Record Crowd Attends 150th Anniversary
Bainbridge, Chenango County, NY
July 29, 1939
A record crowd of about 3,000 former residents of Bainbridge came from far and near this weekend to attend the 150th celebration of the founding of the village. It was truly a great day for Bainbridge and warmed the hearts of all to see old friends greet each other after an absence of many years. Even a light shower of rain could not dampen their enthusiasm and it seemed as if their gay spirits prevailed upon the sun to shine again.
The day's program got under way at 9:30 a.m. on the athletic field with a series of events for boys and girls under the direction of Stanley Hutchinson and Robert Houck. At 11:00 a.m. a short concert by the High School Band under the direction of Ralph Corbin, Jr., was given in the Park followed by speeches of welcome by Assemblyman Irving Ives, Dr. Lewis Carris and former Lieut. Governor Seymour Lowman. The speakers were introduced by Francis J. Casey, principal of the Bainbridge Central School.
Irving Ives, a native of Bainbridge, spoke not of the occasion but of what those early settlers did here. "The first settlers who established this community came not seeking idleness or leisures," he said, "they came not seeking to be supported by the government, but rather seeking means by which they could support the government." Dr. Carris and Mr. Lowman expressed their appreciation at being called upon to speak and had high praise for Bainbridge, "a typical small American town."
A Baked Ham dinner was served at the Bainbridge Methodist Church and many of the Bainbridge residents entertained at noon their guests at this luncheon.
At 1:30 the parade through the main streets got under way with Fred Gerow as marshal. Starting at the High School, they marched on the principal streets and thence to the ball field. Mrs. Helen Cartledge, 86 years old, dressed in a costume of the Civil War period, and Mrs. Charles Colwell rode in an open landau more than 100 years old. D.J.M. Flannery in his World War uniform was the only mounted person in the parade. The procession headed by Mayor Orson L. Thorp and the village officials and was composed of floats and delegations from the American Legion Auxiliary and Boy Scouts. Leading the floats was the Queen and her attendants, the queen, Miss Mary Mae Hovey was dressed in a lovely white gown with a beautiful regal cape of royal purple trimmed in ermine and her attendants, Miss Elnore Hitchcock and Miss Barbara Robbins wore organdy gowns of pastel shades. The Queen's Float was bedecked with beautiful flowers befitting a queen. The color scheme was yellow, white and green, and was decorated by Mrs. Edward Partridge, Jr., Mrs. Wesson Packer, Miss Mary Mae Hovey, Miss Barbara Robbins, Miss Elnore Hitchcock, John Burgin, William Butler, James Riley, Donald Peckham, and John Russell.
At the athletic field where the parade ended the judges, Harry Horton of Afton, Mrs. Grace Cook of Sidney, Mrs. Lena Clark of Deposit made the following parade awards: Bicycles--Nanette Horton, first; Jackie Hibbard, second; Floats--Home Bureau, first; Eastern Star, second; Autos-Daughters of the Union Veterans, first.
Following the parade the baseball game between Bainbridge and Afton was played with Afton defeating Bainbridge 5 to 4. This was a regularly scheduled game of the Sun league.
The Annual Alumni dinner of the Central High School was held at the Central Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Floyd E. Anderson of Binghamton, a member of the class of 1909 acted as toastmaster, and speakers of the evening were Principal F.J. Casey and Donald Sweet, president of the class of 1937. Group singing was led by Stanley Hutchinson.
Bringing to a close the festivities of the day, every seat was filled for the pageant "And So They Labored" given in the evening at the High School Auditorium. This dramatic presentation showing the growth and development of Bainbridge over a century and a half was based upon historical data furnished by Dr. Edward Danforth. It was staged under the general direction of Miss Mildred Petley, with Harold Lord, director and Mrs. Herman Strasnicsak, assistant director; Maurice Colwell, art and scene director; Newton Hovey, master of properties; Howard Loker, lighting effects; Ted Hamlin assisted by The Odd Fellows, stage director; Mrs. O.F. Howland, mistress of costumes assisted by Mrs. Raymond Garrison, Mrs. Newton and Mrs. Marshal Andrews; Mrs. Herbert Brouillette, chairman of Music committee; George Fisk, house chairman; Mrs. Herman Strasnicsak director of dancing.
Opening with a prologue, "A New Nation is Conceived," the pageant depicted the historical moments of the early days of Bainbridge. The play was in seven scenes. Scene one was the meeting of Joseph Brandt and General Herkimer in an open place in the forest near Bainbridge in 1777, featuring Robert Houck, Stanley Hutchinson, Bruce Holman, Russell Stead, Myron Carl, Roland James, Loren Mann, Fred Neidlinger, Howard Foster, Roscoe Beers, Miss Mary Birmingham, Douglas Neidlinger, Otis Cottet, and David Lewis. Following the first scene there is a scene between Agwron-doug-was, played by Alton Hollenbeck and Gideon Hawley played by the Rev. R. Lewis Johnson which was very impressive. Scene two represented "A People are Given Hope" showing the assembly chamber of the New York State Legislature in 1786 played by Donald Wheat, Edward J. Partridge, Jr., Miss Geraldine Getter and Howard Loker.
Scene three covered "Wheels of Progress," staged in a meeting place in the home of Major (Baron) DeZang in 1799 played by Leon Stewart, Harold Boas, Homer Hodge and Howard Williams.
Scene four "A Community is Named," showed an open square in what is now the village of Bainbridge in 1814, with Mrs. Loren Mann, Miss Anne Vawter, Mrs. Harold Coon, Miss Evalina Moore and Earl Neidlinger in featured roles.
Scene five "Prophecy" laid in the music room of Col Richard Juliand's home "Terrace Hill" in June of 1830, was played by the Misses Dorothy Dickinson, Marian Beatty, Norman Beatty, and Rev. Mr. Heath, and Miss Gretchen Hartmann. In this scene Miss Hartmann sang "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms," with James Taft accompanying her on the piano.
During the intermission the Misses Lillian Hodge, Ruth Jones, Marilyn Pettys and Mrs. Ann Strasnicsak presented a dance ensemble of two dances "Yesterday" and "Today" with a dance solo between the two ensembles by Mrs. Strasnicsak accompanied by James Taft on the piano.
Scene six was a "Music Hour" featuring members of the Crescendo Club in a concert including the string ensemble under the direction of Gervaise Prince. The ensemble is composed of Miss Janet Juliand, Miss Dorothy Dickinson, Gervaise Prince, Graydon Cass, and Clinton Wilcox; vocal solo, by Eugene Houck; piano solo "Liebestraum" played by James Taft and a violin solo by Graydon Cass.
Scene seven, "A Nation Divided" showed a field hospital near Gettysvurg in 1863 with roles played by Donald Sweet and Mrs. Harrison nelson and Richard Lewis.
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