committee of arrangements.
The committee knew that much would
be required of them and laid their plans
accordingly. A supplementary com
mittee at once set to work, under the
able direction of Mrs. Calvin II. Jones
TO gather data for the history, the nee
essary funds for an undertaking of such
magnitude were arranged for, CORE
spondence was taken up with former
residents of the town and the thousand
and one details attended to in manner
to ensure result of which the town
will long be proud and which reflects
great credit upon all who shared in the
labor and responsibility of the occasion.
1t would have been gratifying if the
anniversary observance could have oc-
Cured on March 7th, the last day of the
towns first century, but the committee
wisely decided that it would be imprac-
ticable to cope with the weather and
Travelling which usually obtain in Som
erset County at that season and, after
careful considerations, fixed on the date
June %.
Very few communities have sent out
from their borders as many men who
have attained prominence in the com.
mercial life and professional circles OF
other communities. Several physicians
who have won national reputation origi-
mated in Athens, and in many of the
larger cities of Maine and New England
there are sons of Athens who take the
lead in the various lines of business
which they have taken up. The atten
ton of these men, busy with the cares
that their success has brought, was i'm
modiately aroused when they learned
that the town of their nativity was Il
observe its hundredth anniversary and
like alumni of a college who reflect thu
renoun of their achievements upon thei
alma mater, they furnishe and elemen
of strength which had not been and
possibly, Is not even now fully appre
ciated. Many of them returned anC
were present to join in the days festiv
tiles, others sent their families to repre-
sent them and we venture to say tina
there was not one, whose boyhood day
were passed in the good old town, VIII,
il unable to be present in person, diC
not turn his thoughts toward the scene
of his youth.
| THE CELEBRATION
1t was an all day time of "a hours