On July 4, 1904, Unity celebrated her one hundredth birthday. A few
days later, the following account was printed in one of our dailies. As
it contains all details, I give it exactly as it then appeared.
The one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of
Unity, and the one hundred and twenty-eighth of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence, was observed Monday by a celebration such
as has seldom been seen within the boundaries of Waldo county.
Gurney A. Stevens was marshal of the day, with George B. Pillsbury,
Arthur Rand, and W. S. Libby as aids.
On all the committees the names of leading citizens were placed. Hon.
James R. Taber was chosen president, and has labored faithfully to
this end. This gentleman has been a member of the State Senate for two
terms, and has held the positions of superintendent of town schools and
postmaster for almost twenty unbroken years. He is president of the
Windemere Park Association, church trustee, and holds other important
positions in the town and society affairs. To the present affair he has
brought ripe judgment and unflagging zeal, and now has the pleasure of
knowing that his labors have not been in vain.
Another indefatigable worker in this celebration has been Dr. J. E.
Cook, of the school board, and one of the prominent physicians of Waldo
county. Upon the shoulders of this gentleman has fallen a large share
of the burdens of the day, and he has been a powerful factor in its
success. As chairman of the entertainment committee, he has had full
charge of getting up the parade, and this feature alone has been worth
going miles to see. Never has anything of a like nature been undertaken
on so great a scale here before, and never has anything been carried
out with such perfect success in every detail.
The other committees were as follows: Reception, L. H. Mosher,
chairman, Dr. W. G. Fuller, C. E. Mitchell, Crosby Fowler and George
Mosher. With each of these gentlemen were associated their wives, and
to their tact and diplomacy much of the success of this committee was
due.
The committee on music was made up of F. M. Fairbanks, E. D. Chase
and Dr. E. M. Soule. All the affairs connected with printing and
advertising were conducted by E. D. Chase, Dr. C. M. Whitney and F. A.
Whitehouse.
Not least among these various committees was the one on fireworks, and
this was composed of J. A. Adams, L. S. Knights and Dr. E. M. Soule.
These committeemen had to arrange a vast amount of details, as anyone
who has ever got up one of these celebrations must know. They did it,
however, and they did it well.
The procession was led by the marshal, mounted, followed by the Second
Regiment band of Belfast, numbering 21 pieces. Next came the town
officers, special guests and old residents in carriages.
The first float was an allegorical representation of “Liberty.” The
goddess was represented by Miss Edna Whitten, and she was attended by
twenty-five young ladies, all dressed in white.
Lyle Stevens and Miss Isador Stevens, representing George and Martha
Washington, followed, mounted.
The float following had for its subject, “An Old-fashioned Kitchen.”
Howard Taylor drove, accompanied by Clifford Whitten.
Next in line came Freedom Lodge, K. of P., 16 men, and a small
delegation from Burnham Lodge.
A feature of the parade was a decorated pony cart driven by Master
Borden Granger.
Following this was a float advertising Sprague’s fly killer, driven by
E. B. Moulton.
Next in line came several antiquated vehicles. F. A. Bartlett drove
a rig of the style of 1776. He Was accompanied by Miss Thompson in
antiquarian costume. In addition to the time-worn condition of the
wagon, the style was also followed in respect to the harness, which had
wooden hames without the collar. J. S. Rollins drove an outfit, the
carriage dating from 1804, while Crosby Fowler and John M. Thompson
rode in a one-horse phaeton built in 1838. Mr. Thompson is the oldest
man in Unity, being in his 75th year. In contrast, A. H. Winters of
Waterville and C. E. Stevens drove up-to-date turnouts.
Considerable interest was aroused by the exhibit of the Portland
Packing Company, on whose float was a miniature corn shop in full
operation.
The fact that the occasion was a patriotic one was emphasized by the
presence of the members of the G. A. R., led by a drum corps. Some were
on foot and others were in carriages. Unity’s contribution to the list
of the preservers of the Union was a generous one, but the number of
survivors is rapidly decreasing.
“The Twentieth Century Kitchen” was a fine exhibit furnished by Adams
& Knight. Not only did it show the full equipment, but also the busy
housewife was present to add human interest to the display.
The first duty of the Maine pioneers after they had felled the trees,
uprooted the stumps and removed the boulders was plowing the ground,
and this was ably illustrated by E. E. Getchell and A. J. Harding.
Two pairs of oxen, driven by the former, pulled a plow in the hands
of the latter. The costumes were true to life, and the accessories
corresponded well. The plow was of the type of 1798. The same scheme
of contrast which was followed elsewhere in the parade here held sway.
Directly behind appeared the latest thing in plows, a “nobby” article,
drawn by one horse. This latter exhibit was furnished by B. R. Hunt &
Son.
The Sunny Vale Farm, J. H. Ames, proprietor, and the Crescent Shore
Farm, Wilbur E. Reynolds, proprietor, furnished respectively a harrow
and a potato planter, both of the newest type. A sprayer, drawn by one
horse, was exhibited by George Webb.
Much admiration was aroused by the fancy grocery exhibit of L. H.
Mosher.
A fine appearance was presented by Invictus Lodge, No. 38, I. O. O. F.,
which had 41 men in line. The centennial year will be marked by still
another event, when in September their fine new hall, now in process of
erection, will be dedicated.
Considerable laughter was occasioned along the line by an ox team with
clowns in black faces. The driver was George Braley, and the following
were the members of the chorus that sang along the route: Mont Lassell,
Benjamin Jones, Milton Lovejoy, Bertie Braley, Ralph E. Reynolds,
Oramendal Braley, E. W. Reynolds and R. B. Hillman.
More farm machinery followed. A horse hay-fork was displayed by E. M.
Jones. Leslie Bennett carried a scythe and an old-fashioned short-tined
hay-fork. Frank Harding drove a mowing machine for B. R. Hunt & Son,
Paul Ames a tedder and Wilbur C. Nutt a hay-rake for the same firm.
A hayrack load of school children from various parts of the town was
chaperoned by Miss Grace Bartlett, one of the teachers.
Miss Lelia Smith drove a rig that caused many a pleased exclamation
from onlookers. The carriage was prettily decorated with daisies, the
color scheme being yellow and white. Her companion was Miss Edith Frost.