The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-15
NEW MILFORD'S
 BIC CELEBRATION Bi-Centennial Exercises Will Open To day to Continue
 Four Days. BIG PREPARATIONS. Gov. Woodruff and Daniel Davenport AmongNot
 Guests.
BIG PREPARATIONS

Davenport AmongN Noted
 Guests.
 Commencing to-day with appropri- ate exercises and flag raising on the green, the picturesque old town of New Milford will fittingIy observe the SOOth anniversary of Bi-Centennial of It's settlement with celebration that VIII continue for four days.
 The celebration will be one of nucb interest and the exercises will be in Keeplng with the importance of the event. There will be religious ob serVance, civic, military and auto
 hoDle parades, Colonial reception ana ball, band concerts, historical ex hlbition, addresses by the best orators UT the state and the attendance by the governor, Rollin s. Woodruff and his stan, besides a host of other features to the delight both the strangers who come to look on and former residents who visit the town once more for old times sake.
 FlOUrishfng Town.
 New Milford is fourishing little town on the banks of the Housa- tonic river renowned for the beauti- ful scenery with which nature has surrounded it. Nesting in the heart of the Litchtieid hills, the rocky crags and tall trees which surround it's out skirts and flank the river bank have changed but little in appearance since John Noble, it's first settler, after fol- lowing the winding course of the river from the colony of Massachusetts built log cabin and settled down there to found both a homestead and town site.
 Settled in 17O7.
 Thls was in June, 1707, and as other settlers followed the pioneer Noble larg- CT and more imposing houses began to spring up in the village and by Revo- lutionary war time New Milford was one of the most flourishing communi- ties in the Connecticut. Its townspeople played an important part in that san- guinary struggle.
 Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the committee of five who drafted that famous document and many others of her citizens filled im- 1 portant places during that period For ] twenty years Sherman was the leading shoemaker of the town. Afterward 1 studying law he took up his residence in New Haven, but New Milford al- | ways proudly claimed him as one of her favorite sons. So from Colonial times to the present day the pages of American history are luminous with the deeds of her townspeople both as soldiers and as legislators.
 Large Committee Makes Plans.
 The celebration is in the hands of general committee comprising over 200 citizens, representing practically every family in the town and all working in harmony and warm fair weather is all that is needed to make the affair the success it deserves to be. For weeks this committee of which Charles N Hall Is the efficient secretary, have been hard at work preparing for the event.
 The committe has opened permanent headquarters in suite of four rooms in the Knapp building on Bank street. the principal business street of the town. From this headquarters all the [ business Is transacted and the labors of it's members have been very greatly frightened by the committees courteous and efficient stenographer, Miss Minnie J. Ferris, formerly Bridgeport girl
 On the opening day of the celebration the headquarters will be removed to the town hall, where bureau of in- formation will be established and a registry kept for the use of visitors. People all over the country are looking forward to this celebration and home- coming with keen anticipation and the celebration will doubtless be long re- membered by all who attend
 Loan Historical Collection. ( The celebration will begin on Sat urday morning with the opening of the loan historical collection in Memor- ial hall on the green. A o'clock in the afternoon the opening exercises will be held on the green. The "Doxolo- gy' will be played by the chimes of All Saints church and it Is expected that the gathering will join in singing the words. A mixed chorus of ninety voices known as the Bi-Cesennial chorus, will sing anthems during the various f exercises held in connection with the C The chorus has trained a under the direction of Prof. E. c. musical director at the T Ingleside school in New Milford.
 Blessing by Rev. F. A. Johnson. t After the singing of the "Doxology" Rev. Frank A. Johnson will ask the divine blessing and the assemblage will join in singing America" ac- by Gartlands Tenth Regi- Il nent band of Albany, N. Y. This n band has been engaged by the com D nittee especially for the celebration and will have prominent part in all D the exercises.
 Address of Welcome. h The address of welcome will then :. 10 delivared tv Henry S. Mygatt, pres Q