The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-05-03

INAUGURAL
Speeches BY Mayor Theodore
Ayers and President Grin
nell Willis Saturday.
HOST OF CHILDREN HAPPY

pleasant and profitible hours. The
formal opening took place Saturday
morning at ten O'Clock. There was a
large gathering Of people interested in
the playground work and host of
children. The ceremonies openedl
with a prayer by the Rev. William
Russell Bennett. Mayor Ayers made
short address in which he alluded to
the appropriateness OF naming the
playground as memorial of the late
Thomas W. Cauldwell.
Mayor Ayers said the opening was
another step in the towns advance
ment and he recalled to the minds of
his hearers several of the important
benefits to the town which have been
the benefactions of public spirited
citizens. The first mentioned was the
purchase of the Morristown green
more than one hundred years ago by
thirty-five men and it's deciding over
to the town for public uses. In 1855
George T. Cobb, Morristown's first
mayor gave large tract Of land for
the establishment of Evergreen ceme-
terry, before which the town buried it's
dead in the church yards. Another
important step in the towns develop
ment was the presentation to the
town by Mr.. Cobb Of the Maple ave-
nue. school property while still another
event of Importance in which Mr..
Cobb had part was his instrumental
| ity, with the late William G. Baker,
OF the establishment of the Morris
Female institute, now Miss Dana's
school,
Mayor Ayers touched upon the be-
ginnings of the library and lyceum
from the legacy of the late Mr.. Blatch-
ley, the beginnings of the Old Ladies'
home on Clinton street and the two
hospitals.
There is tendancy towards row.
dyism among the boys Of fourteen and
fifteen years Of age" said Mayor
Ayers, and hope this playground
will be the means Of checking that evil
among the generation now coming mp
and the children coming here will be
brought to better understanding Of
their duties towards their fellows. !"
Now, children, said the mayor, ''see
that you act like ladies and gentle
men, / don't mean to be fuSsy
but remember that all have equal
rights here and play and enjoy your
selves and try to let everyone else here
enjoy themselves"
Mr.. Willis, president of the play
ground society, then made the follow
ing address,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. CITIZENS OF
MoRRIsTowN, AND Your Chill
DREN:
The Morristown Playground society
extends to you under proper regulation
and supervision the privileges Of this
playground. We have dedicated it to-
the late Thomas w. Cauldwell and
have placed his name over its entrance
in affectionate respect for his memory.
AS mayor Of this city he was interested
in the suggestion to establish play
grounds for the children and hoped to
see it accomplished. After his DEATH
we, his friends, took up the work, in
corporated ourselves under the laws
of New Jersey, purchased the land,
and proceeded to clear il for the use
OF the children. At that time this
was all that Yves considered necessary.
But we soon found that we had joined
in national movement, carried on in
many cities, with national commit
tee in New York, a definite plan OF
equipment and instruction, elaborate
apparatus, and trained teachers, and
in short that the work required COM
plete out-of-door training school.
Recognizing the benefits to be OBJ
tained in this way and the great need
of them in Morristown, we postponed
the opening last fall until the neces-
sary apparatus could be obtained and
a proper corps of instructors secured. |
We now have the pleasure of announc-
ing that we are prepared to begin this |
work and to hoist the flag over the
first playground in Morristown, which |
we earnestly hope may be followed in
time by the establishment OF many
others.
The great rivers Of love and charity
which are flowing through ourcountry |
are fed by just such small springs as
this yelling up from the hearts OF |
earnest citizens, and in this spirit our
playground is offered to you in the
hope that it may give to the children
who use 1t an opportunity not only for
recreation but for instruction in the
fundamental truths which contribute
TO the making OF good citizens.
We bespeak for MI. Fairlamb and
his assistants the hearty cooperation
Of parents and children. Regulations
there must be, and discipline there |
must he, but these will be adminis-
tered In fairness and justice to all to |
the end that these grounds may serve |
the great purpose for which they have
been established.
At the conclusion of his remarks
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