Interesting Observance by the Society of the Anniversary of the Battle of April 19, 1775.
The Society held an interesting observance, April 19, 1905, the date being the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, Concord and Cambridge, fought in 1775. The programme comprised a patriotic pilgrimage to Lexington, and other features of interest.
The Boston members, and their guests, went out to Lexington in automobiles, leaving Boston about 10.15 a. m. Each member and guest wore a neat badge, specially designed for the occasion, and comprising the Revolutionary colors buff and blue. Each badge bore the initials of the Society, “A. I. H. S.,” and the inscription, “Lexington, 1775–1905.”
Reaching Cambridge, the party stopped at the City Hall there and a call was made on Hon. Augustine J. Daly, mayor of Cambridge. All the members of the party were introduced to the mayor, who was assisted in receiving by City Clerk Edward J. Brandon, J. Edward Barry, president of the board of aldermen; Mr. Edward A. Counihan, mayor’s clerk, and other officials.
After the introduction and greetings, lunch was served. Leaving Cambridge city hall, the party started for Lexington. Many historic points were passed, including Harvard College, the Old Elm, where Washington took command of the American Army, and a number of memorial tablets.
Arriving at the Lexington town hall, the party was warmly welcomed by Mr. George W. Taylor, chairman of the board of selectmen, and by other officials of the town. All then walked to the battle monument on the village green, where the Society placed a laurel wreath to the memory of the patriotic dead. This wreath measured about three feet in diameter, and was tied with buff and blue ribbon.
Assembled around the monument at this time, in addition to the members of the Society, was a large gathering of the people of Lexington, and visitors from out of town. After the wreath had been put in place on the monument, an oration was delivered by City Clerk Brandon of Cambridge, who dwelt upon the objects of the Society and the lessons of patriotism inculcated by the observance of the day. Mr. Brandon’s remarks were frequently applauded and at the close he was given an ovation. The Society was then grouped, with the monument as a background, and a large photograph of the whole taken.
The Society and guests, escorted by Chairman Taylor of the board of selectmen, then proceeded to the latter’s beautiful residence, “Larchmont,” where they were hospitably entertained. The ladies of the party were specially taken charge of by Mrs. Taylor, while the gentlemen were waited upon by Mr. Taylor and his talented daughter, Miss Amy Ethel Taylor. An elaborate lunch was served, and then followed congratulatory and patriotic addresses by a dozen or more of the visitors.
Following the lunch and the speech-making there was vocal and instrumental music, the whole affair being one of great enjoyment.
Members of the Society were present, during the day, from Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, Lexington and Springfield, Mass.; Providence and Pawtucket, R. I.; Hartford, Conn.; and New York City.
Among those participating in the exercises were: Hon. Patrick Garvan of Hartford, Conn., and his daughters, the Misses Agnes and Genevieve Garvan; Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Murphy, Springfield, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Murray, Boston, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Ryan, Springfield, Mass.; Miss M. Olive Murphy, Boston, Mass.; Mr. T. Vincent Butler, New York City; Mr. Patrick Carter, Providence, R. I.; Mr. John F. Kinsela, Lowell, Mass.; Mr. J. J. Cassidy, Lowell, Mass.; Mr. Bernard McCaughey, Pawtucket, R. I.; Mr. T. P. Kelly, New York City; Mr. Bernard J. Joyce, Boston, Mass.; Mr. M. H. Cox, Mr. Joseph F. O’Connell and other Boston people; Mr. Christopher S. Ryan, Mr. Orlando Bowman and Rev. M. H. Owens, all of Lexington, Mass., Mr. T. F. Gorman, Boston, Mass., and a number of others.
The following is a copy of a letter from Selectman Taylor in connection with the foregoing event, and received previous thereto:
| OFFICIAL SEAL. | OFFICE OF SELECTMEN. |
| Geo. W. Taylor, H. A. C. Woodward, Frank D. Peirce, | Selectmen of Lexington. |
Lexington, Mass., Mar. 24, 1905.
Thomas Hamilton Murray, Esq.,
Sec’y of the American-Irish Historical Society,
36 Newbury St., Boston, Mass.
My dear Sir: Your favor of the 22nd inst., relative to a patriotic pilgrimage of the American-Irish Historical Society on April 19th, is at hand.
As Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, I shall be most happy to receive you at the Town Hall at noon, and will also be glad to attend your exercises on the Common, after which I should be pleased, if you find it convenient, to have you make an informal call at “Larchmont,” my home on Bedford Street, where I had the pleasure of meeting so many of your Society three years ago.
Very truly yours,
Chairman, Board of Selectmen,
Town of Lexington.