Oxford Democrat., 1904-08-16
IT'S HUNDRRDTH YEAR.
Andover Celebrates the Centennial
of Its Incorporation.

Andover Celebrates the Centenni
of Its Incorporation.
MANY SUCCESSFUL FEATURES, PARADl
DINNER, AND LITERARY EXERCISES
HON. HENRY v. POOR WRITES VAIL
ABLE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
The booming of salute of one hur
dred guns, echOing up and down tn
Ellis River valley, at sunrise of Wednes
day, Aug. 10, woke all the Inhabitants o
Andover, and gave notice to them tina
the day had opened on which they wer
to celebrate the centennial anniversar,
of the Incorporation of the town.
As all the world knows-or ought t.
know-there are few sections of New
England which have more picturesqu,
scenery than Oxford County; and as on,
goes from place to place within th'
county's borders, he is apt to cOnside
each new spot he finds as the loveliest
As he reaches Andover it is easy to aware
the palm to that pretty village of th'
plain surrounded by some of Oxford
grandest hills. And certainly it never
looked lovelier than on the morning o
its centennial day, when the ascending
sun lifted the river fog, and sent it sky
ward in clOudlets from the SUBMITS ol
the hills.
The morning was cool, almost danger
ously near frost, but the sun shone
brightly during the early hours, ant
made it just comfortable summer day
Later the sky was overcast, a condition
which, until near the close of the day
was more acceptable to the gathered
multitude than bright sunshine would
have been.
The people began to gather early in
the day, and kept pouring in until prob,
ably from two to three thousand were
present. They found the village
adorned to greet them. Several of the
residences and business places were
decorated with flags and bunting, flags
tluttered from their stats, and banners
suspended over the street bade all
welcome. Some 500 special invitations
had been sent to former residents, and
all comers, from near and far, were
cordially greeted by the hospitable peo-
pie of Andover.
Preparations for the centennial cele-
bration had been entered into with en-
thusiasm and cordial good will by all
the people and organizations of the
town, as was evident from the full sue
cess of the arrangements, and the adj
mirable way in which the days pro-
gramme was carried out. Of the gen
by the town, $50 by the Knights of
Pythias, s25 by the grange, SIS by the
Pythian Sisterhood, S25 by the Kings
Daughters, and the rest by private sub
scription.
Hon. Olcott B. Poor was president of
the day, John F. Talbot secretary, and
the finance committee was composed of
the selectmen, Fred S. Smith, Z. NJ.
Bailey, Llewellyn Hall and Charles
Andrews.
Other committees were as follows:
Invitations: Henry V. Poor, chairman. Mrs.
Nathan Dresser Hiram D. Abbott, Miss II.
Elizabeth Hall, Lincoln Dresser, Mrs Sarah
Akers. Mrs. Henry L: Poor. L. Merrill Hewey.
]. f. Akers. Fred Smith.
bot, chairman, Miss Agnes B. Poor. Frank p.
Thomas, Mrs. Lincoln Dresser, George W. Alb
bott Mrs. William Newhall, Mrs. John +. Tai.
bot, Mrs. L. r. Ripley.
Music: Elwin Talbot. chairman. Olney A.
Burgess, Miss Bertha /. Poor, Mrs. Harry
Thomas.
Antiquarian: Henry W. Poor, chairman.
Thomas Stone. Mrs. olcott p. Poor, Mrs. John
Mrs. George Abbott, Mrs. John F.
Talbot.
Dinner: Mrs Henry L. Poor, chairman, Mrs.
x. A. Grover. Mrs. Timothy Hastings, Mrs.
John Caldwell, Mrs. W. Lovejoy, Peter W.
Learned. Henry L. Poor.
W. W. Perkins, Mrs. Walter Hanson. Mrs.
John W. Newton, Mrs. C. e. Cushman, Mrs c.
T. Lovejoy, Mrs. j. E. Akers, Mrs. Henry
s wett. Mrs. o. II. Burgess, Mrs. L. /. Akers,
wv, Wood Aie and water: S G. A. Dresser, chairman,
Bailey.
Souvenir: O,cott B. Poor, chairman, c. L.
Chandler. Miss Florence Talbot. Mrs. X. l..
Melcher. r. A. Grover, Rev. w. f. b. jackson.
Platform: e. A. Andrews.
Parade: Henry L. Poor, chairman. L. NJ
Hewey. X. A. Grover, Fred Milton, Frank
Ak"rs, Charles T. Poor.
Miss Alice Poor, Mrs. l.. Z. Barnes, Walter
Barnes, E. S. Poor.
THE ANTIQUARIAN EXHIBIT.
At the town hall was very interest
ing exhibit of antiquities, any attempt to
describe which must be imperfect. so
large and varied was it. On the plat
form fireplace was furnished with bel
lows and ancient fire tools. In front
stood tin bakers of various models, and
at one side warming pan. In one
corner was spinning wheel, in another
a flax wheel. Ranged on tables extend
ing down the hall were great variety
Of ancient articles, most OF them OF d.
rect historical interest in Andover. Two
handmade pitchforks in the exhibit,
looking very crude affairs in these days,
are known to be 1G0 and 125 years old re-
spectively. Some of the old rude-look-
ING implements were SO old that they
we're marked "What is it?" either to
puzzle the spectator or because the
owner did not himself know for what
use they were made.
An interesting collection of mementOes
Of DR.. Silvanus Poor and his wife Mary
Merrill were shown, including DR.. Poor's
a tablecloth from the trous-
seau of Mary Merrill, spun and woven in
the Merrill house, and her Bible, con-
tanning the family record from the time
Of her marriage to DIR. Poor, Feb. Is,
1902.
The Bible of Rev. Daniel Gould, dat
ing from 1899, was another interesting
feature of the exhibit of old books, of
which large number were shown.
The original agreement to organize
1.-THE First Congregational Society in
Andover," in excellent preservation, was
shown. The signatures include twelve
AbbOtts (part of them spelled it Abbott,
three Merrills, three Poors, three Love-
ioys, two Stricklands and two Swans.
The other names are Stevens, Rice, Hall,
harrington, Marston. Sweat, Bragg, and
Webster. The date is Jan. 81, 1922.
THE PARADE.
The parade was in some respects the
most attractive feature of the day, and
would alone have assured the success of
the celebration. An immense amount OF
work had been put into the preparations,
aud the result was more than satisfac-
tory. Expressions of great delight were
heard from every one, and cameras were
snapped at the several floats BY the
score.
The procession started soon after 10
NJ, and after passing through the
streets and around the square,
was discharged at the common. 1t was
led by Malcolm Gregg as marshal.
Following the marshal was the An
dover Band, in handsomely decorated
carriage. The band played finely, not
only for the parade, but for all the exer-