Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-15
Including Parade, Speaking and Music
By Two Excellent Bands.
Rev. 4. E. Dunnack Of Augusta Delivers Stirring
and Eloquent Centennial Address.

The bands played during the meal and
conversation ran fast and merry.
| 1t was nearly = o'clock when the af-
| tcrncon session was called to order
After music by the two bands Rev. f.
r. Thcrndike OF West F'itchburg. Mass,
| delivered an able address on the mean
ing of the day. He spoke of the progress
of the century in material wealth, arts,
sciences and morals. 1t was a great
thing to live in the present age but the
next century would show an even
greater and more marvellous develop
ment. 1t was a philosophical and pro-
phetic address rather than historical
and was closely followed to the cnn.
Quartet singing was followed by &
cornet solo from Abbie Frances
Stearns and poem by +. Estelle Fer
nald and then came the address by
Prof Wilmot B. Mitchell of Bowdoin
College This gentleman is the profess
sor of rhetoric and as may well be sup
posed is a fine speaker. 1t was fitting
that old Bowdoin should have place
in this celebration as the town was
once it's personal possession.
Home, Sweet Home" was then sung
by 4 large chorus.
Re-. H. f. Dunnack of Augusta then
gave the centennial address. He said:
"Diyno on the famous old stage
route from Augusta to Bangor, has como
to the end Of her first century. 1t is al
together fitting and proper that her
daughters and sons at home and in dis
tant states should gather here under her
old elms and in the shadow of her grand
old hills to celebrate this important event
Old home, ah dear OLD home, what wor-
thy heart
| Could breathe thy name without flush
| of pride.
| A tender sigh 4 humble prayer. a tear?
! What pnon,oiies rush upon us as we muse
! What dream returns to thrill us as OF Old.
What SONGS come floating back from far
! of wears
, What deep. rich chords from long since
@ilen"ed strings.
"Dixnlont was surveyed by Moses Holds
don as No. of the first range north of
the Waldo Iatcnt and was in the grants
of Massachusetts to Bowdoin College. Dr.
Dix was the purchaser from the college
and his name together with Mont. sug-
Cestcd by the mills, gave the town her
name.
"Ihis IS a day of memories. Let lis
think that honorcd men OF other days are
coming up from the long past to partici-
pate in these ceremonies and to rejoice
in our prosperity. All last night they
journeyed from East and West North
and South 1 see them even now. Drake.
who made the first clearing; Alden, with
the blood of the Puritan John in his
veins; BaSsford, one OF the heroes of 1872:
Butman, the humOrist, when informed
that only those soldiers of the War of 1872
who had served IA days would receive
pension, bitterly lamented that he served
his country only one day, but on second
thought decided to enter his claim on the
ground that he ran as soon and as fast
as the best: Thorndile. whose descend
ants are winning university honors; Dea-
con Wilder. teacher and example of holy
living, who for 90 years in this old
church pointed the way to heaven and
led the way; Judge Appleton. who gath
cred from these hills the inspiration that
made him the great iurist of our State.
"Time fails me to tell the story of
Brown. Porter. York, Tasker. Prescott.
Gardiner. Lovejoy. Bussey and a host Of
others. What a goodly company, what
mighty men. what heroic founders. They
fought good fight they kept the faith.
lone hundred years of toll have won
for us this day imperishable riches in
culture. learning and wealth. These pos
sessions burden lis with vast responsible
ties. The forests have become fertile
fields; the cabins have given way to pal
aces; the bride paths have become great
highways of travel; the kitchen school
has been replaced by the graded school:
hopeless poverty and ignorance are no
more in our midst. These and other
achievements place us under obligations
Justly the old town is demanding at the
hands of her children increased devotion
"Our town and State are just coming
to their inheritance. Vast and unused
are our resources. In natural advant-
ages for agriculture, manufacturing
and commerce Maine surpasses all the
states of the North Atlantic division.
Her area about equals the. combined
area of all the others. Her area Of
fertile cultivated land exceeds all of
them. The forests of Maine cover 10000
square miles. We have 1900 lakes, 500
rivers and streams affOrding two and
half millions horse power. more than
any equal area of the surface of the
earth. The seacoast of Maine extend
ing in an air line for 225 miles from
Kittery Point to Quoddy Head is broIl-
en- by great bays. giving Maine a long
er line OF navigable sea coast with more
accessible harbors than all the other
states on the North Atlantic division.
maine offers rare inducements for
those who wish for the open life Of the
country. 1t is matter for congratulate
lions that the hearts Of men are turning