Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-08-09
BERNARDsToN, MASS.
Parade Mile Long When Towns 15oth
Anniversary Was Celebrated Wednes-

Wednesday, August z was gala day in
Bernardston, Mass, when the historical old
town put on holiday attire to welcome her
sons and daughters from far and near to the
celebration of her "sesque- centennial" The
town was incorporated in 1862. There were
many present who remembered the Tooth cele-
bration, and many comments were made upon
the changes which have taken place since that
time. All OF the houses and public buildings
were decorated.
The days program began with parade
fully one mile long, which everybody pro-
nounced one OF the best ever seen. There
were many floats showing the growth OF the
town and the changes which have taken place
| in $50 years, and these were very original, and
unique as well as beautiful. The procession
was headed by Ralph Cushman, the marshal,
and his aids, followed by the Greenfield Mill
tary band
The first float, dated 1862, showed the life
of that time, the occupants carding, spinning
and knitting, striinging apples for drying, ETC.,
while the utensils which hung from the roof
included bellows, candle molds, tin lanterns
etc.
1912 was shown by two floats. The first was
little red schoohouse, where the teacher,
Mrs. Ralph Cushman, ruled with great effort
The school of today was made up OF happy
children, waving flags and having a good
time. Behind these was the float repre- senting
Powers Institute. The float OF the Bernard
ston Grange decorated with and
members of the Grange in uniform stood upon
The Ladies' Social circle of the Unitarian
church was engaged in quilting, in float
the costumes of years ago. The float fol-
lowing represented church supper.
The occupants OF the float of the Baptist
church were dressed in white and carried
crosses while they wore crowns.
The boys Of the Y. NJ. c. A. mounted, in
white uniforms, were very striking feature
OF the parade
The lumber interests were represented by
three floats, showing the logs, the planks and
then the boards
Among the most interesting floats were two
showing the methods OF washing years ago
and now. In the first the rubbing and
wringing by hand in very primitive way,
the women showing how hard they had to
work. In the second the ladies seemed to
be taking their ease, while all the labor was
done by electricity.
The Grand Army and Woman's Relief corps
members rode in carriages decorated with the
national coors
The mothers club of 1912 held two women
caring for a number OF children whom other
mothers had evidently left in their charge.
Among other floats were a blacksmith shop,
the seal of the town, the hook and ladder
company, highway teams, and these were fol-
foled by several carriages occupied by people
over 20 years of age-a long line OF beauti-
fully decorated automobiles and carriages be-
longing to residents and former residents,
while the senior class OF Powers Institute
rode in a carriage decorated with their class
colors
After the parade the crowd gathered upon
the grounds oil PoWerS institute, the same
grounds which the Tooth celebration took
place,
E. B. Hale gave an address of welcome and
then introduced Dr. G. Glenn Atkins OF Provi-
dence. r. L., the speaker OF the day. He said
that Bernardston was born just at the close
of the seven years war, which proved that
England and not France was to rule this
continent, and that account the time was
most propitous, and the town was dedicated
to the English speaking race. He told why
the town had stood for so much by giving
the foundations He said the first foundation
was honest toll which had converted the will
derness into garden; the second was the
church, which ministered to mans spiritual
needs the third was the schoohouse, where
men had learned to think and to ask the
question why and seek the answer; the fourth
was the town hall, and the fifth the home.
The hymn composed by Rev. J. B. Green,
pastor OF the Unitarian church, and sung at
the celebration in 1862, was sung by all to
the tune OF AUD Lang Syne,"
After a short speech by Senator Ward OF
auckland, the company adjourned for picnic
luncheon and social hour. A band concert
from ! to o'clock was much enjoyed, and
then the afternoon exercises began. A feature
OF these was the working and presentation by
J. b. Snow OF Greenfield OF portrait of Sir
Francis Bernard governor OF Massachusetts,,
for whom the town named.
The history of the town was given by Mrs.