(lass Fl^ i)k ■I115I3 I'HKSKXTHl) liY %t Mutm €^t}tttmxml l^rport of the ^a(ltr.$,sic,s antt ^yorccdinpsi at the C^lcUtvation on Dana Common on the (JTwcnty- isccond (lay of ^uflu.st Dinctcen llunrtrctl (Dne. §am, (glass.: Irs. Itnnit C Spoontr, 3Uum ^ook anb |ob printer. Gin i,,Cc/, '^^'^ tiON 131907 COJS^ TENTS. PAGE Eesolutions and Arrangements, 1 Programme, 4 Introductory Remarks by Col. T. S. Johnson, .... 6 Historical Sketch by Hon. N. L. Johnson, 8 Oration by Eichard H. Dana, Esq., 43 Ode by Francis Dana, Esq., 72 Address by George W. Horr, Esq., Athol, 74 Address by James W. Brooks, Esq., Petersham, . . 83 Address by Mr. Frederick T. Coraee, 88 Address by Rev. Harlan Page, Hardwick, 93 Address by Hon. George K. Tufts, New Braintree, 95 Address by Rev. T. C. Martin, Warren, 98 Address by Charles R. Johnson, Esq., Worcester, . 102 RESOLUTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS. /'■^Tl T THE annual town meeting held in Good (OyV Templars' Hall at North Dana, on the fifth ^^>J \^^ day of March, 1900, the following- article appeared in the warrant : Article 20 : — To see if the town will take action in relation to celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, and raise money for the same. N. L. Johnson offered the following resolution : liesolver], That it is the sense of the voters of this town, in town meeting assembled, that the one hun- dredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town should be observed by a celebration suited to so important an occasion at such time in the year 1901 as a committee to be chosen may appoint. This resolution was adopted and N. L. Johnson, Charles N. Doane and William J. Crawford were chosen a committee to carry it into effect. N. L. Johnson was chosen corresponding secretary. In the warrant calling the annual town ineeting to be held on the fourth day of March, 1901, the four- teenth article read as follows : I DANA CENTENNIAL. "To see if the town will raise a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of a centennial celebra- tion to be held the j^resent year ; to fix a time for holding' the same, and to choose the necessary officers, or a committee who sha-l'have the g'eneral manage- ment aud conduct of carrying into effect such cele- bration, or to act on any matters in relation thereto." At the annual town meeting held on the fourth day of March, 19U1, it was voted "that the sum of live hundred dollars be raised and appro})riated to defray the expenses of a centennial celebration of the incor- poration of this town on some day during the present year." There were fifty-three votes in the affirmative, and one in the negatiA^e. On motion of N. L. Johnson, the chair appointed a committee of seven gentlemen to nominate a perma- neiit executive committee of nine to make arrange- ments for the celebration, and to fix the time and place for holding the same, and to have the general management and conduct of the celebration and report to the town. The following gentlemen were reported by the nominating committee to constitute the permanent executive committee, to wit : N. L. Johnson, Charles N. Doane, David L. Richards, Theodore S. Johnson, Frank D. Stevens, Joseph French Johnson, Frank S. Grover, Charles R. John- sou and AYi.liam J. Crawford. Thev were imani- RESOLUTIONS AN'D ARRANGEMENTS. d mously elected, and Thursday, the tweuty-secoud day of August, was iixed by the executive committee as the time for holding the celebration, and the place Dana Common. Agreeably to the foregoing resolution and arrange- ments, the people of Dana celebrated the one hun- dredth birthday of their town on Dana Common on the twenty-second day of August, 1001. The weather was proi^itious, and the celebration in all respects successful. Several tents were erected on the Com- mon and the houses in the village were handsomely decorated. The literary exercises were held in a large tent near the town house. At one o'clock a luncheon was served in this tent. At the Eagle House and in an adjoining tent dinner was served to those who desired l:>y Landlord Grover. It is estimated that at least two thousand persons were present, of whom many came from other states. Excellent music throughout the day Avas furnished by the North Dana Band. The exercises began at 10.80 a. m., Col. T. S. Johnson of "Worcester presiding. 4 DANA CENTENNIAL. The order of exercises was as follows : MOENING EXERCISES. MUSIC, Concert by the Band. PRAYER, By Rev. Harlan Page. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, By Col. T. S. Johnson. ADDRESS OF WELCOME AND HISTORICAL SKETCH, By Hon. N. L. Johnson. HYMN TUNE, OLD HUNDRED. Great God of nations, now to thee Our hymn of gratitude we raise. With humble heart and bending knee, We offer thee our song of praise. Thy name we bless, Almighty God, For all the kindness thou hast shown To this fair land the jjilgTims trod. This land we fondly call our own. Here Freedom spreads her banner wide. And casts her soft and hallowed ray ; Here thou our fathers' stejDs didst guide In safety through theii' dangerous way. PROGRAMME. O We praise tliee, that the gospel's Hght Through all our land its radiance sheds ; Dispels the shades of error's night, And heavenly blessings round us spreads. Great God, preserve us in thy tear ; In dangers stUl oru* guardian be ; Oh sjjread thy truths bnglit precepts here, Let all the people worship thee. OEATIOX, By Eichard H. Dana, Esq., of Cambridge. ODE. Written by Francis, Dana, Esq., of New York. Read l>v Miss Emma Grover of Dana. AFTERNOON EXERCISES. Address by George W. Horr, Esq., Athol. James W. Brooks, Esq., Petersham. Frederick T. Comee, Esq., Woonsocket, R. I. Rev. Harlax Page, Hardwick. Hon. Geo. K. Tufts, New Braintree. Rev. T. C. Martin, Warren. Charles R. Johnson, Esq., Worcester. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS By Col. T. S. Johnson. Sons and Daughters of Dana, Ladies and Gentle- men : — We have gathered here to commemorate a birthday. A hundred years have passed since Dana entered upon her corporate existence and took her place as the youngest of forty-nine sister towns, then comprising the county of Worcester. A century old now, but still a comely matron, — she is on this sum- mer morning arrayed in holiday attire and has bidden her children home. How her summons has been ansAvered this grand assemblage testifies. From near and far, unmindful of threatening storm, we have come in gladness to proffer our congratulations and to rejoice with her that she has reached a venerable age, while retaining so much of the freshness and vigor and beauty of youth. Charming she is, and charming to us she will ever be. Everyone of her hills and valleys is dear to some of us, — there is no foot of her soil that does not glow with bright memo- ries to some of us, — her very name is music to all our ears. Of her numerous family a large number have wan- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. ( dered beyond her little territory and in the great world outside have done, and are doing, their work in life ; others have remained at the old home and here have made enviable records and gained rewards which are the fruit of industry and honest, intelligent, well directed effort. Of such is a loyal and distinguished son, avIio for more than fifty years has filled a prominent place in this community. Of rare business ability and skill, of sterling character, his reputation and influence long ago widened far beyond the borders of his town and county. Called into the employment of the state and returned again and again, he has served his district and the Commonwealth with talent, fidelity and zeal. His affection for his birthplace has been strong, constant and enduring. No assurance of more extended social acquaintance and enjoyment, no opportunity for financial i^rofit, no desire for fame has been sufficient to allure him to another dwelling- place. Here, at the home of his childhood, his youth and his manhood, he still abides. It is he who will meet us, as it were, at our dear old mother's open gate, on this her joyful anniversary, and in her name give us welcome greeting. I take great pleasure in introducing the President of the day, the Hon. N. L. Johnson. HISTORICAL SKETCH By Hon. N. L. Johxson. Ladies axd Gextlemen : — We are gathered here on no ordinary occasion. None of us will again par- ticipate here in another Hke it. We often greet onr friends with joyous congratulations upon the recur- rence of their birthdays, and in some manner celebrate those of our own, but we now ce^.ebrate the one hun- dredth birthday of a municipality, a corporation con- sisting of indiyiduals and their successors associated as one person for mutual interest. Three generations or more haye come and gone since our ancestors united their j^ersonal, local and municipal interests and organized this town, and the town still liyes, and perhaps is more alive than ever before. Individuals die, but society is so interwoven with and overlapj^ed by succeeding generations that it is self-perpetuating and never dies. None of those who joined in con- structing this municipality are with us in person. They have gone to their reward. We occupy their places and have entered upon their heritage. The burdens and responsibilities of its preservation and HISTORICAL SKETCH. 9 prosperity have descended from them aud rest upou the present generation. It seems littiug- that we, theu- successors, should call to remembrance the work of our ancestors who labored under conditions differ- ent from our own to plant institutions not to be long enjoyed by themselves, but for theii- posterity aud oiu-s. Perhaps for the reason that I am one of the oldest male native citizens of the town, if not the oldest living, it is made my duty, as it is a privilege, in behalf of the town to welcome not only its natives, but all former residents, those whose ancestors were natives, those who have found homes here, and all others who sympathize with us, to the enjoyment of the festivities of this occasion. And especially do we welcome our neighbors from the parent towns, a part of whose territory and inhabitants formed ours. Here to-day let us greet our friends, renew suspended acquaintances, and recall the pleasant memories of our youth and earlier days. It is not my purpose at this time to attempt to give a detailed history of the town. Time will not permit. Nor should I invade the ground of our honored orator. I shall endeavor to notice briefly matters of interest, with which some of the present inhabitants may not be familiar. I need not sav that this is one of the smallest. 10 -DAN\ CENTENNIAL. newest, and most unpretentious towns in Worcester county. Its history is not sufficiently important and conspicuous to attract to any large extent public interest or notice. Its history is somewhat obscure, and belongs in part to that of the towns from which it was taken. Why did the people upon this territory desire to be incorporated and made a town? Why was its name made Dana, and why was this place made the centre ? It is certain that there was a small settlement, a nucleus of a village, — a few dwellings, a store, a tav- ern, a blacksmith's shop, a potash manufactory, and perhaps a tannery near where this tent now stands, — many years before the incorporation of the town. I well remember hearing my honored grandfather speak of ]Major Joel Amsden, as the keeper of a tavern which stood upon the site of the present hotel here before the existence of the town. To this village those liv- ing in the vicinity came for their store supplies, here they met on social occasions, here justice courts were held, here they often assembled for public worship. These social ties and business relations brought these neighbors into special mutual sympathy, so that there grew up a sort of incipient commonwealth. The town centres to which they belonged were many miles dis- tant, with poor and hilly roads. Ox carts were the HISTORICAL SKETCH. 11 principal means of conveyance of freig^lit and persons, horse wagons at that time being scarcely known. The law requu-ed the payment of a ministerial or parish tax, and, I think, made attendance upon public worship a certain number of days a year obligatory. These requirements caused discontent and on account of the isolated condition of the people seemed almost oppressive. On June 9th, 1708, Stephen Johnson, Benjamin Woodward, Joseph Doubleday, Ebenezer Whittemore, Joel Amsden, Jeremiah Sil)ley, Abijah Sibley, Thomas Stimpson, Calvin Bryant, Jacob AVhipple, Jonathan Parkhurst and some others, inhabitants of Hardwick ; Thomas Amsden, Nathan Smith, Noah Doaue, John Partridge, Solomon Woodward and William Bancroft, inhabitants of Petersham in the County of AVorcester, and John Towne, Jr., Sanuiel Liscomb, Jonathan Bab- bitt, Thaddeus Russell and others, inhal)itants of Greenwich, in the County of Hampshire, petitioned the General Court to be set off, with their estates, and made a new town. I distinctly remember many of the petitioners. They set forth in their petition that they were inconveniently situated, that long distances separated them from their respective town centres where town business was dcme, where records were kept, and where they must do military duty ; that 12 DANA CENTENNIAL. they had to travel great distances to meeting-houses, schools, etc., on hilly roads ; and that their business was chiefly done at this place. No name seems to have been decided upon for the new town. This petition was presented and referred to the senate committee on the incorporation of towns on the twenty-first day of June, 1798, and concurred in by the house. Samuel Phillips was president of the senate, and Edward H. Robbins sjDeaker of the house. It appears from the record that it was not all smooth sailing for these petitioners. Many within the limits of the proposed new town opj^osed its creation, and several remonstrances were presented to the General Court. The chief reason given for opijosition was the fear that taxes would be increased for building a meeting-house, new roads, etc. One remonstrance, dated May 6, 1799, nearly a year after the presentation of the j^etition, was signed by Samuel Morse, Stephen King, Jairus Williams, Caleb Cham- berlain, George Hatstat and Elisha Sibley. There were several other remonstrances by inhabitants upon the territory which belonged to Petersham. During the session of the General Court of 1800, several petitions were jn-esented to the legislature signed by former remonstrants, praying to be in- HISTORICAL SKETCH. 13 eluded with their estates within the Hmits of the new town. They stated in their petition that they had remonstrated, but that upon more mature considera- tion of the matter they had become convinced that it would be for their interest that the new town be in- corporated, and they desired to be included. One of these petitions was dated in June, 1800, and signed by Stephen King, William Bancroft, Bazelial Amsden and Elisha Sibley. Another was presented about the same time, made by Seth Williams of Petersham, desiring to be included with his estate in the new town. A Uttle later David Stowell petitioned, and on January 26th, 1801, Samuel Morse, Jairus Williams and Bazelial Amsden of Petersham petitioned to be included, with theii- estates. All of these petitioners had j)reviou8ly remonstrated. Soon afterward a peti- tion signed by all the remonstrants was presented. All the petitions and remonstrances were referred to the committee on towns, and finally on the 18th of February, 1801, the act incorporating the town of Dana was passed and approved by Governor Caleb Strong. The last section of the act provides "that Daniel Bigelow, Esquii-e, of Petersham, be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue a warrant directed to some suitable inhabitant of said town of Dana, requii-ing him to notify the inhabitants thereof to meet at such 14 DANA CENTENNIAL. time and place as sliall be appointed in said warrant, for the election of all snch officers as towns are en- titled to choose in the months of March or Ajjril, annually." As to the name of the town, why it was named Dana is not entirely clear. I have been unable to find anything in the archives of the town, or at the secretary of state's office, which throws any lig-ht upon it. It has been supposed or assumed that Judge Francis Dana assisted the petitioners in obtaining favorable legislation, but of this no evidence seems to exist. He was not in a position to do so, being then chief justice of the supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, which position he had held many years, and such action Avould be inconsistent, at least, with the dignity of his position. The writer remembers many incidents of the early history of the town, as related by his honored grand- father, who was a contemporary and i^articiiiated in these proceedings, and was a petitioner for the incor- poration of the town, and also as related by his father, then quite young. Judge Dana was one of the ablest and most distinguished men of the state or nation. He had held some of the most ini2)ortant offices and jjositions of trust in the state, and under the federal government, such as congressman, min- HISTOraCAL SKETCH. 15 ister to foreign countries, etc., and at that time was chief justice of the supreme judicial court of Mas- sachusetts. He was extreiuely popular with the federalists, and his name was urged h\ uiembers of that party as the name of the town. This was dis- tasteful to some of the democrats, who desired the name of some distinguished ]nan of their party. Much discussion was indulged iu, in puljlic and private. AVhat is singular and inexplicable about it is the fact that Dana was chosen as the name of the town, while Judge Dana was a federalist, and the town was democratic by at least three to one, as shown l)y the record of votes Jit that time, and for njany years thereafter. From this it must be assumed that Judge Dana was held in high esteem by both political parties in the tov»-n. 8ince then eight other nuinicipalities in the United States have adopted that name, to wit : One each in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, IoA\a, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Wyom- ing. What led to the adoption of this name by those distant places is unknown, but for the jiurpose of this occasion we will assume that iu some way or other a knowledge of this place had reached them, and that they determined to wisely follow a distinguished examjile. The record sars : " The inhal^itants of the town of IG DANA CENTENMIAL, Daua, at a legal town meeting- held in said town on Tuesday, the seventeenth day of March, 1801, Daniel Bigelow, Esquire, of Petersham, appeared agreeably to the act of incorporation of said town and opened the meeting according to legal warning. Voted and chose Jacob WhijDple, moderator. Voted and chose Joel Arasden, town clerk. Voted and chose Stej^hen Johnson, Bazeliel Amsden and Jacob Whii:)i)le, select- men. Voted and chose John Town, Jr., Joseph Hen- dricks, Nathan Smith, and Thomas Tamplin, assessors, with all the other various town officers, among them Elkanah Haskius, and Philip Covill ty thing men." This meeting was adjourned to April Gth. The sum of $175 was raised for the support of schools, to be divided among the several school districts, one-half by the number of pupils, and one-half by the value of their estates. A committee was chosen to divide the town into school districts, Avhich afterwards re- ported, and five districts were made. It was voted to allow swine to run at large if yoked and rung, and horses if fettered. There are many town orders to be found among the early records. To show the changes which have been made, I will name a few of them : One to pay Lydia Chamberlain for teaching school in district No. five (North Daua), eight weeks, at five and sixjience HISTORICAL SKETCH. 17 j)er week, S7.34 ; one to pay Samuel Smith for board- ing school teacher eight weeks, at five shillings j^er week (this was in 1815) ; one to Nathaniel Williams for boarding school teacher eight weeks, at eighty cents per w^eek, in 1814 ; one to pay Sally Stimpson for keeping school in the fourth district, eight weeks, at five shillings per week, $6.G7. There was also an order to pay Ephraim Whipple for a pair of shoes furnished to Eunice Pratt, a pauj^er. It is believed that this is the celebrated Mrs. Pratt, who was kidnapped or carried off many years before by Indians into Canada, and held in captivity several years. She finally succeeded in gaining her freedom under the most trying circum- stances, after endimng great hardship, and found her way to this place, where she died at a very advanced age. I have not before me a comj^lete history of the life and experiences of this remarkable woman. When I was a boy she was the subject of a household story.* I found an order on the treasurer to pay Elkanah Haskins $1.33 for two days' work at making cart- ridges for "Regimental muster; " one to pay Stejjhen *A more detalleil account of this woman and lier sufferings and experiences may be found in the history of this town, written by George W. Horr, E^iquire, and published in the history of M'orces- ter County in 1879, to which 1 acknowledge my indebtedness for many items of interest in the preparation of this sketch. 2 18 DANA CENTENNIAL. Johuson for wood furnished a schoolhouse at uiuety- eight cents per cord ; one to pay Elkanah Haskins for boarding the school mistress at fifty cents per week ; one to Clarissa Gallond for teaching school at five and sixpence jyer week (this was in 1820). Jacob Ams- den was jmid $1.95 for the privilege of collecting taxes for 1804. The collecting of the taxes was for many years after this put up at auction with the office of constable at town meeting, and from four to fifteen dollars was paid for the office. In these early times only those could vote who were twenty-one years of age or upward, and had a freehold estate in the Com- monwealth of the annual income of three pounds, or an estate to the value of sixty pounds. Town meetings were generally held in the meeting- house, but sometimes were held in the house now owned by Mr. Murray Flagg, which was then a tav- ern; sometimes in the old tavern hall kept by one Day, and by Major Amsden ; also in the Woods house on the plain, and sometimes in the house now owned by EoUiu N. Doubleday, then called the Hendricks 23lace. In 1819, at a town meeting held at the house of Justus Woods, there was an article in the warrant to see if the town would provide a workhouse, meaning, I suppose, what we now call an almshouse. It was HISTORICAL SKETCH. 19 rejected. At this meeting it was voted to provide soldiers with powder and ball for May traiuiug. A committee was chosen to draw a plan for a bridge, and to superintend its building near the factory frame. It seems that as long ago as 1819 the matter of asking for an accession to the town's territory on the east was agitated. In that year this article was in the town warrant : "To see if the town will accept of certain inhabit- ants from Petersham and Hardwick, and fix the centre at the meeting-house." It was the custom in those days for towns to own a meeting-house, and support the preaching of the gospel. The house, being owned by the town, was also used for town purj^oses, town meetings being held in it. It was generally the only place in town in which to hold any public meetings or assemblies. The place chosen was generally as near the geo- graphical center as possible, and it became the real business center. In the early history of the town, this village (Dana Center) was the only place of business in the town, the only place which contained any public buildings. Here stood the old Baptist meeting-house (which wHl be noticed later), here was a store, a tavern, a tan- nery, a blacksmith's shop, a potash manufactory. It 20 DANA CENTENNIAL. became the real center for jDractical purposes, although almost at the extreme eastern part of the town. There existed from the first a feeling that the pub- lic buildings should be located nearer the geographi- cal centre of the town, and that a meeting-house, — and if practicable a town house, — should be erected, and had it not been that the old Baptist structure stood here, probably a meeting-house would have been built by the town at an early day. Many times an article aj^peared in the warrants for toAvn meetings, to see if the town would build a meeting-house. On more than one occasion committees were chosen by the town to fix a location for a meeting-house, and sometimes a site for a town house. Either the places reported by the committees were unsatisfactory, or the town felt too poor to build when no pressing necessity existed. In 1817 the town chose a com- mittee to see what the meeting-house could be j)ur- chased for. The committee reported that some of the proprietors would not relinquish their rights in the house for any consideration whatever. In 1818 it was voted in town meeting to build a town house near the geographical centre of the town, and a com- mittee was chosen to fix a location. The committee recommended a place not far from the Woods house as the most central and desu'able. This report the HISTORICAL SKETCH. 21 town rejected, and the vote to build a town house was rescinded. The old meeting-house was an apology for one, and Avas made to answer the purj^ose. If too cold, as there were no conveniences for heating it, the tavern hall was resorted to, where the voters were warmly welcomed and received ardent hospitality. The old Skinner hill has stood as a barrier between the northerly and southerly sections of the town, and has in a large degree prevented that free communi- cation and transit which otherwise wovild doubtless have existed ; this has been detrimental to the town's harmony and prosperity. Inasmuch as the eternal hills could not be removed, it has been, as it were, a great "gulf fixed," so that they who would could not pass without surmounting difficulties. Although a large accession of territory and inhabitants were acquired by the town in 1842, which strengthened it materially on the east and south, this did not establish harmony. For many years there were dissensions, contentions, and sectional strife in town meetings, and in public affairs generally, the two sections long being about equally divided in voting strength ; but since the railroad was built through the north village, busi- ness there has constantly increased under vigorous and enterprising management, so that its ascendency seems now to be assured. 22 DANA CENTENNIAL. The subject of the division of "Worcester County, which has been agitated in recent years, seems to have had an ancient origin. In 1802 Stephen John- son was chosen by the town a delegate to attend a convention to be held in Gardner " for the purpose of CDnsulting upon the matter of the division of Wor- cester county." A petition, dated the twelfth day of February, 1839, made by Silas Johnson, Silas N. Johnson, Ste- phen Hillman, George Hatstat, Silas Flagg, F. S. Rogers, Thomas Haskins, Thomas Aldrich, Zemira F. Shumway, Nathaniel Brimhall, William Smith, Perez Chipman, Thomas W. Comee, Silas J. Carter and Asa Hoyt, being inhabitants of Petersham and Hardwick, praying to be annexed to Dana. They stated as their reason their proximity to Dana Center, where the town business was transacted, their great distance from schools, from their own town centres, etc. This petition was presented to the legislature by Italy Foster, an influential citizen, and a representative to the General Court from this town. This was stub- bornly opposed by Petersham, and many legislative hearings were held. The writer vividly remembers the sitting of a legislative sub-committee in the old tavern hall here, which heard the petitioners and remonstrants, Petersham being represented by the HISTORICAL SKETCH. 23 late Col. Jared Weed, an honored citizen of that town and well known throughout the county, who discharged the duties of his liosition with great ability. The act annexing certain tei-ritory and inhabitants of Petersham and Hardwick, to Dana, was approved February 4, 1842. A town meeting was held in December, 1840, to see if the town would receive certain territory and inhabitants of Prescott, upon petition of Stephen Powers and others. The vote was declared to be unanimously in the affirmative. It was, however, rejected by the legislature. Many years before the incorporation of this town there was a meeting-house, which has before been alluded to, standing in the south part of Petersham, in or near what is now known as Nichewaug. It was used by the Baptists as a place of worship. This edifice is said to have been taken from the west part of that town at some former time. Some of the members of this Baptist church lived in that part of Petersham which, by the creation of the new town, subsequently became a part of Dana. This church edifice was moved to this village, and stood a few rods westerly from the present town house. This happened many years before the creation of this town, but its exact date cannot now be fixed. When 24 DANA CENTENNIAL. this change took place, the structiu'e was purchased by individuals called proprietors, and it continued to be used by the Baptists after its removal, many or all of its former members continuing their membership in the changed location. Soon afterward the strength of the denomination here began to wane, and other denominations were allowed to use the house occa- sionally. A story used to be told in this connection. Delegates from other Baptist churches were to meet here upon a certain day. A venerable member, after the Sunday service, announced the }neeting and said : "The alligators will dine at my house." I have a veiy clear remembrance of many of the members who resided here, and of some of those in Petersham. It may not be improjier or uninteresting to recall the names of a few of those whom I once knew. Prob- ably there are others present who knew them. There were Elkanah Rogers, Jonathan Parkhiu'st, Abijah Sibley, Calvin Bryant, Benjamin Skinner, George Bosworth, and one Deacon Peckham — all excellent men. Here in this house, the migrations of which I have described, the celebrated Hosea Ballovi first began to proclaim the doctrines of universal salvation. His biographer says he was a settled minister in Dana from 1794 to 1802. He came to this place to teach HISTORICAL SKETCH. 25 school, and liere began his clerical labors in connec- tion with school teaching. This house was often used by the town. Town meetings were often held in it for many years. Probably this was the jmucipal reason why the town never built a meeting-house ; no necessity requii-ed it. The Baptist organization finally became extinct. Its members scattered, some going to Petersham, and some to the south jjart of Hardwick, and per- haps to other j)laces, for religious facilities. It seems that the town did maintain religious wor- shijj. The records show that Elder Jacob Whipple, the father of Ei3hraim Whipple, Esquii-e, whom many here probably well remember, was hired by the town, mone}' being approjiriated for his salary. On one occasion a committee was aj^pointed in town meeting to confer with Elder Whipple as to his salary, which afterward reported that he would preach that year without expense to the town, and depend entirely upon the chanty of the people for compensation. Elder Burt of Hardwick was sometimes hired. In 1821 Elder Pease was installed as pastor by the town, and preached here two years or more. He was a very zealous man, had many adherents, and was successful. One Grossman preceded Elder Pease. He was an enthusiastic man, and preached the doc- 26 DANA CENTENNIAL. trines of a sect calling themselves Christians. He continued to jsreach in this vicinity about two years, and made many converts. After he left most of his adherents scattered and joined other religious organ- izations. I very well remember some of his early converts. In 1823 money was raised by the town for the preaching of the gosj^el, but it was to be divided among the different denominations, and persons rep- resenting the different sects were appointed to make the distribution. Thereafter the house was used by various denominations. The Keverend Joshua Flagg, John Willis, Gerard Bushnell, James Babbitt, Mas- sena Ballou and other Universalists, and Elder Jones and Elder Burt and other Baptists, have occupied the pulpit in the old meeting-house. In 1845 the town jDurchased the meeting-house of the heirs of the l^roj^rietors and moved it to its present location, and converted it into a town hall as it now stands a few rods east of this tent, some alterations having been made. In 1832, through the zeal and determined efforts of Deacon Abraham Haskell, a worthy citizen of Petersham, the Congregationalists of the south part of that .town, the west j)art of Barre, the north part of Hardwick, and of Dana, formed a society and built HISTORICAL SKETCH. 27 a house of worship in what was known as Storrsville, a small village about one mile east of Dana Centre, then part of Petersham, but in 1842 was annexed to Dana. It is said that the late Dr. Storrs of New Braintree was influential in estabHshing this church, and in jirocuring for it missionary aid. It had a continuous existence of about twenty years, when, for want of sufficient support, many of its members became scattered and it ceased to exist. The building was sold and taken to Brookfield for a shop. This church was presided over by several very excellent pastors, among whom were Kev. James C. Houghton and the Reverend John Keep. Mr. Keep had his home in this village about seventeen years, and was beloved as a pastor and citizen, having the principal care of the schools in town many years. About the time of the discontinuance of the Storrs- ville church in 1852, a Congregational church and society were organized in this place, and two years later the present church edifice was erected and fin- ished. Mr. Keep was installed as its pastor, and continued to labor here more than ten years. There being but few who were wilhng to engage in the enterprise of building this church edifice, it was done through the great efforts and sacrifices of a few citi- zens, one of whom was Mr. Theodore W. Johnson, late 28 DANA CENTENNIAL. of Worcester, then an honored and leading citizen of this town, who had held all the important offices of the town in a satisfactory manner. Silas N. Johnson, Nathaniel Johnson, Isaac Doane, Solomon Blackmer, Timothy Stone, James S. Brown and others gave substantial aid. In its early history there was no permanent place of jxiblic worship in the northerly part of this town, including the present growing village of North Dana, then quite thinly inhabited. Meetings were held by the Methodists in schoolhouses and often in dwell- ings. The Woods house on the plain was frequently resorted to as a place of worship. In or about 1840 a strong desire was felt by the inhabitants in that vicinity that a more jDermanent and convenient place of public worship should be furnished. No one sect or denomination alone being able to build and sup- port a church, the inhabitants in that vicinity — those having any or no religious j^roclivities, as well as pro- fessors of religion, — became interested, and for the public good contributed to its building. Mr. Elias Stone, a jjrominent citizen of that part of the town, and one of the largest land owners in the town, was perhaps the most liberal contributor, although not a member oi any church. He was the father of the late Daniel Stone, Esquire, who was until his death a HISTORICAL SKETCH. 29 pillar in the Methodist church there, and a worthy and influential citizen, twice a representative to the General Court from this town. The meeting-house being built and owned by per- sons having various religiotis faiths (pew-holders con- trolling), each had his natural and legal rights to its use. Experience has abundantly shown that this kind of union is not an unmixed blessing, and this instance has been no exception to the rule. The Methodists had an organization and were the most numerous, still they shared with the Universal- ists in the use of the house for many years. In other than church matters this would ajipear like setting up pins to be knocked down. This state of things continued with varying success until 1899, when the Methodists piu'chased the interest of the other pro- prietors, or pew owners, made thorough repau's upon the edifice, and now the Methodist church is in suc- cessful oiDeration. The Universal ists, although not continuously supi>orting regular religious services, have from the earliest history of the town's existence had some sort of organization, with some interrup- tions or susioensions. In 1898 that society buUt a beautiful and commodious church- edifice in the vil- lage of North Dana, in which public worship is being regularly maintained and the society is now in a pros- 30 DANA CENTENNIAL. perous condition. It will be seen that the jDCOj^le of this town, although they may not be distinguished for their piety, are abundantly supplied with ecclesiasti- cal and religious facilities. With a little less than 800 inhabitants, there are three organized churches in active operation. This was almost exclusively a farming town, and agriculture still continues to employ the labor of a large proportion of the inhabitants. Much of the soil is light, and has become so exhausted as to make its cultivation uni-emunerative, and is abandoned for that purpose. For more than sixty years this process of abandonment has been going on, until forests abound. Much of the land once cultivated has grown to j^ine and other timber, so that a thriving business has been done in lumber during the last twenty years. This is also true of the adjoining towns. This state of things has led to the decadence of rural towns, better oppor- tunities being offered to the young in the fertile Avest and in manufacturing centres. At a very early period in the history of this town, and probably long before its birth, potash was made from ashes near this place, cider was distilled and cider brandy (which probably found a ready market) was made within a few rods of where we now are, by Apollos Johnson, in the early part of the last century. Tanning and currying was HISTORICAL i-KETCH. 31 carried ou by Warreu White, afterwards by Italy Foster and Apollos Johiisou in counectiou with pocket-book making. From 18(50 to 1872 palm leaf Shaker hoods were made in this place, several hundred hands being em- ployed in weaving the palm leaf and making it into hoods. Wagon making was at one time carried on in the east part of the town. About seventy years ago palm leaf was introduced into this and adjacent towns, and finally spread into the western part of the state, and into Verinout and New Hampshire. It was made into hats here. This furnished remunerative employ- ment for a large part of the women and children in braiding them at their homes in this and neighboring- towns for more than iifty years, and the business is still carried on to quite a large extent by The H. W. Goodman Co. at North Dana. For many years there were probably sixty thousand dollars' worth of palm leaf hats put into the market in a finished state, yearly, from this town, and at one time Shaker hoods were made from palm leaf in this town of at least an equal amount. Since about 1880 the imlni leaf busi- ness has declined. Straw braid, imported chieiiy from China, and made into hats at a much lower price than they can be made from palm leaf, has to a large extent supplanted the palm leaf business. In 1855 a large 32 DAN\ CENTENNIAL. steam mill was built in this village, and occupied by Z. W. and J. S. Brown for making pails, sawing lum- ber and grinding grain. It was destroyed hj fire about six years later and was a total loss, being unin- sured. Owing to the want of means of transjiortation by railroad, and other facilities, business in this j^art of the town (the east) is confined to local trade. Tradition says that in about 1812 Thomas Stimpson built a sawmill on the west side of Swift river at what is now North Dana, in which business was done sev- eral years, and vipon the east side of the river he erected a frame for a large factory building. Being somewhat optimistic, he expected some manufacturer, or wealthy company, would utilize the water power and plant a large business there. The damaging effect on business caused by the war with Great Britain was so great that no capital responded as he had hoped. This frame stood many years and finally rotted down. It was sometimes called " Stimpson's folly." Mr. Stimpson was an enterprising man, and it seems he had prophetic visions, but owing to his excessive optimism he was too "j)revious." In a little inore than a quarter of a century later the thrifty village of North Dana was planted here. About 1830 Daniel Stone, before mentioned, became HISTORICAL SKETCH. ' 33. the owner of this water privilege, rebuilt the old saw- mill, and built a grist mill upon the east side of the river, upon or near the site of Mr. Stimpson's factory frame, secured flowage rights, and carried on business there until about 1840, when he sold his mill and water privilege to Warren Hale and Allen Goodman, who had invented machinery and obtained a patent right for turning u-regular forms. With their im- j)roved and labor-saving machinery they manufac- tured pianaforte legs with gi-eat success. These legs were made and veneered at their factory, transported by teams to Palmer and consigned to parties in dis- tant cities. This business was continued until about 1873. Many changes were made during its continu- ance, by the admission of new partners and the erec- tion of new buildings. The business of making picture frames was at one time added. In 185G their principal factory Avas burnt. The following year a more commodious building was erected and equipped with improved machinery, invented chiefly by Mr. Allen Goodman. In or about 1850 Mr. Warren Hale withdrew his interest and established a business in Philadelphia, which he j^rosecuted until his death a few years ago. He left two sons, who are now in active business in that city. North Dana was visited four times with disastrous fires within about twenty 34 DANA CENTENNIAL. years, each one destroying some valuable factory build- ings, and much stock, machinery, and other personal property, but in every instance they were rebuilt. About 1880 Lorenzo Hale, Allen W. Goodman, and one Schofield converted one of these factory build- ings into a satinet manufactory and continued that business a short time. In or about 1896 this property was jjurchased by Crawford and Tyler, who have vigorous^.y and very successfully carried on the busi- ness of manufacturing cloth to the present time, emj)loying thirty or more hands. About ten years ago Henry W. Goodman & Co., who had been several years engaged in manufactur- ing palm leaf hats, supplemented that business by the manufacture of straw braid hats, erecting new build- ings and putting in new machinery. The business grew steadily, and in 1898 a corporation was formed under the name and style of The H. W. Goodman Co., which is doing a large and successful business, employing one hundred and forty hands. About ten years ago John Stowell established the business of manufacturing boxes, and built a factory near the railroad depot. He continued the industry until about two years ago, when Mr. George Blodgett purchased the plant. The business now employs thirty or more men. HISTORICAL SKETCH. 35 In 187G a lai"ge buildiuf^- was erected by the Good Temijlars near the de^Dot at North Dana, which is not only used by that organization, but also for various 23ublic purj^oses, sometimes by the town for town meetings, sometimes by the Gartield lodge of Grangers, and for other public meetings. Within the last twenty years the Mount Ell Hotel and twenty-seven dwellings have been built at North Dana, and many improvements and additions to fac- tories have been there made. The railroad which j^asses through North Dana was completed in 1873 and has since been an important factor in its growth. A plant for lighting the village by electricity was established in 189G. Pautapaug 2>oud, a large and beautiful sheet of water, less than one and a half miles south of this 2)lace (Dana Centre), has from the time the memory of man runneth not to the contrary been more or less a resort for fishermen and j^leasure seekers. TJj^on the east side of this j^ond, or lake, and near the home- stead of the late Silas Johnson (one of the oldest settlers ujjon the territory now Dana, w^hose home- stead was occujiied by his descendants for three generations, and some of the fifth generation de- scended from him are with us to-day.) there is a beautiful grove containing sixty acres, now owned by 36 DANA CENTENNIAL. Col. Theodore S. Johnson of Worcester, who belongs to the fourth generation from Silas, the original settler. He has recently improved and beautified this grove, erected upon it a commodious building, and constructed a wharf or landing for boats, etc., making it one of the most desirable resorts of the kind in this part of the state for fishing and pleasure. A short distance from the railroad depot at North Dana Mr. George E. Gleason has a pavillion situated upon a large pond or several connected ponds, extend- ing, it is said, nearly three miles, which is very pro- lific of fish of the various fresh water species. This has become cpiite a famous and very attractive resort not only for fishermen, but for picnic parties and jDleasure seekers generally. The inhabitants of the territory now Dana have always been a law abiding and patriotic people. There are good reasons to assume that they furnished their full quota of soldiers in the Revolutionary war, although reliable records cannot now be found, as that war -WAS fought before the birth of this town. It is, however, certain that Jonathan Parkhurst, John Towne, Stephen Johnson, Stephen Witt, Benjamin Richardson, Bazelieh Amsdeu, Rviggles Sj^ooner, Thomas Stimpson, Elijah Babbitt, Benjamin Skinner, and, I think, several others, did service in that war. HISTORICAL SKETCH. 37 Most of those named I personally remember, and I know that five of them, at least, were pensioners. Elisha Foster, wljo last dwelt upon Dana " Common," and is probably well remembered by many present, held a captain's commission and commanded a com- pany in the last war with Great Britain. Asa Hoyt was a pensioner for service in that war. Joseph Simonds also did service, and there were several others. It is said that Daniel Shays, the leader of the re- bellion in this state in 1786-1787, camped with his army about one-quai'ter of a mile west of this place (Dana Centre). However that may be, he must have passed through it on his route from Springfield to Petersham, where his army was routed by Greneral Lincoln and many prisoners taken. An incident was related in this connection. "When, many years after the Revolution, soldiers began to make application for pensions, it was said that Elisha Silbey presented his claim for a pension. When asked who the colonel of his regiment was, he hesitated, but finally said, as he remembered it, "It was Shays." It is not known that he succeeded. This town furnished eighty-eight men for the War of the Eebellion, thii-teen more than its fuU quota, and thii'teen citizens of Dana were eni'olled in the 38 DANA CENTENNIAL. army credited to other j^laces. Of those eighty-eight men who went into active service, four were kiUed, and fourteen died of disease or wounds while on duty. The town's war expenses were about $9000. The town is now free from debt. In 1860 there were 824 inhabitants in the town. From causes which brought about the depletion or decadence of most of the rural towns in the central and western part of the state, it fell to 695 in 1890. By the last census there are now 790, showing an increase of about fifteen j^er cent during the last decade. This town has raised many good, true and useful men. Some bave gone from it into cities and distant states, where they have occujiied and still are occu- jjying positions of trust and large responsibility. I have scarcely mentioned the living ; their history is not i^erfected and cannot be written. As to the moral standing of its inhabitants, it is safe to venture the opinion that in the general jiublic judgment it will not suffer in comparison with that of the inhabi- tants of other towns. I have found no record of any representative to the General Court from this town until 1810. Since that time twenty citizens have served in the lower branch of the Legislature, a number of them several times each, and one has served in the uj^per branch. I jjersonally remember HISTORICAL SKETCH. 39 all of them. In 1835 when Nathaniel Johnson was elected a representative, the record says, "It was voted that Nathaniel Johnson pay ten dollars into the town treasury instead of treating, as has been the custom." This custom was followed several years. Strange as it may now seem, rum, or other intoxicating hquors, was a common beverage here as everywhere down to about 1840, when temperance began to be agitated, and Washingtonian societies were formed. No man on any social or business occasion was regarded as treated with decent civility, unless rum or other liquor, was freely furnished ; and such was the standard of ethics at that time that the clergy, then more conspicuous leaders in society than now, were by no means exceptions in this respect. When I was a boy a clerg^mian of the Calvinistic persuasion, who resided more than ten miles distant, sometimes came to my father's house on Saturday to preach in the old meeting-house the next day. Im- mediately on his arrival the jug was examined, and if the quantity on hand was deemed insufficient to last during his visit, I was at once hastened to the store to replenish the stock. If it sometimes happened that the utterances from the pulpit were not so dis- tinct in the afternoon (after the parson had dined at the hotel or with some friend) as in the forenoon, or 40 DANA CENTENNIAL. if the impressions left upon the minds of the hearers were a Kttle confused, it was regarded as a mere acci- dent or incident liable at any time to occur, and was entirely overlooked. Since 1840 this has been what may be called a dry or temperance town. With a few exceptions in recent years, no licenses have been given for the sale of liquor for more than half a century. As we have seen, the opportunities for common school education were, in the early history of the town, of the most meager kind. Ten or fifteen weeks a year constituted the length of schools, generally with poorly equipped teachers when compared with those of the present time ; cold houses heated only by fireplaces wide enough to receive four foot wood ; boys often attending the six weeks' winter school until they had passed their minority. Now the town provides, nine months of public school for each pupil, transporting to and from school those who live at a long distance away, furnishing all the text books and the most modern appliances to the schoolrooms. The town, being too small to suj^port a high school, jjays the tuition of all who desire high school privileges in such schools in other towns. In 1892 a town library was established which now contains nearly two thou- sand volumes. HISTORICAL SKETCH. 41 111 view of the scanty facilities for common school education formerly supplied, it may be pertinently asked : Is there not danger that the modern system and practice of making the acquirement of knowledge or the rudiments of education so easy as to requu-e but very little mental effort, may tend to cultivate indolence, so that what is received will not be retained and cannot be applied, and mental dissipation and easy-going habits ensue? I cannot leave this sketch without departing from my purpose of not alluding directly to the living, but what I am about to say is of so extraordinary a char- acter that I may -be pardoned for the digression. Mr. David L. Richards, who has long been a worthy and much respected citizen of this town, and who is still in active service, has been forty times elected town clerk without opposition, and has forty con- secutive years served the town in that capacity with- out a breath of complaint ; and it may not be out of place here to say, that the "Captain" was the first to suggest the holding of this celebration, and has ren- dered efficient aid in its preparation. I have already taken too much of your time. I have not attempted to give a full history of the town, but only a mere sketch of some matters connecting the past with the present ; more than this time would 42 DANA CENTENNIAL. not permit, nor would courtesy to our orator allow. Fellow townsmen, let us not forget that we are the successors of our ancestors, or of those who have pre- ceded us. The responsibilities and burdens have fallen ujjon this generation. True patriotism begins at the home. We are told " If a man knows not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the Church of God?" No man can be a true patriot in any proper sense, if he has no regard and affection for his home, the place of his nativity or adoption. The character of any place is measured by the average character of the citizens composing it. It is not nvimbers alone that give a -town its character, nor always its importance. We are but a short link in the connected chain, the events of which we call history. Let us see to it that the mantle cast upon us goes to posterity untarnished and unimjiaired. ORATIOI^ By Richard H. Dana, Esq. Shakespeare makes Juliet say: — "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name woulil smell as sweet." Yet names, made of only a few common letters, liave the magic quality of containing- whole books full and whole human lives full of association, history, ideals, and insj^ii-ations for better or for worse. We all must have thought, for exami:»le, what a priceless treasure it is for the peoj^le of the United States to have for their national hero a man with such character for sound sense, perseverance, self-improvement, truth, unselfishness, uprightness, and nobility as Washing- ton, and how wise it has been to keep his name and character in mind by calling the capital of the country and some city in every State and some chief street in every city after him ; and, in contrast, how unfortu- nate it has been, for example, for the i)eoiDle of France to have for their national hero such an abnormal genius, so impossiljle to imitate, with such weaknesses in character so easy to copy, as Najioleon. 44 DANA CENTENNIAL. If there are such possibilities for good or bad in a name, let us see whence and why this town was named Dana. In a Worcester County history, pub- Hshed in 1879, it was said the town was named after Francis Dana, in recognition of his influence in secur- ing the act of incorporation. This act, like all acts of incorporation, was obtained from the State legisla- ture. At the date of the incorporation of this town, Francis Dana had not been a member of the State legislature or State council for over twenty years; moreover, he had been sixteen years one of the judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth, and was then, and had for ten years been, its Chief Justice. Both by the Constitution of Massachusetts and by well-established etiquette, it would not have been permissible for a judge of this court, still less for its Chief Justice, to use his influence on or even appear before the legislature in this way. His name does not appear ou the official paj^ers preserved in this case at the State House, and yet it is not improbable that there is just a little foundation for the tradition. He may very likely have given unofficially, and as an act of kindness, some advice to the representatives of the small community then seeking a charter, but per- haps hardly able to afford to pay the fees of legisla- ORATION. 45 tive counsel. Merely to have given some such small assistance would alone and of itself not be sufKcient ground for calling this town Dana. It is not cus- tomary — indeed it is never done, as far as I can learn — to christen a town after the attorney who has secured its charter. Perhaps, then, it may not he inappropriate for me to say something of this Francis Dana after whom this town is named. It may not be uninteresting to the inhabitants and theii- friends and relatives gath- ered here to-day at the centennial celebration to know something more about him, and to see if there is not something in his character and achievements to have caused and to justify the adoption of this name beyond some small aid in securing its charter, — something to be proud of, to be worthy of remembering, to be fitting to follow, or to be an inspiration to the inhabi- tants and their descendants after them. Francis Dana lived in stirring times, such as bring out the best that is in men and bring the best men out. He was born just before the middle of the cen- tury before last, in 1743, aliout the beginning of a French and English war on this continent, two years before the first romantic siege of Louisburg, and a few years before the first settlement in what is now Dana. He was fifteen years old at the second siege 4G DANA CENTENNIAL. of Louisburg-, and twenty at the close of another and most decisive French and English war in America. The first conflict between the British troops and the Boston citizens, called the "Boston Massacre," found him twenty-seven years of age, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he was thirty-two, the Declaration of Independence was signed when he was thirty-three, the Revolution was ended when he was thirty-nine, and the Constitution of the United States was adopted when he was forty-five. Thus he lived, as a bo}' and young man, through the wars with the French and Indians, and came of age at the beginning of that period of discussion, argument, and j^o-ifical and civil strife with the mother country which educated the people in the principles of self-government and the value of liberty, and prepared them for the Revolution; then, as a more mature man, through the long Revolution itself ; then, as a middle-aged man, through the six years which the late John Fiske has called the "critical period of American history," which followed the suc- cessful issue of the war and came before the ado^Dtion of the Constitution, — a j^eriod of unrest, unstable government, excitement, and turmoil, of conflict between license and law, anarchy and order, in no wise better exemplified than by Shays's Rebellion, the ORATION. 47 chief camp of vrhich was about half a mile southwest of Dana Common, where we are now gathered ; then through the construction period that followed and came out of this, in which the Constitutions of the United States and of the sei:)arate States were adopted, when law and order became established, and from which a long period of jjeace, liberty, and liros2:)erity ensued. During the period of prej^aration for the struggle for independence, the time of civil strife between the colonies, chiefly Massachusetts and the mother country, Francis Dana took no inconsiderable part for one so young. This was one of the most import- ant e2:)0chs in our history. "Were it not for a full discussion and thorough understanding of our rights and liberties and the principles on which they were founded, the public would easily have been misled into accej^ting the plausible concession of details, with the retention of real power over us, that Great Britain offered ; and the thirteen separate and weak colonies would never have become so united in thought and purpose as to have resisted the armed action of the then most jDowerful nation of the world. Not only was this period of discussion and education im- portant in our own history, but in the history of every free people since. In no one of the free colo- 48 DANA CENTENNIAL. nies of Great Britain to-day, neither in Canada, Australia, Gape Colony, nor New Zealand, does Eng- land for a moment try to enforce those obnoxious measures of restraints on trade, quartering troops on peaceful inhabitants, issuing search warrants, trials without jury, or taxation without rejjresentation, which were the causes for our complaint and resist- ance. In our own new possessions, too, if we do not grant full freedom and independence, yet we shall be forced, by the very principles which were established in those days before 1760 and 1775, to grant as large a share of self-government and to inflict as few restraints as is compatible with peace, order, and prosperity in those dejiendencies. Francis Dana had sj^ecial advantages and training for useful work in those days. His father, Kichard Dana, was a leader among the "Sons of Liberty." He frequently jDresided at the famous town meetings held at Faneuil hall and the Old South Meeting- house, and was often on committees with the Ad- amses, Otis, Quincy, Hancock, and Warren, prej^aring addresses to the j)atriots through the colonies and ajijieals to the king and Parliament on the other side of the ocean. He was a noted lawyer, sharing with Otis the acknowledged leadershij) of the Massachu- setts bar, and was professionally consulted by town 49 and State g-overuments as to their rights and power. He in 17(55 took the affidavit of Andrew Oliver, the stamp commissioner, not to enforce the stamp act ; and, holding, as he did, a commission of trial justice from the crown, he subjected himself to the penalties of treason. This Richard Dana, father of Francis, died in 1772, just three years before the outbreak of of hostilities, at the age of seventy-two. President Adams, in later days, speaks of him as one who, had he not been cut oft' by death, would have furnished one of the immortal names of the Revolution. Instructed and inspired by such a father, he had also the advantages, like that father, of a Harvard College education. For live years Francis Dana studied at the law in the office of his maternal imcle, Judge Edmund Trowbridge, a celebrated lawyer in the colonies, whom Chancellor Kent calls "the oracle of the old real law of Massachusetts." Francis came to the bar in 17G7, jvist at the height of the civil struggle. Early he joined the " Sons of Liberty ; "' and John Adams's diary of 17()() speaks of the chib in which "Lowell, Dana, Quincy, and other young fel- lows were not ill employed in lengthened discussions of the rights of taxation." He became an active practitioner at the bar, but especially in causes in- volving civil and political rights. The death of his 50 DANA CENTENNIAL. father in 1772 left him in possession of a competent fortvine, which he i-egarded as only increasing his oiDportunities for service in the public cause. In 1773 he married a daughter of the Hon. William EUery, one of the leading Rhode Island patriots, and afterward a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Such wei'e his training and associations, and for applying these to useful work he was not lacking in opportunity. In 1773, in concert with John Adams, he acted in behalf of the Rhode Island j)atriots for the prosecu- tion in the matter of Rome's and Moffatt's letters. In 1774 he, though one of the youngest members of the bar, opposed the complimentary address prepared for Governor Hutchiuson on his leaving the country ; and this he is said to have done with great courage and zeal. In the spring of 1774, just a year before the battle of Lexington, it became impox'tant to send some one to England for the double purpose of representing the patriots among their friends in the mother coun- try, and of ascertaining the real state of feeling among political rulers on the other side. Dana, then scarcely thirty-one years of age, was chosen for this purpose. He took confidential letters to Dr. Franklin from War- ren, the elder Quincy, Dr. Cooper and other leaders. 51 Francis's brother, the Rev. Edmund Dana, had gone to England, settled there, and married the daughter of Lord Kinnau-d, who was also niece of Governor Johnstone and of Sir AVilliam Poultney, one of the largest land-owners in the midland counties; and through them and their connections Francis Dana had special opportunities of ascertaining the state of English feeling and government policy. He became intimate with Dr. Price, and contributed materials for the work of that learned doctor, published in England in defence of the patriot's cause, — a store- house of information much quoted and drawn from by our many friends of that time in that country. He remained in England thus occuj^ied two years. Meanwhile in this country the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill had been fought. We were still in the attitude of dejiendent colonies resisting aggres- sions on our liberties. The question then, agitating the minds of the leaders on this side was whether we should continue in the same attitude and still seek to adjust our differences with the old country as its colonies, or whether we should declare absolute inde- pendence. These two years in England had convinced Mr. Dana that all hope of any such adjustment on any terms which the colonists could accept must be aban- doned, and he threw his whole influence zealously in 52 DAXA CENTENNIAL. favor of independence. He returned in April, 1776, and impressed his conviction on those who had sent him over, on his father-in-law, the Hon. William Ellery, and on other members of the Continental Congress ; and this opinion, formed in England with such pecu- liar advantages for forming one, had its influence in inducing the Continental Congress three months after his return to issue the great Declaration of Independ- ence, July 4, 177 G. Mr. Dana soon after his return was himself chosen as a member of that Congress, but just too late for him to put his signature to that cele- brated document. Besides being a member of Con- gress, he was for the next four years by successive elections a meinber of the Massachusetts council. The next important civil act in our history was the adoption of the Articles of Confederation between the colonies. As a member of Congress, he took a part in this, and set his signature to the articles in July, 1778. But before this civil act, military considerations of the gravest importance came before Congress. Early in 1778 the cause of the patriots was at a very low ebb. To recall these days, it is only necessary for me to mention to any American, with even a common- school education only, the name "Valley Forge." There, as you remember, the remains of our army 53 had retired, not ouly defeated, but almost wholly demoralized. Many of the colonies had not only failed to furnish their quota of troops, but had failed to provision and equip those that were still in the field. The Continental Congress seemed helpless; and there were complaints, jealousies, and murmur- ing-s of distrust even of the great Washington. You Avill recollect how the Continental soldiers were often seen barefoot in the snow, were without adequate blankets or tents, were dressed almost in rags, and frequently had no proper or sufficient food. Unless the ai'my was reorganized, enlarged, and suitably supplied, all the political education and wise states- manship of those times would have been of no value. The Declaration of Independence would not have been worth the paper it was written on. These Avere days that tried the souls of men. It was no time then for merely conferring much-sought-after honors, but Congress had to look to its ablest leaders. Mr. Dana was one of its youngest members, being only thirty- four years of age ; but by his eloquence, combined with good legal ability, business judgment, and high character, he had made a jjosition for himself. He had given some study to military affairs both here and abroad, and on his return from England had contemplated going into the army. To him at this 54 DANA CENTENNIAL. critical moment Congress turned, and made liini chairman of the Committee on the Army, and sent him to consult with Washington at Valley Forge. There he continued five months of this distressful season, engaged with Washington in concerting the plans submitted by Congress to the Commander-in- chief, July 4, 1778, " to be proceeded in " (as the order says) "with the advice and assistance of Mr. Reed and Mr. Dana, or either of them." From the date of this reorganization the army im- proved, and the fortunes of war not long after turned in our favor. During this same year another vital matter came before Congress ; and that was the consideration of the Conciliatory Bills, as they were called, of Lord North. The English government had sent over a peace commission, charged with the duty of urging the adoption of these measures. There were all this time many colonists with more or less well-defined Tory sympathies ; but more potent and more to be feared were the many people who had got tired and discouraged by the long years of war which, up to that time, had in the main resulted in loss and defeat, and, added to this, the concessions proposed l)y Lord North were not inconsiderable, and must have been very alluring to many of the despondent and of the ORATION. 55 conservative business men and property holders. It requii'ed keen legal and political training and ability to deal adequately with these plausible proposals, and enable Congress and the people to thoroughly under- stand their true nature. Mr. Dana, then only thirty- live years of age, was appointed by Congi-ess one of a special committee of thi'ee to consider the svibject ; and it was the strong report of this committee that caused the rejection of those conciliatory proposals in Congi'ess by a unanimous vote. Besides these military and civil problems at home, Congress had serious concerns abroad. France was at war with England, and had taken the part of the colonists. Fickle as was this friendship and disap- pointing as were the direct results of this assistance at many critical times, yet the indii-ect effect of France's hostility to England was of al:>solutely vital imi)ortance to our success. Had England been at peace with all European countries, and been free to concentrate all her immense force on regaining the thii'teen colonies, the cause of our forefathers would have been indeed hopeless. At the same time it was thought that, if France continued with us, our recent success on the Held of battle might bring Great Britain to the point of yielding. Therefore, some able and discreet i:)ersons had to be sent to Europe 56 DANA CENTENNIAL. for the dovible purpose of securing the contiiiued and active assistance of France and possibly of negotiating treaties of j^eace and commerce with Great Britain. Mr. Dana was chosen as one of two, and was sent with Adams to Paris in 1779, as secre- tary of legation with special powers. They found no immediate prospect of negotiation with England. Meanwhile our goyernment was sorely in need of the "sinews of war;" and money loans must be secured in Holland and from some of our English sympa- thizers. Again on Mr. Dana and Mr. Adams, as his senior, was put by Congress this important function. Besides the friendship of France, Congress hojied to secure the co-operation of Russia, or, failing in that, at least to keep Russia in such a position of doubt that the uncertainty of her then future course might have its weight, with other factors, in turning the scales of English thought in favor of acknowledg- ing our independence. This delicate mission was in- trusted to Mr. Dana alone. He was appointed minis- ter to Russia, and proceeded toward St. Petersburg. He went by way of Frankfort and Berlin, and arrived at the court of Empress Catherine in 1781. To have received Mr. Dana in full form as minister plenijio- tentiary from the United States would have been, in international law, equivalent to the recognition by 57 Russia of the indeijeudence of the United States ; and this wouhl have been regarded by England as an act of war. Though not openly received in due form, yet Mr. Dana succeeded in having regular intercourse with Count Ostennan, the Russian minister of foreign affairs, and in keeping his constant friendship. This, while not an open act at which England could take offence, was still known to her minister at St. Peters- burg, and by him communicated to the ministry and ■Pai'liament. All this time Mr. Dana was in constant correspondence with Congress, with the Marquis de Verac, the French minister at St. Petersburg, with Mr. Robert P. Livingstone, whom Congi-ess had ap- pointed secretary of foreign affairs, and with Mr. Adams. He succeeded thus in the main object of his mis- sion to Russia, and staj-ed there till the preliminaries of peace between Great Britain and the United States were begun. Within two months after his return to Boston, he was again appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress. In those days there was no President of the United States. Congress was both the legislative and the executive. In the summer of 1784 Congress took a recess of several months, and, in order that the coun- 58 DANA CENTENNIAL. try should not he without a government, appointed an executive committee of one from each State to continue in session and clothed with very considera- ble powers. Mr. Dana was selected as the one mem- ber of this committee from Massachusetts. Soon after this the jjower of the Continental Con- gress became very weak, while the States individually became more powerful. The organization of each State government, and the settlement of peace and order through the courts, seemed to be the chief Ijublic work for that "critical period." In 178.5 Mr. Dana received an appointment to the Sui^reme Bench of Massachusetts. He decided it was his duty to accept it, and so he left his seat in Congress. In the next two years it became apparent to the w^hole country that some more powerful national government than the loosely formed Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation was required, and in 1787 a convention of delegates was established to meet in Philadelphia to frame a consti- tution for the United States. No more important public matter than this could well be conceived of, and the delegates to this convention were selected with the greatest care. Mr. Dana was appointed from Massachusetts, but, unfortunately, he was un- able to accept the appointment partly by reason of ORATION. 59 his health and partly because of pressure of his im- portant judicial duties. When the Constitution had emerged from the con- vention, it had to be ratified by the several States before it could be in force. Knowing what an almost priceless inheritance the Constitution has proved to be, it seems strange that there was strong opposition in those days to its adoption ; but such is the fact. The first great fight over its adoption arose in Massa- chusetts. No other considerable State would have adopted it, had it been rejected by Massachusetts, as it was in none of them more popular, and in several of them less so. When the Massachusetts convention met, a majority was opposed to the Constitution ; and this oiiposition was led by no less persons than John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were supported by Gerry, who had been a delegate to the convention that framed it. Those in favor of the Constitution were led by Mr. Dana, Theophilus Parsons, who after- ward succeeded Mr. Dana on his resignation as Chief Justice of the Supreme Bench of Massachusetts, and Mr. Rufus King, who had been a delegate to the Philadelphia convention. This was the turning-point in the history of America. After a long struggle, in which Mr. Dana took a leading part and made many speeches, enough opponents were turned to support- 60 DANA CENTENNIAL. ers; and the Constitution was ratified by a small majority. Afterwaixl, as you know, other States followed the example of Massachusetts, and so the United States Constitution was established, — a result, especially considering the closeness of the pivotal con- test, in no small measure due to the ability, eloquence, experience, and weight of j)ersonai character of Mr. Dana and two or three others in Massachusetts. This was the last of Judge Dana's political services. Three years afterward, in November, 1791, he was ajDpointed Chief Justice of Massachusetts ; and during the fifteen years he held that honorable post he took no active part in politics beyond being chosen a Presidential elector in 1792, 1800, and 1808. President John Adams in the first year of his administration found himself involved in great difficulties with the French government. It was the most important foreign question of that time. To settle this, he sent a special embassy to Paris of three envoj's; and on this he appointed Mr. Dana with Pinckney and John Marshall. It was a misfortune to the country that Chief Justice Dana, on account of his health, had to decline this appointment. Had he accepted it, he would have stood by Pinckney and Marshall in the position they took at Paris ; and our embassy would have presented to France and to their own country 01 a united front, and would have averted the embar- rassments caused by the failure in this resjiect on the part of Mr. Dana's successor. Such was the public career of the man for whom this town was named. The section of the country, including what is now the town of Dana, took a strong stand in favor of independence from Great Britain before the Declaration was signed at Phila- delphia in 1776 ; and valuable state papers, taking that view of the situation which, as I have just shown, Avas Mr. Dana's view, emanated from this neighborhood. This neighborhood also sent many soldiers to the Revolutionary War, some of whom very likely camped at Valley Forge, and saw and appreciated Mr. Dana's services in reorganizing the army ; and this neighborhood showed an intelligent interest in the affairs in which Mr. Dana was con- cerned in the matter of the Conciliatory Bills of Lord North ; the missions to France, the raising of money loans in Europe, the mission to Russia, and the adop- tion of the United States Constitution, which latter had occurred only thirteen years before the incor- jDoration of this town, and it may well be they felt inclined to honor the man whose career was then familiar to them, and who for so many years had been Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of 62 DANA CENTENNIAL. the State. Therefore, it does not seem astonishing that, although the majority of the town was Demo- cratic by three to one at that time, and for many years after, and Mr. Dana was a Federalist, they should yet have named the town after him in 1801, and retained that name ever since. Francis Dana was not an office-seeker. The office in every case sought him, not he the office ; and he declined every position in which he felt his health and other duties would not enable him to fulfil the obligations to the satisfaction of himself and the benefit of his country. When in Russia he had been officially infoi'med that, if he would but wait a short time longer, he would be received in due form as Minister Plenipotentiary by her Imperial Majesty Empress Catherine ; but, feeling that he was needed at home, and that nothing remained in Russia but a formal distinction, which his successor could easily receive, he hurried back to attend to more important duties. He had a line sense of honor, which, in these times of indirect intiuenee on legislators, it may be well to illustrate. On the Peace Commission which I have mentioned, sent over by Lord North for the purpose of carrying out the Conciliatory Bills, was Governor Johnstone, who was related by marriage to Mr. Dana, 63 and Avliora lie had formerly met in England. This Governor Johnstone addressed a letter to Mr. Dana, with the hope of influencing him social!}' and as a relative to favor these measures. In order to be free from even the suspicion in his OAvn mind of being influenced by such a communication, Mr. Dana laid it before Congress, though the letter contained no such obnoxious proposals as did the letter to Mr. Reed, of Pennsylvania, on the same occasion. In these days of morbid jiryiug into the affairs of all our neighbors and the undue publicity given to the private acts of important persons, it may be well to tell a story of Mr. Dana at Valley Forge. He had come there, as I have stated, as Chairman of the Committee of Congress on the Army for conference with General Washington. One night, as Mr. Dana was sitting in the shadow of the veranda, "Washing- ton came out of the headquarters, and walked up and and down in deep thought. He did not observe Mr. Dana, who was within hearing distance, and began to talk aloud to himself. The desire for historical infor- mation or to aid him to form an opinion as a member of Congress might have furnished excuses for listen- ing; but Mr. Dana immediately came forward, and warned Washington that he was not alone. After the Revolutionary War there was a popular 64 DANA CENTENNIAL. wave in favor of repudiation of debts, both private and public, especially when clue to foreigners or Tories. To those of us who remember how many politicians after our Civil War yielded to the clamor for repudiation in one fonn or another, and how few were not weak and vacillatiuo-, it may be well to recall that Mr. Dana in those old days thi-ew himself heart and soul in favor of honest payment, and in particu- lar seciu'ed by his untiring personal efforts the pay- ment in full of the loans to the government he had been instrumental in secimug ; and his descendants stiU have a token sent him iu recognition of his suc- cessful efforts in this respect. Now, I trust, I have shown, as I started out to do, that there is sometliing in Mi*. Dana's chai-acter and achievements, besides a slight assistance in seciu'iug the charter, to have caused and to justify the adop- tion of his name for that of this town ; that there is something worthy of rememln-ance, something fitting to follow or be an insi)U"ation to the inhabitants and theii" descendants after them. I should Kke to end my adili'ess on the hundredth anniversary of this tyjiical New England town by a few words on what has long been in my mind in regai'd to the towns of this Commonwealth. No- where else than in the old-fashioned New England ORATION. 65 town do we see under modern conditions such perfect liberty and equality. As De Tocqueville pointed out, the town meetings furnish a training in self-govern- ment such as is to be found nowhere else in the world. They form a niu'sery for politicians, using that word in its best sense, and educate all the people in the principles of freedom, law, and order. The towns have furnished many of the celebrated clergymen, physicians, and lawyers, whose early train- ing in the town life was never lost, though their future careers may have brought them to the cities. As an offset to the city life, with its excitements and distractions, its feverish energy and nervous over- work, there is the calm satisfaction of the village life with its concrete attainments, with the "Something acconiplisheil, sometliiiig ilone, Has earned a night's repose." As on the farms is produced the foundation of the greater part of our wealth, so the farmers themselves are believed to form the backbone of our country politically. Just at present our towns are at a temporary dis- advantage. Many of the brightest and most active young men go to the cities. The competition of the West in many farm products has lowered what j^oliti- cal economists call "the margin of cultivation," so 66 DANA CENTENNIAL. that many farms become unprotitable. There is a loss of some of the home industries caused by theu* concentration into the large factories. Then, too, in many towns we have the summer visitors. Then- presence is often a disturbing element. The summer visitor is frequently misuuderstood by the farmer, and the farmer not appreciated by the summer visitor. The summer visitor seems to be idling away his time when the farmer is most busy ; and some inex- perienced and thoughtless visitors fail to distinguish between the ordinary laborer and the farmer, who is a freeholder, of education, thrift, political sagacity, and descended from high-minded, well-educated, reli- gious ancestors, and who form no mere peasantry or yeomam-y. The farmer sometimes forgets that the summer visitor is usually a hard worker, dependent upon his brains, living in an age of keen competition and absolutely needing a sunimer's rest, whose chil- dren have been hard at work at school, and whose wife, besides the cares of housekeeping and social duties, has undoubtedly given much time to religious and philanthropic work diu'ing the autumn, winter, and spring, and is also in need of recreation. This common misunderstanding- is gTadually giving place to a better mutual knowledge. The summer visitor begins to stay longer, builds him a house, takes an G7 interest in the town affairs, becomes a voter, seeks the acquaintance and friendship of the old families in the town, and brings new opportunities for the people of the town, contributes to the church and the town library. The telegi'aph, the telejihone, the daily paper, and the rural postal delivery are bringing the city and town closer together. Each as a community and the individuals of each are enriched and helped by common intercoiu'se. The blessings of liberty and self-government, and the great increase in population and prosjierity dur- ing the last one hundred years, have brought new l^roblems, which it is the duty of the next century to solve. Many of the evils from which we suffer are greatest in the great cities; but, fortunately, from the nature of our form of government the towns must take part in the remedial public opinion and legislation needed, and seeing that the new laws, when passed, are enforced. The towns cannot escape the responsibility if they would, and I don't believe they would do it if they could. I am an optimist as to the future of this country, but not because I be- lieve that good luck will carry us through, or because I shut my eyes to the dangers that threaten us, break- ing the placid surface of the current here and there like sunken reefs, but because I have a confidence in 68 DANA CENTENNIAL. the high aims, sound sense, moral worth, justice, and ample activity of the American peojile, in the main and in the long run. The mingling of the towns and cities will do no good of itself unless we make good come out of the increased opportunities. We need, and I believe we shall have more than ever before, the sympathetic thought and the hearty co-oi^eration of the country people. We have to face the dangei's of poverty, over- crowding, and crime in our great cities, the horrors of intemperance, the increased tendency to gambling in high and low life, in pool-rooms and on the stock exchange, coiTuption in politics, the improj^er influ- encing of legislatures, the party " bosses," with their distribution of ofUces for personal ends and the assessments for the i:)rotection of vice, the undue use of money at elections, and the growing power of great aggressions of wealth. We have also the prob- lems of better methods of taxation, of improved public education, of more scientific charity, of the wiser treatment of criminals, of the public health, of securing a more honest and accurate count of votes, the protection of the secrecy of the ballot, of the troubles between caf)ital and labor, of the proper control of public franchises, and many others. To deal wisely with these requires the most thorough ORATION, 69 study of both human nature and of books, and new inventions besides. The day of crude, ill-considered cures is past. To understand the nature of the evils and their underlying causes, and to suggest the reme- dies, need as much thorough and intelligent discus- sion and unity of purpose and action as was de- manded in the heroic days before the Revolutionary War, when our Francis Dana was busying himself as I have desci-ibed ; and we shaU succeed now as they succeeded then. We are now, too, having the assistance of the women, who in their clubs are discussing svich ques- tions as the abolition of the party boss, by means of taking away his control of salaried officers, by civil service reform. To give efficient aid, the towns must not only take part in the discussions of these problems, but they must send to the legislature such leading men as both understand these problems and have sound sense and ripe judgment. In too many towns and cities is it customary to elect legislators as rewards for detail work on party committees, which in no wise fits them for dealing with the gi-eat questions of the day, or sometimes in exchange for large contributions from interests seek- ing legislative favors, distinctly unfitting them for the 70 DANA CENTENNIAL. public trust. I have known towns — but I trust no towns near here have ever done it — which have sent men to the legislature simply because they have made a failure of everything else in life and need the small salary. Legislation is a science that demands not only native fitness and preparation, but long experi- ence. Too many towns change their rein-esentatives every year, or, at the very most, every two years. Can't the towns do away with this? They must if they would do any real good. The problems are too serious, too vast to be trilled with. Why not select the most promising men, compel them to accej^t the nomination, elect them by good majorities, and, when they have proved themselves useful by two or three years' service, are getting on important committees and establishing reputations in the State, back them up and send them for decades in succession, reserv- ing the power to retii'e them only if they prove unworthy? But don't retire them as they are carv- ing out great policies, just to give some incompetent a chance to try his hand at whittling away at them. We know we are a big country. Our prosperity and importance are self-confessed ; but, for all that, I doubt if we have a sufficient idea of our real gi'eat- nese of ojiportunity for the fixture. We have only too much satisfaction with bigness and its imperfec- 71 tidns, expressed by such phrases " Well, I guess that will do " or " What was good enough for our fathers is good enough for me," as if the aspirations of oux honored fathers were ever satisfied with the short- comings about them. Nothing but the best will do, — not only the best things, but the best moral, social, intellectual ideas and institutions. With the co-operation of the cities and towns in securing the greatest freedom for the development of the good that is always in human natiu'e under good influences, and the removal of such special tempta- tions, degrading environment, and hampering condi- tions as are the results of man's contrivance, there seem to be no bounds to the real greatness of the people of this country in the future. May we not reverently foretell of them, somewhat in the words of the old prophet : From the top of the rocks we see them, from the hills we behold them. Who can count the foui'th part of them? Surely, there is no enchantment, neither is there any divina- tion against them. The Lord theii' God is with them, and the shout of kinoration, in the illustrious name with which they christened theii- township and in the record which i)roves their abvmdant justification. The past century has recorded a greater progress in the material and, I believe, in political, moral and 86 DANA CENTENNIAL, religious development of the world, than has attended the whole j)receding- period since the death of King Alfred, a thousand years ago. With all the present interests and instrumentalities making for human elevation and advancement, it seems not um-eason- able to predict that the new century is to move on with yet longer and more rapid strides. Mr. President, you have intimated that you have been younger than you are to-day, but your towns- people evidently exj)ect to keep you young enough to preside over the ceremonies of 3^our next ceutenuial celebration. If Mr. Dana should then find it incon- venient to be present, you will, doubtless, invite some brilliant descendant of his to play the eloquent and graceful jjart he has played to-day. It is obvious, however, that my situation, what- ever its temperature, will be such as to compel me to forego the pleasure of being with you. I must, therefore, be content with adding to my congratula- tions the very cordial wish that those to assemble here at the end of the next one hundred years may have, if possible, still greater reason for rejoicing than have you to-day. I thank you for the privilege you have kindly accorded me, and I hope I have not sjDokeu so long as to persuade you that, whatever the offence of REMARKS OF JAMES W. BROOKS, ESQ. 87 yoiu' ancestors against the town of Petersham, their descendants have been too severely punished by being forced to listen to what I have had to say. REMARKS By Mk. Frederick T. Comee, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: — This is a very imexpected cull, yet I assure you I consider it an honor to be permitted to participate in the com- memoration of the centennial anniversary of the town in which I was born. At lirst thought one hundred years seems a long time, but when we who have reached the half century period of life look back over that life we feel it has been of but short duration, and when we think that this town is only twice our age we are amazed at the wonderful progress that has been made since its incorporation. Great changes have taken place dur- ing the century, which in its earlier days, if considered at all, were looked upon as impossibilities. "With vast improvements in the arts and sciences, with a broader mind and a more liberal education, man exists to-day with facilities for enjoyment and improvement that were unknown when this town began its coi-porate existence. At that time the United States of America was 2-OFC. KEMAEKS OF MR. FKEDEKICK T. COMEE. 89 composed of sixteen states, with a total poj)ulatiou of about 5,300,000. These states were all situated east of the Mississij^pi River, the territory west of that point being an unexjjlored country belonging to other nations. Philadelphia, with a population of less than 70,000, was the metropolis of America. That city is now the third in size in the Union, and has a population of over 1,290,000. The city of New York had then reached about the same size as Phila- delphia. To-day that city is the largest city in the country, and has a population of nearly 3,500,000. Even near the middle of the century the city of Chicago, Avhich to-day is the second largest city in the Union, with a population of over 1,098,000, v/as a simple wooden village on the swamjn' shore of Lake Michigan. By the last census the combined popula- tion (Jf New York and Chicago very nearly equals the population of the entire United States one hundred years ago. At that time the streets of the large cities were lighted — or we might say that darkness in the streets Avas made visible — by a few dimly burning whale oil lamps, probably lighted by hand torches, as friction matches were then unknown. Watchmen went about crying the hours of the night, but there was no regularly organized police force in any city. The imi^roved farming implements of 90 DANA CENTENNIAL. to-day, the modern loom, traveling crane, steam drill, steam jiump, steam shovel, sewing machine, and many other inventions which have revolutionized labor and added so much to the comfort, convenience, and jileasure of life, Avere not known. Medicine and surgery had made but little progress. The old prac- titioner had practically three principal remedies, — bleeding, calomel and laudanum, — and amputation was the limit of surgery, the patient, securely bound or held by strong men to prevent his moving, being- conscious through the operation. In very many other channels great improvements have been made, but those that appeal to me most strongly as being of especial benefit to the great mass of our peoj^le are the present facilities for transportation and the transmission of thought. Travel by land was formerly hy the jn-imitiAe stage coach or upon horse back, and by sea in clumsy wooden sailing vessels. These have now given jilace to the luxurious parlor and sleeping cars and the magnificent steel steamship, well named " the ocean greyhound." A journey from Boston to Ncav York one hundred years ago required three days; to-day the distance can be covered in four hours. From New York across the Atlantic was a journey of from three REMARKS OF MR. FREDERICK T. COMEE. 91 weeks to thi-ee months ; it can now be made in five days and a few hours, and I read in a daily paper yesterday that a company was in process of forma- tion whose ships were expected to make the passage in four and a half days. A hundred years ago an answer to an important communication from New York to London might be received in from six weeks to six months, the time depending upon the condi- tions of the wind and Aveather. To-day a message can be sent from New York to London and the answer received in seven minutes, and one can stand in this town and cai'ry on a conversation with a per- son a thousand miles distant. A hundred years ago newspapers were exceedingly rare. They were all j)rinted on the old "Hand Press;" an expert jn-ess- man might possibly make seventy or eighty impres- sions per hour. With the paper printed vipon both sides the limit would be forty papers per hour. To- day a machine is built that receives large rolls of paper, prints, cuts, pastes, folds and counts 9G,()00 papers per hour. One hundred years ago masses lived and died knowing little or nothing about what was being done about them. To-day the news of the world is daily scattered broadcast over the land. Now what do all these signify ? Do they say to us that invention and science have reached the limit of 92 DANA CENTENNIAL. improvement ? Quite the reverse. I regard the won- derful achievements of the past century as the prom- ise of a more giorious and briUiant future, and beheve the knowledge and opjiortunities of to-day will lead to still further and more imijortant discoveries than are now dreamed of, and possibly those who assemble to celebrate the second centennial of this town may regard the conditions of this day somewhat as we look uj^on the conditions that existed a century ago. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your atten- tion. PiE:\LARKS By Rev. Haklan Page. The towu of Hardwick extends her wa,i'mest con- gratulatious to Daua on this hei" festal day. This is the da}' that rightfully belongs to the sons and daughters of Dana, and considering that I must not occupy much of your time. No^v, friends, we stand here with one hundred years finished. We yie^v the past with pride. We ought to ; but we cannot fully appreciate it unless we look with hope and courage towards the future. It is a goodly sight to behold so many sons and daughters of Dana here to-day. Someone has said, " Show me a man who has no love of place, and you have shown me whose heart has no tap root." And the spot where the heart of the real man beats deep- est and truest is the place of his birth. There lived his mother, there were his first youthful ambitions. Our thought has lieen directed to-day to the great and distinguished men of this town, and very properly so. But as I glance up and down these seats which are before me, l^eholdiug your faces, and knowing 94 DANA CENTENNIAL. the intellectual power and character and true heart that reside in this peojile — I include you all, and make bold to say the future of the town of Dana rests with you, with what you each shall do in these homes and in your life from day to day. As Winthrop once said, " I shall call that my country where I may most glorify God." Shall not each one here make his own, with some slight changes to fit the present occasion — these lines so familiar to us all? "Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself has said This is mv own, my native town." REMARKS By Hon. George K. Tufts. Mr. President (Did Ladies and Gentlemeyi : — It gives lue pleasure to bring the congratulations of the sister town of New Braintree to you on the occasion of the observance of your one hundredth birthday. We have just celebrated ours and for many reasons I had hoped your celebration could have antedated ours that we might have gotten some points from you as to its proper observance, for arrangements for an event like this, which occurs but once in many generations, cannot profit from the experience of the past. You have met here to-day for the renewal of old associations, to strengthen the ties that bind you to the ancient hearthstone, to gain a better knowledge of your heritage, at once a source of gratitude for the past, and of inspiration for the future. I want to bear my tribute of acknowledgment and thanks to your historian for the patience, the indus- try, and the devotion he has shown in the prepara- tion and presentation of that admirable paper he 96 DANA CENTENNIAL. gave us tliis morning'. But few, if any, realize the vast amount of lal)or involved in such an undertak- ing. I have no doul^t he has consumed many times the midnight oil, deciphering, perhaps not without the aid of the microscope, the handwriting that has been almost obliterated by age, in order to obtain the information needed to form some chain of events or establish some important point. And it has been with him primarily and wholly a labor of love, an offering upon the altar of patriotism and affection for the time of his childhood and later years. If this anniversary had resiilted in nothing else than in the preparation and presentation of this historical paper it would have ami)ly repaid all the money and labor and anxiety expended upon it. I want to say a word about the value of these olcT records from which he has gathered this information. I do not believe the public generally have a trvie con- ception of the value of their local annals. These old records, with leaves often mice-bitten, stained and musty, sometimes almost obliterated by age and then again written with a clear hand and with ink that put to shame the modern article now prescribed by the Commonwealth, contain all that for many generations went to make up the life of your town, civilly, politi- cally, financially, educationally, religiously, and to REMARKS OF HON. GEORGE K. TUFTS. 97 some cleo-ree sociaUy. Tliev are the records not of the nation, nor of the state, nor of the country, nor of the to\vn of Harchyick or Barre, hut of the to\vn of Dana, and, therefore, pecuharly 3'our o^yn. They are the records of the hyes of the men and ^yomen ^yho cleared the lands you no^y occupy, builded and beautified theu- homes, reared their families, founded and put a lasting impress upon your institutions and by courage, self-denial and a loyal adherence to theii- sense of duty, stern and exacting though it might be, combined to make yours a rej)resentatiye Ne^y Eng- land to^yu. They ought to be printed in clear type and used as a text book in your iniblic schools, along- side the histories of the state and nation, and be familiar to eyery boy and girl of the coming genera- tion. In conclusion I wish to exj^ress my ^ippreciation of the admii-able sketch, dra^yn by the orator of the day, of the traits that should characterize the la\y-makers of this i^eople. They would make an ideal common- wealth. ADDEESS By Rev. T. C. Martin. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — As I listened to the admii'able historical paper by Mr. Johnson and the masterly oration by Mr. Dana, I have been im- l^ressed by three things. First, I noticed the fathers, one hundred years ago, desii'ed a neAv township because it was too far for them to go to meeting at either Greenwich, Petersham or Barre. They must have a town of their own in order that they might have a meeting-house near by. Religion, then, was one of the first and great moving causes for the incorporation of the town of Dana. The people wanted to go to church. Now, as a distin- guished orator once said of Massachusetts, " The past is secure." So we point with pride to the fathers of Dana. They were religious. The past is secure. A very vital question suggests itself : Ai'e we, the chil- dren's children, desirous of church privileges? One of the speakers to-day told us of the wonderful inven- tions of the nineteenth centiuy. Have our people found some easy way of getting to church or getting ADDRESS BY REV. T. C. MARTIN, 99 ou without the church? We have rejuvenated the church building- standing j'onder. It is conveniently located. Now, as I said, the vital question to-day is, do the people want to go to church? The fathers did. All honor to them. The second point I noticed was, that the fathers wanted a new town that they might have their own and near-by schools for theii- children. Education, therefoi'e, was one of the moving causes for the incor- poration of Dana. As it was too far to go to chiu-eh from this centre to either Petersham, BaiTe or Green- wich, so it was too far for the children to go to school. The fathers valued education. Si^eaking in the very shadow of your schoolhouse, I need not exhort you along this line. Beginning with an apj^ropriation of $175 for schools, Dana has looked well to her educa- tional interests. The example of a Dana mother toil- ing early and late to send her children away to secure a higher education has been a constant inspiration to me and others. You need no word from me. But palsied be the arm or the vote that would in any way by jn'ivate or sectarian school undermine the founda- tion of our grand American public school system. The fathers planted it in their povert}-. Let us pre- serve it. . The thii'd item I noticed was the character of the 100 DANA CENTENNIAL. man after whom the town was named. In A'ain have your historian and others searched to find any special interest which Honorable Francis Dana took in the incorporation of the town. He did nothing sjiecially for its incori^oration. The movers for a charter wanted a name. The name of "Washington was taken for the capital of the country. But there was a name of sterlino- integrity, sound judgment, honored on two continents, a man who admired Washington and served his country at very, very critical points in her history. This man's name the charter members of our town took because of his manhood, his char- acter — for no one deed of his, but for all his deeds. I come from a town named after an illustrious soldier. Francis Dana was more than a soldier. He was a statesman, the flower and fruit of those early days of religious and educational struggle. I begin to see now what I had noticed in Worces- ter, in Boston, and wherever I meet Dana people, what I may call the Dana spiiit. In England there is what they call the "non-couformiat conscience." At Yale there is the "Yale Sjiirit." I have noticed a Dana Spirit, so to speak — a love for this little town that has surprised me. I now see on what it has fed, how it has sprung up and grown. Religion, education, character, these are the three roots that ADDRESS BY REV. T. C. MARTIN. 101 have nourished it. I am prouder of her than ever. May these ever characterize her as they siu-ely were the characteristics of her early founders. I looked in vain in your art collection yonder for a picture or a painting of Francis Dana. I want to see how he looked. I have a clear mental picture of him from what I have heard of him to-day. Until I see his picture I shall continue to think of him as a sec- ond Washington, for it seems to me, that in the work he did at St. Petersham, St. James' Court, at Phila- delphia, and at Washington, he must have stood very near, if not second to, the "Father of his Country." EEMARKS By Charles R. Johnson, Esq. Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen : — I thank you for your kindly gi-eeting. My office as a member of the executive committee has thus far been to act rather than to speak, and I had not expected to be called ujjon at this time. I am glad, however, to have this oi^portunity to say to you all collectively, as I have j^reviously said to so many individually, that I am most happy to be here, to shake the hands of friends and schoolmates of long ago, and to view again scenes familiar to my early youth. There is no spot about this Common but has a deep interest for me. In yonder building I first went to school. In the church across the way I earliest attended public worship. The cemetery near by is the last earthly resting place of generations of my ancestors. Recollections like these must come to many of you, as to me, on taking a look backward. We must all realize that time is fleeting, and that there are large gaps in the cii'cle of our acquaint- REMARKS OF CHARLES R. JOHNSON, ESQ. 103 cances — gaps constantly made wider by the sickle of the grim reaper. Thinking thus, we can but value highly occasions like these when old friends and schoolmates can come together, if but for a brief season, and in fancy bask again in the sunshine of youth. I trust that before these exercises close an effort will be made, in some organized way, to bring about another and similar gathering in the near future. If that is done, and we shall by that means succeed in establishing here the institution of an "old home week," and so iJeriietuating a continuance of these annual festivals, the most beneficent result of this celebration will have been accomjjlished. Letters of regret were received from Hem-y Hale and J. Warren Hale of Philadelphia, Pa., and Dr. C. Thayer of Clifton Springs Sanatorium, New York, also Mrs. Urzulah Towne of Boston.