Putnam patriot., 1928-09-06
ROSELAND PARK SCENE OF HUGE oBSERvANCES LAST CENTURY WHEN PRESIDENTS SPOKE ON
 INDEPENDENCE DAY
Henry Bowen Brought Greatest Men of Country to Speak
 10 Thousands.

some of the magnificence of the im- mense observances in the sos and DOS, but it will turn the minds of many back to the Fourth of July scenes in the latter part of the cen tury. perhaps notably to that of 1889, when Benjamin Harrison, pres ident of the country, was the guest of honor and principal speaker. To a very few it may evep suggest the famous celebration of 1870. when President Grant headed the list of famous visitors.
 Great Community Events
 From their start in 1854, until their close in 1896. with the death of Mr. Bowen, these Fourth of July eele- brations at woodatock Lake were great events of the community. They were not held every year, but very frequently, and always attracted huge crowds. drawn there to hear words from the famous men who accepted invitations to speak.
 At the first celebration of all at Woodstock Lake. on Independence Day in 1854, Henry Ward Beecher was the leading speaker. The speak CTS stand was against the old pine trees fronting the beach and on the hill opposite five hundred people lis tened to the speeches. During the succeeding years several notable mass meetings were held on Wood stock Common, one in 1856 when two thousand people were ordered to boost Fremont and listen to martial music. In 1864 another rally was held, this time with 15,000 people attending. and forty-three bands to furnish atmos- phere. Congressman, senators, and far-famed orators were again present.
 Grants visit
 All celebrations of previous years were. however, dwarfed by that at the visits of President Grant to Wood stock on July 4, 1870. The Presi- dents rail trip from Washington to Putnam was continuous ovation, with the engine decorated with flow CTS and evergreens, and the tender inscribed T propose immediately to take your work" GAR. veterans from the whole countryside turned out to form a guard of honor when he left the train at Putnam. Be- sides General Grant and his family the party included congressman and senators, cabinet members. and Count Catacasy, the Russian minister A cannon was carried in the carriage procession to Woodstock, and occa- sionally was rushed ahead of the line and fired, to notify the countryside that the president had come. After arrival at Woodstock Common, there was luncheon and then immediately the speaking program began with Senator Buckingham as president Of the day. The president spoke brief ly. the Declaration of Independence was read by George C. Holt, address es were given by Henry Ward Beech CT. Baron Catacazy, Joseph R. Haw- ley and General E. F. Butler.
 On the lawn in front of Woodstock the Grant Elm was then planted, with the president tossing the first few shovels of dirt around the roots.
 Dedicate Park
 On the Fourth of July, 1876, the exercises were of quite a different nature. consisting of the dedication of Roseland Park to public use. There were few remarks by Henry C. Bowen, and the Centennial Oak, a fiourishing tree still. was planted. In 1877, there was again a large as- semblage, with professors, ministers and the governor of Connecticut pre- sent. Addresses ranged all the way from "Our Country, Our Duty" by Governor Chamberlain, 'and "The Mexican Danger" by Hon. James G. Blaine, guest of honor of the day, to 'Temperance," and t'The Sabbath School and the Republic" by two ministers.
 The year 1878 saw the usual ob-