The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-08-14
Thorndike, 100 Years Old.

tennial anniversary at ThoTndike Station
August 9th. The occasion was more than
success, it was a triumph. The eecora
tions were well worthy of especial notice.
Over the main street of the village was
an evergreen arch some Is or 20 feet hleh
from the center of which was suspended
the word Welcome. There were flags
floating from its top and from its sides.
The stores and every dwelling were deco
rated with bunting and there were almost
innumerable flags displayed Excellent
taste was noticeable in every instance,
and more than 5000 yards of cloth bunt-
ing were used. AS early as eight o CLOCK
automobiles were coming into town Tiled
with neople. 1t is safe to say that an
hour later at least 5000 people were IN
the village, where they found the gates
of hospitality wide open and the 'latch-
string" at every door inviting an entrance
The narade started at $50 headed by an
excellent band of Is pieces, from rlt's-
field There were in the procession elghI
floats. AZ automobiles, and several caIfl-
aces There were also several exhibits
of farm machinery and a fe" specldl
features which we shall mention later.
In decorating the floats and the wheels OF
the automobiles 24oG yards of paper bunt-
ing were used Farwell Bros. and feler
Harmon & Son each had float loaded
with groceries. Half Moon lei. Co.,
Standard Oil Co, and Turner Ienter
Creamery Co. each had handsome hoat'
There was also float carrying returned
soldiers. a Washington float and koose-
Welt float each loaded with children WaV-
ing flags.
The automobiles were, without eXcep-
ton. beautifully and artlstlcally decoIaleo
with bunting and flags. Among the speclal
features we noticed the old time cali pur
chaser with his Grated wagon MI hehly
Higgins with his hired man represented
two cold timers riding on a stone olae
drawn by two horses. They were evil
IDENTIFY going out to 'heckle" among
hummocks and plow among stumps, as
ON the drag with them was an oldfashloh-
ed blow and a big stone Jug. 10 the
handle of the Jug was attached laoei
which. knowing Herry's habit OF attend
ing to details, we presume informed the
curious that The aforesaid Jug contained
some oldfashioned exhiliratlng mixture
Mr.. H. C. McCorrison, the agent TOT the
bort automobile, which he says Is the
best ever, rode in a Sears-Roeouch ma
chine which he purchased IN l9o9' 1i7
said if was as good as ever 1t was anu
nv the looks of the thing we Vhoue III
he told the truth about 1t, MI hVefe''
n Ward drove horse 81 years old draw
ing wagon made IN l77o. MI '" alu
wore clothes of tina. ancient day, but MS
very tall plug nat we think may nave
been artedeluvian The lady by his slde
was also attlred in eye olden style. III
the Grange hall there was rare eNhlpi-
ton of antiques. SO many people "eio
there that we could not get more IMAM
passing glimpse at the exhlDll'
,oticed however, an exceptionally tne
old crandfather's clock, pair OF ancient
saddle bags, sheaf of flax IN the STALK
swingle, cards, spinning wheel ana all
the minor things necessary to make lax,
as grown in the fielC, ready Tor the ioom'
Most Of the articles were single pleces'
such as an old candle stick, lantern
dish, book, or a manuscript. Inc MS
tory of each of these would indeed be IN
teresting. By the time the noon hour
arrived the crowd had become increased
bv several hundreds. public dinner
was served but most Of that happy assem-
bly had providently brought ample and
vel filled lunch baskets. Then followed
the biggest picnic, OF, to be exact we
ought to say the greatest aggregation OF
different kinds of picnics we ever saw
There were picnics i'll automobiles, pic
MICS in the open, picnics in the shade,
picnics on piazzas and picnics on the
lawns. A picnic is a venerable Ne"
ENGLAND method of assuaglng the pangs
of hunger on festive outdoor occasions
and therefore on centennial days 1t Is
fttinply considered to be most approprl-
ate.
At one o'clock the church was filled te
OVERLOOKING by those who had gathered
there to listen to a most interesting pro-
gram. Mr.. Peter Harmon presided
Prayer was offered by Rev. c. A. knick-
erbocker of Waterville, and Mr.. Albert
W. Ward, in behalf of his town, wei.
coined the assembly in brief but especial.
ly appropriate words. The Centennia
Ode written by Miss Claribel Crosby Of
Thorndike was then rendered by select
choir This ode is set to the tune Of
America, and it can be truthfully sale
that its meter is perfect and its expressed
sentiment is noble and inspiring Mis-!
C. A. Ferguson contributed paper Civ
ing the history of the town, and Mrs. V
N. Higgins a paper entitled "The Early
Settlers of Thorndike." These two ladie
have rendered their town an importan
service in thus Loyalty and logic lily put
ting on record matters which will be o