Soon after the close of the Historical Meeting, the booming of cannon announced the arrival in New Milford of Governor Woodruff, his staff and a detail of the Governor’s Foot Guard. They were met at the railroad station by a train of automobiles, in which they were taken, after a short ride about the village, to Ingleside School, where they dined in the company of a number of prominent citizens.
Promptly at 8:30 o’clock, the gubernatorial party arrived at Roger Sherman Hall, where it was arranged that they should meet the people of the town, and entered it by a side door. Before the main door was opened for the admission of the general public, seats were given upon the stage and on the floor of the hall in front of the wings on either side to the members of the Colonial Reception Committee and of the Invitation, Reception, and Entertainment Committee; also to the following persons, who had been requested by these committees to assist them in receiving:
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Addis, Mrs. F. E. Baldwin, Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Barker, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Barnes, Miss Mary Barton, Miss Hattie Bassett, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Beach, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Beach, Miss Charlotte B. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Bentley, Miss Helen M. Boardman, Miss Kate T. Boardman, Miss Ruth Booth, Miss Lena Botsford, Miss Bessie Brown, Miss Adaline Buck, Miss Alice Buck, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Donnelly, Miss Susie C. Erwin, Miss Minnie A. Ferriss, Miss Jeannette Gaylord, Mr. and Mrs. Minot S. Giddings, W. G. Green, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Green, Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Hall, Miss Elsie Hall, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Hine, Mrs. J. S. Halpine, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Jackson, Rev. and Mrs. F. A. Johnson, Dr. and Mrs. F. E. King, Mrs. W. F. Kinney, Mr. and Mrs. David Kyle, Miss Carrie Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Marsh, A. H. McMahon, Miss Grace Merwin, Mr. Perry Green, Mr. C. H. Noble and sister, Miss Lizzie Noble, W. B. Pell, Mrs. Pettibone, Mrs. J. F. Plumb, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Randall, Miss Juliette Rogers, Mrs. Wm. Schoverling, Miss Harriet V. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Starr, Miss Minnie Toussaint, F. M. Williams, Dr. and Mrs. G. H. Wright.
The New Milford Cadets (Captain Gifford Noble) were drawn up as guard of honor about the hall, forming an aisle around an open square, through which the people walked as they advanced to greet the Governor and passed out again after shaking his hand. The members of the staff, in full uniform, were in front of the stage and back of the Governor, while, to the right and left of them, the detail from the Foot Guard were stationed as a special guard. By the side of his Excellency stood W. Frank Kinney, the chairman of the Bi-Centennial Invitation, Reception and Entertainment Committee, who presented every one by name. There were many Colonial costumes, many gay uniforms, and many elaborate evening toilettes. In the exquisite setting provided by the pale blue, white and yellow colonial draperies and festoons with which the hall was most artistically decorated, the reception offered an exceptionally brilliant spectacle. In fact, it was probably the most striking affair of its kind New Milford has ever witnessed.
Dancing was begun, to the music of Gartland’s Band, when the handshaking was over, and was kept up for two or three hours after the Governor and his party had retired.
Governor Woodruff was also entertained in the rooms of the Commercial Club; in Odd Fellows’ and Masonic Hall, where he was formally welcomed by Henry O. Warner, Past Master of the New Milford Masonic lodge; and by the New Milford Fire Department, in their quarters, where he was welcomed by Chief John F. Addis, who presented him with an engrossed certificate of honorary membership in Water Witch Hose Company, No. 2.
