The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-08-10
HALF A HUNDRED YEARS.
The Age Of Harnett County.
A Magnificent Celebration.

| A Magnificent Celebration.
On Thursday, August 3, 1905, al
Ellington, the county seat of Harnet'
county, there gathered throng OF AZ
happy and hopeful people as ever met
perhaps, in the history OF North Care.
lima. The occasion was the celebra.
ton Of the semi-centennlal OF the or
ganic life of Harnett county. In
| 1855, bv act of the General Assembly
of North Carolina, Harnett became a
component part OF the State and as
stunned her place in the sisterhood OF
counties that make up the Common
wealth.
With fifty years OF earnest and hon
est effort to do their part in the main
tenance OF the good name OF the State,
to develop her resources and to live up
to the high ideal of citizenship which
has characterized their civic h!e from
the beginning, it was fitting indeed
that the good people Of the county
should turn away from toll and busi-
ness care for day and come together,
in joyous and gladstone spirit, to cele-
brate their successful march to the
mile-post of time which marks the end
of the f at half century of the county s
existence.
The previous day had been bright
and sunny and the night had been
clam and reassuring; but with the
coming of the morning there were just
clouds enough to make one feel uncer-
tain about the weather for the day.
There was even light sprinkle OF rain
in the early morning, but the uncer-
talnty about the weather was just
enough to test the determination OF
IN always determined people to get
good out of the day at any odds. Per-
haps remem bering the apt lines,
eff the weather is cold
We must not scold
If the weather is warm
We must not swarm
If the weather ls dry
We must not cry;
IT the weather is wet
We must not fret,
But be jolly together
Whatever the weather."
they thought there was a good time
ahead, and SO they came On. From all
parts of the county they came-on the
trains, on buggies, on wagons, on carts,
On horse back, mule back and on foot.
And the people came from adjoining
counties in goodly numbers. The
thrOng must have nun berei above five
thousand.
The picturesque little town OF Lii
| lineton, beautiful for situation on the
rising ground half mile from the
beautiful and majestic Cape Fea,
river, was literally aiioat with hand
some and tasty decorations, and one
| could feel the welcome in the zephyr
laden breezes as they swept in from
the songhing pine forests around.
| 4 magnificent arch had been erect
ed across the Main street with massive
pillars and high columns, and there
shone out from 1t in bold, large letter:
the significant word "Wecome." Anl
then the history OF great and goo6
people was couched in the other in
scription: "1S;5 HARNETT COUNTY
1905"
| Ellington is no longer cut off fol
lack of travelling facilities The Raj
eigb and Southport railroad now rum
to the river, and is being graded to
farther destination, and so people from
Fayetteville, Dunn, Raleigh, Whining
ton and other points found eaey access
and joined in the pleasures OF the grea
celebration.
A handsome company OF mounted
marshals, headed by Chief Marshal J
NJ. Hodges, met the speakers for tn,
day, with the Third Regiment Bant
from Raleigh, and led the way from
the railroad station across the grea
steel bridge which spans the broat
river to the court yard and then to tn,
great pavilion.
The programme arranged for tn,
speakers was we'll observed. When tn
great throng had come together an,
had listened to stirring music by th
band, Mr.. H. L. Goodwin, of Dunn
called the people to order, and Hon
d. H. Mclean, OF Ellington, delivere,
the opening address.
In his rich. strong and musical voic
and with the stirring eloquence whlc]
has made him famous as one of Care
lina's most gifted orators, he pronounc
ed welcome to the listening thron
that at once made every one glad at th
opportunity of attending the great occa