The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-11
PAWTUXET'S
OLD HOME
MEETING

An enthusiastic party OF delegates from
various societies. clubs. churches and the
fre company met at the Pawtuxet Bap-
tist church, last might. and adopted reso-
lutlons uniting themselves an the Paw
tuxet Old Home association. an organ
ization that will arrange for the OBJ
servance OF week during the summer Of
each year, to be known as "Old Home
Week" that will arrange for the
preservation OF old landmarks and his
tor'cal places and support movements for
village Improvement. The sections in
cluded in the movement are "Old Paw
tuxet' on the Warwick side OF the bridge.s
Pawtuxet In Cranston and the district of
Edgewood
This organization. which is the first of
Its sort In the state, has its counterpart
In each OF the other New England states
In dozens Of cities and towns. the move
ment being now about seven years old,
and IL remained with Pawtuxet, the Sec
ond oldest settlement in the state, to take
the initiative in the matter
The meeting was called TO order bv
Wilbert f. Longfellow, who explained
briefly the progress OF the movement
from the time that the Volunteer Fire
company appointed a committee OF two
TO see what could be done toward form
Ing an Old Home association in Paw
tuxet." All those present were delegates.
he explained, and represented many times
the total number present, so that al
though there were apparently but few In
evidence. the report OF the proceedings
would be transmitted 10 hundreds OF
others when the various societies next
met.
Frank W. Angel was chosen as tenn
porary chairman and Luther D. Bur-
linsame as secretary, and then Mr.
Angel asked for remarks in regard TO
the project Mr.. Longfellow introduced
Hon. Amasa NJ. Eaton. who is a mem
Der OF he executive committee of the
New England Old Home Week associa-
ton, who spoke briefly on the purposes
OF the association.
TO STRENGTHEN THE TIES.
Mr.. Eaton said In part:
old Home Week" Is fast becoming |
,ne OF the recognized institutions OF New
England. II originated in 1899 I'm New
hampshire through the energy and public |
spirit OF Governor Rollins 1t was taken |
ip by Maine In 1900; I'm Vermont in 1901; |
N Massachusetts, and Connecticut In 1902 |
md now In this state. The object IL to /
preserve and strengthen the ties between |
hose who stay at home and those who /
mmigrate or have immigrated to other
'arts OF the country and generally to |
stimulate patriotic interest IN their former
lome on the part OF natives OF the state
low living outside Its borders"
Very few persons have any concep-
Ion OF the number OF New EHsianders
Who have left their old homes. There
ire now over one million New England
'orn people living outside their native
tate. OF these Maine has furnished
1851: New Hampshire 1850 Yer
mont 1882; Massa chusetts. 2ss.s14;
rhode Island s1.53s; Connecticut 142,25t,
n all i.o12.ae7
his immigration II we put II in another
orm. In Vermont out Of every family
4 8. from New Hampshire 2 out Of every
[; from Maine out OF every z; from
shode Island and Connecticut out Of
very O.. from Massachusetts 2 out OF
very IL Of the present generation have
sft their old home and are now residing
ut the state Of their birth.
These reunions have been found 20 sat-
sfactory that Increasing thousands now
Ian their vacations from year TO year
o that they can be at their old homo
urfng Old Home Week. Old friends meet
nd renew their friendships among the
urroundings OF their childhood. The ties
Z knship are renewed and are transmit
ID TO the next generation. The infu-
nee Of native ideas IS renewed and made
Ill more influential in the new homes
these old New Englanders. Those who
emain at home by the hospitality they
xtend TO their kinsmen from abroad are
nus enabled 10 pay some part OF the
ebt Of patriotism they owe TO their ma
We state by extending still further the
Dhere OF its influence.
RICH IN HISTORY
Benjamin &. Lee. one OF the delegates
ON the Royal Arcanum. then read the
igRe stion for organizing sent out by | /
e Massa chusetts association 20 the var
us towns In the state. and Governor
arvins secretary, Robert Grieve. was
troduced.
He explained that Governor Garvin was.
'ry much interested I'm the movement
ID that he would undoubtedly have been
resent " he had been Informed OF the
Getting I'm time Mr. GrieYe then gave
considerable t81k on the early history :
Cranston, particularly OF Pawtuxet.
hich. he said. was settled by y party of ,
en- who had auarrelled with the!r Provi-
nee brethren and that at one time the
re wes quito an important place COM
ercially. the trading post being az Inn :
rtant al that time az Providence
IN place 80 rich in historical associa- .
ms ss this. he said. that u is eminent
nttnr that an Organization Of this