Centennial Celebration OF THE EXPLORATION OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, AND THE RECEPTION OF THE FIRST INDIAN DEED, HELD AT WOODBURY, CONN., JULY 4 AND 5, 1859. EDITED BY WILLIAM COTHREN. WOODBURY: PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. 1859. THE ORIGIN OF THE CELEBRATION. Ar a meeting of some two thousand persons, from the several towns of "Ancient Woodbury," on the 5th of July, 1858, it was moved by William Cothren, and seconded by Rev. John Churchill: "That a Committee of two from each of the towns once included, in whole or in part, in the ancient town of Woodbury, be appointed by the meeting, with power to add to their own number, and to appoint all necessary Assistant Committees, for the purpose of making efficient arrangements for the Historical Celebration of the Second Centennial Anniversary of the first Exploration of the Town, and the reception of the first Indian Deed, at Bethel Rock, on the 4th day of July, A. D. 1859, and also to invite gentlemen to deliver the various addresses, &c., of the occasion." The motion was unanimously adopted, and the following named gentlemen appointed such Committee: William Cothren, C. B. Phelps,* W. T. Bacon,† P. M. Trowbridge,† Woodbury; R. W. Frisbie, S. H. Mitchell, Washington; T. B. Wheeler, A. B. Downs, Col. C. Hicock,† Southbury; Abraham Beecher, H. W. Peck, Bethlem ; H. B. Eastman, F. W. Lathrop, Roxbury; N. J. Wilcoxson, Alfred Harger, Oxford; Dr. Marcus DeForest, Jr., Leonard Bronson, Middlebury. FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. On the 18th day of September, 1858, the General Committee held its first meeting, pursuant to written notice by letter, to each member thereof, from the chairman, William Cothren. This meeting was held at the office of the late Judge Phelps, but the chairman was *Judge Phelps died December 21, 1858. Gentlemen since added to their number by the Committee. absent, attending to professional business in a neighboring town. What the action of the Committee was, will be seen by the following paragraph, which went the rounds of the Connecticut press: WOODBURY SECOND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The General Committee having in charge the matter of the second centennial celebration of the discovery of the valley of ancient Woodbury, met at the office of Hon. C. B. Phelps, on the 18th inst., and gave an invitation to William Cothren, Esq., the "Historian of Ancient Woodbury," to deliver the historical address, and to Rev. William Thompson Bacon, the "distinguished native poet of our vales," to deliver the poem on the occasion of the celebration. These invitations have been accepted. By a vote of the assemblage at the celebration on the 5th of July last, the proposed celebration is to be held on the 4th of July, 1859, at "Bethel Rock." Ample preparations will be made by the Committee to have the celebration worthy of the occasion, and of our historic old town. All persons having facts or incidents connected with the history of the ancient town, are respectfully requested to communicate them to Mr. Cothren, or Mr. Bacon, who will endeavor to make a proper use of them. W. On the 17th of December, 1858, pursuant to a like written notice from the chairman to each member of the General Committee, a meeting was held, from which both Mr. Cothren and Mr. Phelps were absent, being engaged in the trial of a cause in which they were opposing counsel. Rev. Wm. T. Bacon, who had a short time previously been added to the General Committee, presided, and Philo M. Trowbridge, Esq., acted as secretary of the meeting. At this meeting, the following votes were unanimously passed, viz. "Voted, That the Centennial Celebration be held at Bethel Rock, in Woodbury, on the 4th and 5th days of July, 1859, pursuant to the vote of the 5th of July, 1858. Voted, That a sermon be added to the list of exercises already agreed upon for the celebration. Voted, That we do invite Rev. Henry B. Sherman, of Belleville, New Jersey, to deliver said sermon. Voted, That there be an Antique Procession on said 4th of July. Voted, That there be a Pioneer Encampment from the several towns of Ancient Woodbury, during said celebration. Voted, That a committee to carry out the last two votes, and the General Committee of Arrangements for the Celebration, be appointed by the General Committee for Woodbury. Voted, That a Committee of Invitation for the several towns be appointed by the Woodbury Committee. VOTED, THAT THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF WOODBURY BE INSTRUCTED TO SECURE SHORT ADDRESSES FROM RESIDENTS OF THE TERRITORY, AND OTHERS FROM ABROAD, WHO SHALL BE PRESENT AT SAID CELEBRATION. Voted, That the Committee of Invitation be requested to secure the portraits of early, and other distinguished residents of Ancient Woodbury, for the Antiquarian Portrait Gallery during the celebration. Voted, That a Committee in each town to collect funds for defraying the expenses of said celebration, including the publication of the proceedings, in pamphlet form, be appointed by the General Committee of each town. Voted, That every person paying one dollar, or more, towards the expense fund, shall be entitled to a copy of said proceedings, when published. Voted, That the poets of the territory be invited to furnish odes for the occasion. Voted, That there be an Antiquarian Pic-nic each day of the celebration." The substance of these votes was immediately published in the newspapers all over the State, and every body who reads had full opportunity to become informed of the action of the Committee. On their return, Messrs. Phelps and Cothren fully acquiesced in the action of the General Committee. They had left a paper in the hand-writing of Mr. Cothren, requesting action on all the above points. Pursuant to the above votes, the General Committee of Woodbury appointed the following Committee of Invitation, with power in the Committee to add to its numbers, viz: Committee of Invitation. Woodbury-P. M. Trowbridge, Thomas Bull, Lewis Judd, N. B. Smith, Henry Minor. Southbury-Charles Hicock, Dr. N. C. Baldwin. Washington-D. B. Brinsmade, H. J. Church. Bethlem-John C. Ambler, Wm. R. Harrison. Roxbury-C. Beardsley, N. R. Smith. Middlebury-Dr. M. DeForest, Jr. Oxford-N. J. Wilcoxson. |