Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-27
NEW LONDON'S MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Cost Will Be in Vicinity of $1s0,0o0 The English Ship Resolute- Community Christmas Tree Has Come to Stay

by the crew of the George Henry. floating in DaVis Straits. near Cape Henry, a distance of eleven hundred miles from the place where she hao been abandoned. Captain BuddIngton took possession of the drifting vessel transferred to her 8 part of his crew, and after a very stormy passage ol one hundred days arrived in New Lon- don harbor. December "A. 1853.
 While in New London Farbor the ResoIute was visited by fhousands of people who examined with eager 1n- terest all the minute details or her equipment and furniture. When the vessel was first boarded by & part or the crew of the George Henry, the lamps, bottles and wine glasses. ali stood upon the table in the officers room, just as they had been left when they drank the last farewell to the ship, and books were open In the cabin as just laid aside. The eparl- lettes of the captain were there, and many books and tokens were found, bearing memorial inscriptions Of ten derness and friendship, that were ev- idently left behind by heavy hearts to stern necessity.
 The Resolute was in New London harbor for seven months. The United States government paid liberal redemption fee for the ship, but ac- cerding to Captain Buddington, he never received any of the prize money The ship was repaired at the Bfook- Iyn navy yard. made almost as good as new and sent back to England as a present to the nation, under the command of Captain Hartstene, United States Navy. He was the officer that had been sent by the government to the Polar region in 1855 on a relief ship with supplies to TNr ESf hc = petition. The Resolute arrived at Portsmouth. England. December Is, 1856. Queen Victoria visited the ship, received the transfer in person, and gracefully acknowledged the courtesy of restoring the ship to it's former owners.
 The time was when only the Epis- copaI and Catholic churches made special observance of Christmas Day but for many years the churches o1 the other denominations in the city have held special services of praise prayer and thanksgiving of the joyous occasion. Today there is universal observance of the Nativity and so ar ranged that it is not alone confined to church going people. The mun1clpa Christmas tree Is new but 1t has come to stay and the originator of the ides for these United States is entitled to extraordinary credit. Here in New London the out-room form of observ- ance was held for the first time or Friday night and the big ane brilliantly illuminated Christmas tree with a representation of the Star o1 Bethlehem at the extreme top was To- cated in the Charles Augustus William: Memorial park, directly opposite tho Second Congregational church a1lC within clear hearing of the Whitor 1 Memorial chime bells that aided sC much in the observance. Every churcl choir in the city united in singing the Christmas carols and the KonomoC band assisted. giving a concert pro- gram prior to the singing. All the people were there and without re gard to creed, race or any other con ditions a general outpeuring to give recognition of the birth Of tht Saviour.
 Conditions have changed since ole New London became the real New London and there is a marked dis. appearance of that old time bigotrI that is still fresh in the memory oi some of the older inhabitants. Tha municipal Christmas tree idea vii tend to bring all denominations ever closer together than ever and teacl the lesson that all are seeking the same end through what is represented in part by the municipal Christina: tree.