MAHAN'S MUSIC FESTIVAL AND DECORATION DAY OBSERVED IN CORTLAND, 1891

photo credit: Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

Soldier's monument at Church Street, Normal School in background.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 29, 1891.

DECORATION DAY.

Programme of Services—Several Special Features to be Observed.

   Saturday, Decoration Day, will be generally and appropriately observed in this village. At 9 o'clock in the morning Grover Post No. 98. G. A. R., Woman's Relief Corps, No. 96, and Camp of Sons of Veterans, No. 48, will assemble in the rooms of the post in the county building. It is expected that by half-past nine the line will be formed and marching orders given. The line will be formed on Main street, right resting at County Clerk's building . Column to move promptly at 9:30. The following will be the marching order:

Band.

45th Separate Company, N. G. S. N. Y.

James H. Kellogg Camp, No. 48, S. of V. U. S. A.

Grover Post, No. 98, Dept. N. Y., G. A. R.

Veteran Soldiers generally.

Children of the Public Schools.

Disabled Veterans in carriages.

Women's Relief Corps, No. 96, in carriages.

Speaker and Clergymen in carriages.

President and Board of Trustees in carriages.

Citizens generally.

   The line of march will be north on Main to Clinton avenue, east on Clinton avenue and Elm to Church; south on Church to monument, where a hollow square will be formed around the monument and the following exercises will take place:

   Music, Glee Club.

   Prayer, Rev. D. D. Campbell.

   Address,  Com. G. S. Hunt, Grover Post.

   Music, Glee Club.

   The line will then reform and march south to Port Watson, west to Main and Tompkins, to Rural cemetery. The decoration of graves of fallen comrades by Grover Post will take place and people may assemble at the old elm, where the following programme will be observed:

   Selections, Band.

   Prayer, Rev. C. E. Hamilton.

   Music, Glee Club.

   Address, A. L. Kellogg.

   Hymn, "America," Congregation.

   Benediction, Rev. Winget.

NOTES OF INTEREST.

   Commander George S. Hunt, of Grover Post, has been selected as president of the day, and Senior Vice-Commander John W. Strowbridge [as] marshal.

   A most cordial invitation is extended to all our citizens to join with the veterans in their efforts to properly and fittingly observe this sacred day.

   Merchants and business men generally are requested to close their places of business during the hours of services.

   The decoration of graves at the Catholic cemetery will take place at 2 P. M.

   By request of Rev. J. D. Barnes, of Blodgett Mills, a delegation from Grover Post will go to that place, starting at 2 P. M., for the purpose of decorating the graves of veterans in the cemetery there.

   By invitation of the rector the members of the G. A. R. Post, the Women's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans will attend divine service in the Episcopal church next Sunday evening in a body at 7:30 o'clock.

   Contributions of flowers are solicited and may be left Friday afternoon or evening at the Post rooms, third floor of the County Clerk's building, where a committee will be in waiting to arrange them into bouquets.

   In case of rain the exercises will be held in the armory of the 45th Separate Company, on South Main street.

   To avoid the crowd and confusion, it is especially requested that carriages other than those provided for in the parade will not drive into the cemetery during the exercises.

Memorial Observance.

   There was a commendable departure from the custom of the preceding decade in the observance of the annual Sunday evening services of memorial week. Through the courtesy of the officers of the 45th Separate Company the commodious drill room of the armory was transformed into an auditorium in which assembled fully 1,800 people.

   There were no services in the Baptist, Congregational, First M. E., Homer avenue M. E. or Free Methodist churches. A platform had been erected at the east end of the room for the uses of the clergy and choir. Drums were so arranged as to form the speakers' desk flanked on the right and left with field pieces, stands of arms and national emblems, and yet everything was in perfect keeping with the solemnity of the hour. Music was furnished by the Congregational choir—Miss Anna Hawley presiding at the organ.

   At 7:30 o'clock the service opened with the choir singing "Come Thou Fount of every blessing, etc," following which Rev. Dr. Taylor announced the old familiar hymn: "My Country 'tis of Thee," to the tune "America." Rev. Dr. Cordo, pastor of the Baptist church, then read a scriptural lesson from XLVII Psalms, and a selection by the male voices of the choir, followed by an invocation by the Rev. C. E. Hamilton, pastor of the Homer avenue M. E. church, and the choir singing " I hear Thy Welcome Voice, etc.," the entire audience joining in the chorus, made an appropriate preface to the address by Rev. Dr. Edward Taylor, of Binghamton, pastor of the Congregational church, and chaplain of the boys in blue in and since the active scenes of the strife, which while resulting in the maintenance of the union brought about the establishing of a set date for the honoring of the national dead.

   The address was replete with tributes to the dead soldiers' memory, interspersed with pleasing recitals of poems, beneath and through all of which continually cropped out the direct text of the address, that of consecration, which must come through being true to God as well as our nation.

   The exercises closed with prayer by Brother Winget, followed by the choir singing two selections and benediction which was pronounced by the Rev. David D. Campbell, pastor of the First M. E. church.

Memorial Day Supper.

   A novel entertainment for Memorial Day evening has been prepared by the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Cortland. A "basket supper" will be served at their rooms over Collins' china store, at 6 o'clock. Each basket will contain ample supper for two persons, the gentlemen making their own selection of baskets. Tea and coffee are included in the 25 cent charge.

   Those desiring can enjoy ice cream at a slight expense. Following the supper the Superintendent of soldiers, sailors, lumber-men, miners and freed men will entertain the audience with an interesting program.

   A general invitation is extended to the public.

Negotiating for a Resort.

   At present there is a favorable prospect for the establishing of an attractive summer resort near Cortland. Such has long been the desire of citizens of the village and surrounding country; but the insurmountable barrier ever presented has been the absence of a body of crystal water, a necessary adjunct in the satisfactory makeup of such an enterprise.

   Some months ago the DEMOCRAT directed attention to the natural lakes located to the southwest of Cortland surrounded by beautiful grounds and woodland devoid of underbrush, conveniently located for access by rail on the E. C. & N., or by carriage drive, thus obviating the expenditure of vast sums of money in fitting up, above the purchase price. Natural mounds surround bodies of water upon which sightly cottages and other buildings could be erected. All of these favorable points have been viewed and the owners of the adjacent land, Deacon J. Leroy Gillett and others, have been asked to name the price desired for the same. With the consummation of such a project Cortland could with pride point out as attractive an inland centre for public and private gatherings as any town in central New York, and about which a common interest would centre. Other locations have been viewed by the committee but the advantages offered by the site under consideration seem to more fully meet the necessary requirements.

Opening of Floral Trout Park.

   June 10th is the date. Orris Hose company No. 1 the genial host. Floral Trout Park the scene of festivities. Three adjuncts for a grand field day which should prove a successful formal opening of this local outing resort. This company will leave their headquarters, preceded by the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. band, at 1 P. M., marching to the park where, after 2 o'clock the following program will be witnessed:

   Contest between hose teams of ten men each from any company in the county; requirements being that of running 100 yards, laying 200 feet hose, make hydrant and nozzle connections; victors to receive $20 and champion badge of the county. Foot ball game, $5 to winner. Bicycle race, $5 to winner. Sack race for a prize of $2.50. Grand aerial ship ascension at 7 o'clock in the evening, beside constant band and orchestral music, together with dancing both afternoon and evening.

   The program would seem to furnish sufficient attractions for the masses and with pleasant weather the neat promenade and handsome grounds should he filled. Entrance 10 cents.

Little York Lake.

The Raymond House.

   Mr. Raymond has thoroughly repaired his premises in Little York, and is now ready to entertain transient visitors or summer boarders. His facilities for accommodating the public have been considerably enlarged, and improved in all respects and he confidently believes he can take care of all who come and make the visit a pleasant one for his guests. Several new boats have been put upon the lake. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond always make their guests feel at home and never fail to provide most excellent accommodations.

Mahan's Music Festival.

   Workmen are busy at the Opera House building the temporary stage and the extensive preparations are going on rapidly for the approaching Festival, which will begin on Monday evening next, at 7:30. The great reputation of Miss DeVere as one of the most eminent singers on the concert stage, compared in the press of Boston and New York to Patti, Gerster and Jenny Lind, and the great army of other eminent artists, present attractions for the concerts of uncommon interest.

   The sale of tickets will begin on Monday morning next at Mahan's Music Store. The following artists will assist the chorus at the concerts:

   On Thursday afternoon at 3:30: The Hatton Male Quartette, Miss Kittie Ray Colvin, Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, the Amphion Banjo Club and the Trovatore Mandolin, Banjo and Guitar Club, and Dickinson & Beman's Festival Orchestra.

   Thursday evening at 8 o'clock: Madame Christine Hollis-Walter, Mrs. Shepard, the Hatton Male Quartette, Mr. E. G. Marquard, Mr. John C. Bostlemann, and the Orchestra. Gounod's Gallia will be one of the prominent numbers on the programme, Madame Walter doing the solo work.

   Friday afternoon at 3:30: Hatton Male Quartette, Mrs. Shepard, Prof. T. H. Nichols, mandolin and banjo; Prof. Schug, harp; Mr. Tom Ward and the Orchestra.

   Friday evening at 8: Signorina Clementina DeVere, Mr. Tom Ward, the Hatton Male Quartette, Mrs. Shepard, Prof. Nichols, Prof. Schug, Mr. John C. Bostlemann, and the Orchestra.