Columbus Day at the Old Center Meeting House - Wednesday, October 12, 1892

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Columbus Day at the Old Center Meeting House - Wednesday, October 12, 1892

The 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing in America inspired the first official Columbus Day holiday in the United States. President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation in 1892, “recommending to the people the observance in all their localities of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America…” and describing Columbus as “the pioneer of progress and enlightenment.” On the four hundredth anniversary teachers, preachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of patriotism. These patriotic rituals were framed around themes such as support for war, citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress. Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906, and became a federal holiday in 1937.

Celebrants in this photograph of the 1892 anniversary are dressed in their best wool and satin. Many of the children are holding flags and several of them sport berets made of starred fabric. One young woman holds a violin.

Left to Right: as originally written in Eleanor Mayo's notes.

Charles "Charlie" Andrew Hodgdon (1874-1907)
Arthur Heslyn Rumill (1883-1948)
Herbert G. Butler (1883-1942)
Serena "Rena" W. Stanley (1882-1977) - later Mrs. Clarence Hadlock Spurling
Nida Seavey (1883-1947) - later Mrs. Eugene Sylvester Murphy
Vilda E. Stanley (1886-) - Mrs. Arthur Stanley Rowe
Phoebe Elizabeth Walls (1885-1974) - later Mrs. Chester Calvin Robbins
Oscar R. Harper (1886-)
William Lawton Butler (1877-1943)
Deda Belle Dow (1866-1935) - Mrs. James Albert Gray
Phoebe Hodgdon (1858-1930) - Mrs. Henry N. Robbins
May A. Dow (1856-1905)
Unknown
May Butler Harper
Myra J. Farrell (1884-1931) - later Mrs. George W. Butler
Bertie Norwood
Sophia Dow
Unknown
Unknown
Clinton Gray (1887-1949)
Mildred "Millie" G. Butler (1887-1969) - later Mrs. George Henry Freeman
Neal Lester Farrell (1889-)
Jane "Janie" Anne Ober (1888-1969) - later Mrs. Chester Arthur Butler
Foster Farrell
Susie Robinson (1883-) - later Mrs. Winfield Norwood
Wesley Bassett Dow (1888-)
Martha "Mattie" A. Dow (1884-) - Mrs. LaBelle
Sadie F. Young (1878-1929) - later Mrs. Harlow Harper Murphy
Bennett Stanley
Ellen Kenny (1837-1909) - Mrs. William Ober Jr.
Charles William Hodgdon (1889-)
Winfield "Win" McClellan Dow (1863-1900)
William Alphonso "Phon" Farrell (1855-)
Olive M. Nutter (1864-) - Mrs. William Alphonso Farrell
Ethel M. Reed (1883-)
Delmont Harper Murphy (1883-1963)
Teacher - Mrs. Rich ?
Albert "Bert" Winfield Dow (1876-)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Anna R. Robinson (1859-) - Mr. Harmon
Ida M. Leonard (1877-)
Mattie Seavey Brown
Capt. Stephen Billings (1833-1909)
William "Will" O. Hodgdon (1856-1922) or William A. Hodgdon (1852-)
George Ripley Fuller (1857-1937)
Carie B. Ober (1862-1932) - Mrs. William Frederick Stanley and Gerald Kenneth Stanley (1890-1919)
Unknown
Unknown
Josie A. Billings (1872-1936) - Mrs. Elmer B. Stanley
Will Murphy
Abbie Belle Dow (1877-)
Dora Farrell Harper
Unknown
Lucretia "Cretia" S. Bartlett (1873-1957) - Mrs. Alton Abner Pomroy
Unknown
Abbie T. Ober (1877-1897) "Mrs. Phippen's sister who died"
Unknown
Viola M. Dow (1878-)
Ida S. Bartlett (1870-1946) - Mrs. Charles L. Bartlett
Lydia Black Ober (1836-) Mrs. William Johnson Farrell
Fannie Ellen Ober (1868-) Mrs. Loren Calvin Herrick
Margaret Maker (1847-1928) - Mrs. Richard E. Seavey
Mr. Warman - Minister
Fannie Ellen Ober (1868-) - "also number 30"
Unknown
Lurena "Nina" Hodgdon (1882-1967) - sister to Charles William Hodgdon
Clara A. Robbins (1853-1930) - Mrs. Shubeal Norton Dow
Martha Elva Robbins (1855-1945) - Mrs. John Leonard Stanley
John Leonard Stanley (1855-1898)
Mary Jane Hodgdon
Hannah Stewart Dow (1836-1914) - Mrs. Stephen Billings
Unknown
Mame L. Galley (1869-) - Mrs. Clinton H. Gray
Lennie Stanley (1890-1973) - later Mrs. Hayden and Mrs. William Andrew Clark
Zulma Spurling Stanley (1833-1913)
Mabelle "Belle" Iola Ober (1876-1950) - later Mrs. Charles Andrew Hodgdon
Unknown
Unknown
William Wallace Hodgdon (1834-1904)
Unknown
Gilbert "Gill" Hodgdon (1845-1915) and child
Fannie E. Billings (1862-1948) - Mrs. Edward C. Harper
Harry Victor Seavey (1878-1956)
Lena E. Schuman (1845-1933) - Mrs. Andrew J, Butler - the older woman at the far right of the photograph - at the corner of the building.
Mabel Harriet Gray (1884-1939) - later Mrs. Delmont Harper Murphy - "just behind Janie"

Tremont, Center

ME

USA

October 12, 1892