Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-17
FA|RF|ELD'S Event
Big Day on 131st An
niversary and Wei
come Home to Sol
diers

Fairfield. Me-, June 16-Fatrheld
will celebrate the 1s1st anniversary
IT its incorporation as town next
Wednesday by welcoming home her
soldiers. sailors and marines who are
back from their service with Uncle
sam. The town Of Benton will join
with Fairfield in the welcominss and
the promoters Of the joint celebra-
tiun promise to put on the biggest
show ever staged here. The cele-
blation is already begun in its pre-
liminary colorings with the decora-
ton of most of the business blocks
along Main street. AS this work
proceeds under the direction OF a
skilled decorator the townspeople
seem to catch the spirit of the thing
ana as if by magic the colors Of the
United States. England and France
r1ingle and greet the eye everywhere
one travels about town. When the
sunrise gun, is fired Wednesday
,rol ming, could one of the town faith
crs of the Old Kendall's Mills days
appear on the scene he would mar
vel at all this riot of color. for the
folks are not sparing in their efforts
tc show their returning heroes that
tley appreciate the sacrifices they
Lave made.
While the big feature of the day
will be the parade, there will be band
concerts. dancing at the Opera house
and at Grange hall in Benton, din
ners for boys and their guests at the
astern Star, Methodist and Baptist
dining rooms. with hot chicken pie
as the base of the menu; running
and swimming matches on Main
street, and the mill pond canal, COM
nencing at o'clock in the forenoon:
az exhibition on High street by the
Steamer Engine Co. of muster fame
throughout Maine: addresses on
Monument Park by Governor Milli-
ken and Col. Hume. who will be the
chief guests, with the boys. for the
day. And not least on the program
TO tickle the hearts of the boys will
!,c the boxing matches to be pulled
off on the West street athletic
grounds in the evening. for which
the loyal fans have dug down into
their jeans for the extra money to
guarantee the boys "a wind-up for
fair"
The parade is scheduled to start
near the Grange hall in Benton as
near 10 o'clock as possible and will
be marshailed by Judge H. H. Braz-
zell with four aides from the local
camp of the Sons Of Veterans. The
soldier boys have met and decided
who shall lead them along the route
of the parade and who shall respond
for them to the address Of welcome
on the park after dinner. For these
honors they have selected Sergt. AL
bert Kick, winner of distinguished
service cross overseas, and Percy
Crosby, who mixed it up with the
Boch for an experience he'll not soon
forget. The boys are showing fine
spirit in cooperating with the gen.
eral committee Of citizens Of the two
towns and say that they will stay
with their hosts till the cows come
home. They say that they want to
back up those who backed them up
they have simply looked around town
and have not mistaken the signs of Il
royal welcome.
Col. Hume will have a place of
honor in the parade and there might
be such a thing as his leading us in
that marathon" as one doughboy put
it. Col. Hume will be the guest of
his brother, c. G. Hume, while in
town for the festivities. The men
from overseas will lead all their fell
lows in the parade. followed by the
men who served at the army camps.
those from the Students training
corps and the boys who served with
the Navy. This order Is of their
own choosing, as the boys have been
asked by the committee to state just
what they want. The final plans for
the makeup of the parade are not yet
i, hand. but the Catholic bodies have
given out the word that they will
have at least IL floats. telling
great story of accomplishments
throughout the years. and the
Protestant organizations are CATCH
ing the spirit Of their zeal and prom
Use their best. There will be 40 or
so floats in that parade" said Chair
man "Fon" Lawrence, land If we
get fair day we will surprise all
Corners" The general committee
will hold it's last meeting Monday
evening at the engine hall at 100
o'clock in conference with the repre-
sentatives for the boys. when the
final touches to the program will be