Author: William Mill Butler

Publisher:

Published: 2015-08-05

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13: 9781332194674

Excerpt from The Semi-Centennial Souvenir: An Account of the Great Celebration, June 9th and 10th, 1884, Together With a Chronological History of Rochester, N. Y The aim of the editors of this little work is not only to present, in convenient chronological form, a history of Rochester from the earliest times to the present day, but to perpetuate a full and faithful account of the semi-centennial celebration, the details of which are necessarily excluded from the elaborate new histories of the city. It may not be amiss to state here that the subject of a proper observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the Flower City's birth was first suggested by D.M. Dewey to Edward Angevine, a veteran journalist on the Post-Express staff, and Mr. Angevine accordingly began the agitation in the columns of the paper on the 18th day of June, 1883, his article containing, besides a large amount of historical matter pertinent to the occasion, the following suggestions: "There is no good reason, it seems to the Post-Express, why this semi-centennial birthday of the Flower City should not be appropriately celebrated by her sons and daughters. It is now none too early to begin to make arrangements, for there is much to be done in the way of preparation for the event. Nothing should be done half-heartedly; no effort should be spared to make the occasion the grandest yet observed in the beautiful city, which has so rapidly and solidly grown up around the Falls of the Genesee. The City of Rochester celebrated the municipal incorporation of the youthful town with the firing of cannon and the ringing of the City Hall bell afterwards for many years hanging in the cupola of the Court House, and the people made merry over the birth of the city. And now that Rochester has lived for half a century let there be another celebration, when the old bell shall again ring out; again let cannon voice the people's joy and thanks; let there be speech-making and processions, and fire-works; let us eat, drink and be merry, for Rochester has now become one of the most important provincial cities of our land. Let the citizens of 1884 living with us now - there are very few of them to be sure - be given the prominent places in the celebration, if they be spared until that time, and let them be honored, for they have been the witnesses of the growth of Rochester from a city of twelve thousand inhabitants to the fourth municipality of the Empire State. Everyone should join in this movement; the aged citizen who helped to clear the fields where now stand stately edifices and where are located broad streets; the child, who may live to witness Rochester's centennial celebration; the business man and the capitalist, the banker and the laborer, all should join iii the effort to make next year memorable in the history of Rochester. Hon. Cornelius R. Parsons and the Aldermen who compose the Common Council should at once take the initiative in this matter. Let them invite aid and counsel, resting assured that they have the approval of all the people." The Post-Express of the same day contained an editorial advocating the proper celebration of the anniversary and urging that a meeting of the citizens be called without delay and the preliminary steps taken. The idea of a semi-centennial celebration must have occurred to several minds at about the same time, for on June 10th, the next (special) meeting of the Common Council, the President, M. Barron, in the chair, the following communication from the Mayor (dated June 16th) was presented: Gentlemen: On the 28th day of April, 1834, the legislature of this state passed an act incorporating the city of Rochester, and the same provided that on the first Monday of June following, certain city officers should he elected. The board of trustees of the village, at a meeting convened on the 20th day of May, in that year, adopted the following: "Resolved, That notice be given of the city election for the firs