History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

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72 ANNALS OF LYNN — 1 876.
before, and the combustible part of the material transported to
the hill just named, and there reared in a pyramid some forty
feet in height. As soon as the midnight hour bad struck, the
pile was lighted, and amid the shouts and cheers and songs of
the sleepless young spirits who kept vigil around the centennial
sacrifice, it disappeared in a glorious blaze. Morning dawned ;
and soon after daylight, there was a parade of the Antiques and
Horribles, as such have come to be called ; in other words, a
caricature display. The procession marched through the principal
streets and afforded much amusement to the early risers by
the grotesque decorations and costumes, sarcastic hits, and ludicrous
turn-outs ; some members of the city government who
were not in favor of an appropriation for celebrating the day,
being remembered in a manner that created considerable mirth.
A successful semi-religious celebration was held in the First
Methodist meeting-house, in the forenoon, under the general
direction of Rev. Charles D. Hills, minister of the society worshiping
there. The principal feature of the exercises consisted
of brief addresses on the following topics and by the following
named persons : The Day We Celebrate, by ex-Mayor Thomas
P. Richardson ; The United States of America, by John B.
Alley, ex-member of Congress ;
Christianity and Our Country,
by Rev. Daniel Steele ;
The American Public Schools, by Nathaniel
Hills, Principal of the High School ; The American Judiciary,
by Thomas B. Newhall, ex-Judge of the Police Court
Massachusetts, by George H. Chase, ex-Postmaster ; The Centennial
History of Lynn, by James R. Newhall, Judge of the
Police Court ; Our Army and Navy, by Capt. George T. Newhall.
And Mrs. Abbie L. Harris was appointed to read the Declaration
of Independence. At evening, there were many fine displays of
fireworks, at private residences. The " Centennial Memorial,"
published soon after, by order of the City Council, contained an
Historical Sketch, by James R. Newhall, and brief Biographical
Notices of all the Mayors, with Portraits and other Illustrations.
It formed a volume of 204 octavo pages, and was issued in a
style perhaps as creditable to our printers and binders as any
book from the Lynn press up to that time. The volume was
prepared in compliance with a recommendation of Congress.
A serious fire occurred on the southwest side of Market street,
July 26. The principal losses were — by R. A. Spalding & Co.,
dealers in dry goods, some $5 000 ; Mrs. Lancey, millinery and
fancy goods, ^2.000 ; W. T Bowers, photographer, ^2.000,
July and August of this year were uncommonly hot. Visitors
at the World's Exposition, in Philadelphia, suffered much ; especially
those from northern countries.
Died, December 17, at his residence in Park street, Jacob
Batchelder, for many years a well-known and much-respected