July 4th, 1876, Bainbridge, NY

Fourth of July 1876 in Bainbridge, NY

Bainbridge Republican & Saturday Review, July 8, 1876

Tuesday morning dawned bright and clear  in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], and though the heat was rather excessive during the morning hours, yet as on the previous day a breeze sprang up which served greatly to moderate it, and altogether the weather was favorable for the occasion. At an early hour nearly all the business places and many private residences were gaily decorated with numberless flags of all sizes and festoons of the national colors. The incoming trains brought large accessions to the crowds which had already arrived from the surrounding towns by other and more primitive modes of conveyance.  At half past ten o'clock, a procession was formed in the order named in the published programme, which proceeded to the stand erected on the green, where the exercises took place. the stage was occupied by Prof. E.W. Rogers, President of the day, Rev. N.S. Reynolds, Chaplain of the day, E.E. McKinstry, the Reader, W.S. Sayre, Esq., the Historian, Hon. S.B. Chase, the Orator, Rev. D.O. Haynes, Rev. Dr. Porter, and other prominent citizens, Vice Presidents, Ladies in costume, the Afton Band, the Martial Band; and the Glee Club. After music by the Bands, the President of the day opened the exercises with brief and appropriate remarks. A prayer was then offered by the Chaplain, E.E. McKinstry, in a very distinct tone of voice, read the declaration of Independence, and W.S. Sayre, Esq., the Historical address, which was listened to with marked attention.  After music by the Glee Club, S.B. Chase was introduced and delivered the oration of the day. The strong and patriotic utterances, and the logical and conclusive arguments for the revival of the honest government of the early times was received with enthusiastic applause. We regret that our limited space forbids the reproduction of this most excellent address.  The exercises closed with the benediction by Rev. D.C. Haynes.

 

At 3 o'clock P.M. a Grand Balcony Concert was given at the Susquehanna Valley House by the Afton Cornet Band, and at 4 P.M. "Ye Old Folks" dressed in full costume of a hundred years ago, formed a procession in front of the Hastings House and were escorted by the Afton Band to the Speaker's stand on the green, the Band discoursing "Auld Lang Syne."  The concert was under the direction of Mr. Simeon Warren, and was a rare treat to all lovers of music, while the quaint old costumes and the delineations of the characters and scenes and incidents of days gone by, and the soul-stirring melodies of those ancient songs and hymns conspired to make it deeply interesting, and entirely unique in the line of Fourth of July entertainments. 

 

Probably no event was looked forward to with more eagerness than was the display of fireworks which came off on the green. To a certain extent the people were disappointed in the display looked for.  Partly because of the rain, but more especially on account of a deficiency and variety of pieces, which the public were led to expect from the published programme.

 

It is estimated that full 8,000 persons were in attendance on the celebration, and no more orderly crowd ever assembled in this village.  Instances of the infraction of the peace were comparatively rare, and there were no serious accidents to mar the pleasure of the occasion.  Altogether the day was a success, compared with which Bainbridge has never had anything to equal it.