Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/692

 564 THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON. Lewis B. Smith, as Treasurer. The Committee decided to celebrate the town's Anniversary on the 17th of June, Bunker Hill day, and invited Thomas W. Bicknell to prepare an historical Oration, and Hezekiah But- tervvorth a Poem for the occasion. Both gentlemen consented to perform the parts assigned them. The Committee on Invitations sent, " Greeting to the Sons and Daugh- ters of Barrington, their children and children's children, to meet with us to commemorate the One Hundredth Birthday of our town, and extend a cordial invitation to all those connected by ties of consanguinity, friend- ship, or local attachment, to unite with us in this reunion of hearts and hands." The features of the celebration were a Procession, an Historical Address, a Poem, Music, a Dinner, and after dinner speaking by distinguished guests and citizens. The dinner consisted of a Rhode Island clambake, fish and clam chowder, and a meat dinner to those preferring it. Invitations were sent to officials of State, County, and Town, to which flattering answers were received. Hon. Lewis B. Smith was chosen as President of the day, with several Vice-Presidents ; David A. Waldron was chosen Chief Marshal; Isaac F. Cady, Esq., Toastmaster, and Hiram D. Maxfield, Caterer. A military company was organized of young towns- men, to do escort duty, under the command of Capt. George Lewis Smith. The great tent, provided for the shelter of the company, was raised on the top of Prince's Hill, between the main road and Prince's Pond, and its capacity was fully tested by the great procession headed by a cavalry es- cort and a band of music, which marched from Drownville, on the road by the historic meeting-house. The bountiful program was carried out with more than anticipated interest and success, participated in and en- joyed by a great concourse of people, bating the discomforts of a heav}' thunder shower, with brilliant electric effects, which came up and passed away during the exercises in the tent. A full account of the celebration may be found in "Historical Sketches of Barrington, 1870," and in the Providence and Boston papers of June 18, 1870. Centennial Fund. The members of the Centennial Committee, wishing to establish a memento of their harmonious relations and successful celebration, created a fund to be bequeathed with its earnings to the town of Barrington for a celebration of its two hundredth anniversary, in 1970. Each member 01 the committee contributed one dollar, and the whole amount was depos- ited at compound interest with the Hospital Trust Company, to be in- vested for the committee, their successors and assigns, by a board of trus- tees of five persons. The first trustees elected were H.H.Richardson, B. F. Drown, C. E. Smith, N. C Smith and Asa Peck. On the death of any one of the trustees, the surviving members are required to fill the vacancy. The present trustees are H. H. Richardson, Charles E. Smith, George Lewis Smith, John Jenckes, and Ebenezer Tiffany. The amount of the fund June i, 1898, is about seventy dollars.