Putnam patriot., 1924-10-03
TOWN OF ASHFORD ACCEPTS
 KNOWLTON MEMORIAL GIFT
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHER AT WARRENvsLLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DEDICATION EXERCISES HELD LAST SATURDAY.-JUST LIKE "oLD HOME DAY"
Attorney T. Kelley Allen Lincoln Seckerson De-
 liver Addresses.-Ladies Serve Collaton-Band Plays.

Saturday. Sept 27, will long be re- membered by the people of the town of Ashford. and by the hundreds of friends and neighbors who came to share the joys and felicitations of the day on the occasion of the dedication of the new town hall building and knowlton Memorial of Warrenville. as recently given to the town by Charles i Clark knowiton. native of Ashford, and of the Hammond Knowlton Com pany of New York and Putnam, in honor of his father. the late Jonathan l W. knowlton, and of Ashford's illus trious sons of revolutionary fame, Colonel Thomas Knowlton and Lieut. Daniel Knowlton.
 IL was a gala day, old-home day and historic day, all in one. The spa cious auditorium, with normal seating lcapacity of over 300, was augmented ! for the occasion by 100 additional chairs, and beyond that the entrance hall was crowded by another 100 or more. Allowing for those who at- tended both sessions, 1t is estimated that not less than 800 persons enjoyed the meetings.
 The afternoon session was opened at 2.30 with a concert by the Babeoek Cornet Band. said to be the only en- dowed band in the United States, and direct successor of probably the oldest band in the country as reorganized sixty-two years ago, when the late Archibald Babeoek of Providence left q bequest of S6.000 jointly to the band and the local public library. each of these institutions then assuming the benefactoris name.
 Orin Durkee Presides
 Orin r. Durkee of Warrenville and Worcester, chairman Of the committee of arrangements. presided and in his opening address expressed the deep gsatitud of the town for the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton. and spoke of all that it eoaid mean for the welfare and joy of the people He then called upon Allen B. Lincoln of Westford to conduct the program Mr Lincoln spoke briefly ol the historic perspect- ise of the day as covering the 2i4 years since the organization of the town in October, i7l0, and deriving it's inspiration even unto this day from thc spirit of the founders Of the republic, and especially from its de- lenders. among whom the iilustrious kHowltoHs were with the foremost.
 The first speaker of the afternoon was Attorney Thomas J. Kelley of i Nillimantic. introduced as former town counsel and for years town clerk of Wndham. who on several occasions had been called on as orator of the day" in the dedication of public build ings and civic structures, and well ] vefsed in the historic significance Of the New England town
 Extend Appreciation
 Brief addresses of eongratulation and gratitude were delivered by A. N. Hammond of Woodstock Valley, for mef resident, Rev. B. C. Bugbee. pas tor of the Warrenville Baptist church i; Rev William Dunn. pastor of the new St. Philips Roman Catholic parish i; the venerable Allen Jewett of Hamp- ton. who at the age of s6 was present to express his pleasure in the good ief- tune of neighhoring town. The clos
 ing address of the afternoon was by the Rev. H. A. Coolidge of Union.
 who. in q happy combination of wit
 and practical suggestions voiced the spirit of New England and the grow ing spirit of civic cooperation in es=
 sential matters of spiritual and civic
 values.
 One of the most interestig features of the afternoon was the singing of America the Beautiful" by the school children and also new song written : expressly for the occasion by Miss Elm fly Chism. member of one of the oldest and best-known families of Ashford. and herself teacher in the public . school for many years. By request of , many these words are here published adapted tu the tune oE Fair llar- yard.n and entitled Fair Ashford.