CELEBRATION

OF THE

HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

INCORPORATION OF CONWAY,

MASSACHUSETTS,

AT CONWAY, JUNE 19TH, 1867;

INCLUDING A

HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY REV. CHARLES B. RICE,
OF DANVERS, MASS.,

POEM BY HARVEY RICE, ESQ.,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

ORATION BY WILLIAM HOWLAND, ESQ.,

OF LYNN, MASS.,

AND THE OTHER EXERCISES OF THE OCCASIO

NORTHAMPTON ·

BRIDGMAN & CHILDS

1867.
Hi

CONWAY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

THE first settlement in the town of Conway was made October 20th, 1762. It was proposed in 1862 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of that event by appropriate exercises; but the critical condition of the country at that time, and the absence of so many of our young men as were then in the army, sustaining the nation against a rebellion which threatened her life, caused many of our citizens to feel disinclined to engage in such a celebration then. The town was incorporated June 16th, 1767, nearly five years after its settlement. When the 100th anniversary of this last event drew near, the state of things was greatly changed. The great Rebellion had been suppressed, peace was restored, and prosperity smiled around us. Measures therefore, were seasonably taken for a public celebration to be held in June, 1867.

The first action of the town on this subject was on the 6th of November, 1866, when the following votes were passed:

Voted, To take measures for a centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town.

Voted, To appoint a Committee to make the necessary arrangements for such a celebration.

The following gentlemen were chosen to constitute that Committee, viz:

Thomas L. Allis, Consider Arms, John Clary, Asa Howland, David C. Rogers, Alvin Dinsmore, Elijah Arms, Charles B. Merritt, B. A. Andrews, Consider Field, Earl Guilford, Edwin Cooley, John Bradford, Richard Tucker, Austin Rice, E. D. Hamilton, Thos. S. Dickinson, Wm. C. Campbell, R. A Coffin, Charles Parsons, Wm. T. Clapp, Wm. A. Howland, and Chelsea Cook. 23 in all.

At a Town Meeting held March 4th, 1867, it was voted to appropriate the sum of 500 dollars to defray the expenses of the celebration.