The Somerset reporter., 1908-06-25
Dedication at Madison.
The recently completed monum'

edilors Vi the war OF Sixty one 10
sixty. five, was dedicated with appro-
pirate ceremony at Madison, Fri
day of last week, Russell Post and
other Skowhegan organizations being
present. 1t was one of the most
notable events in the history of the
town and one of the most successful
celebrations of the kind ever held in
this section.
The program commenced with the
formation of the procession in the
following order at two O'Clock.
Towns Lakewood Band; local police
officers; Co. E. N. G. S. NJ. of Show
hogan; N. A. Weston Post, G. A. R.,
under the leadership of Post Com
mander c. G. Hartwell; Marcellus
Perkins G.. A. r. Circle No. 81; North
Arson G. A. r. Circle; members of
Bates Post q. a. r. of Norridge-
wock; members of North Arson
Post q. A. R.; Russell Post, G. A. R..
of Skowhegan; members of the local
fire department; speakers and dis
abled veterans in carriages; school
children; Mr.. E. E. Gould acted as
marshal with Mr.. II. w. Taylor as
aide.
Private residences all along the
line of march were prettily decorated
as were all of the principal business
blocks OF the place. On arriving at
the monument the ranks were
Department Commander Dana, and
ri 4 ~ l.
each was given three ringing cheers
the lawn of &. H. Lancaster was
erected a large and beautifully
decorated stage on which was the
speakers, the selectmen, the COM
mittee OF entertainment and a large
chorus of ladies'.
After the veterans and other or
CARNATIONS were comfortably seated
the program began with c. o. Small
acting as president of the day. After
music by the band, and a prayer by
Rev. c. ID. Boothby, Mr.. Small in be-
half of the local G. A. L. and the
citizens extended a cordial welcome
to the exercises. Granville D. Per
kins, chairman of the board of select
men in few well chosen words
presented the monument to n. a.
Weston Post, No. 81, G. A. 4. Com
mander Hartwel responded for the
Post after which came the dedieatory
exercises.
The monument was made by the
Hallowell Granite Co., is twenty one
feet high including the bronze soldier
at the top, is six feet square at the
base and cost 50, 600. To the strains
of 1.-The Star Spangled Banner by
the band, Old Glory was run up
after which came a salute To the dead
by the veterans and music by the
ladies' chorus. Mr.. Small then told
the audience that of the first quota
OF eighteen called for from this town
four were alive and present and
were called to the stage and intro
duced amid cheers. The gentlemen
were j. F. ChadhOurne, A. r. Jones,
Jas. Emerson and S. &. Ward. Next
came a short address by State De-
partment Commander w. X. Dana
OF Westbrook.
Col. Tilden of Hallowell, the famous
fighting colonel of the 10th Maine
Regiment was called on to tell about
the part that regiment took in the
battle of Gettysburg and his ex-
periences in escaping thru the tunnel
at Libby prison. After the cheering
by the veterans and audience had
ceased, the colonel told of the fight
on the first day at the Little Round
Top. giving a greater part OF the
credit to the rank and file. He then
gave very vivid picture of Libby
Prison experiences and his escape.
After music by the band, Gen.
Joshua l.. Chamberlain of Portland
gave the dedicatory address which
will long be remembered for its
eloquence and fitness for the oc-
casion. Among other remarkable
facts Gen. Chamberlain stated that
] in 1864 a code of rules of conduct for
armies in the field was given out by
/ the War Department. These rules
were already in practice in the field
at that time and since then have
been adopted by every civilized
nation. AT the close of the address
came round of cheers for the
general.
Music by the chorus, closing exer-
cises by n. A. Weston Post, music by
the band and singing "America" by
the audience and benediction, Rev
&. E. McColley completed the
exercises. The whole program passed
off without a single unpleasant fea-
ture and expressions of appreciation
were heard on all sides as to the
excellent work of the committee OF
arrangements who were: F. l..
Powers. G. G. Hartwell, G. d. Per-
kins, a. Gregory, Geo. F. Newell, j.
p. Lancaster and w. H. Kennison.
The decorations for the occasion
were in charge of Harvey Remick.
The movement which eliminated
in the celebration of Friday started
on Memorial day in 1906. The matter
was discussed at that time but no
definite action was taken. On the
nth of July the same year, a meeting
was held in Firemen's Hall and the
necessary legal steps taken toward
the formation of Soldiers Monu-
ment Association. On Aug. LIST, '06,
another meeting was held, and a
constitution adopted. An article was
introduced into the warrant of the
annual town meeting of the same
year. After several patriotic speeches,
the article was carried with much
enthusiasm and 1000 appropriated
The Offices of the Soldiers Monu-
ment Association were constituted
committee to secure the monument
/ The monument is said to be one OF
i the best for the amount expended In
/ the State and is a source of honest
pride to the citizens of this place
/ 115 veterans were i'll line in the
parade. Dinner was served for the
veterans at the Congregational
1 churoh dining room bV the lOpal