The Society's meetings, season 1914-1915.
ON October 19 the opening meeting of the season was held.
The paper of the evening, ‘In the Beginning of the Age of Steam,’ was one prepared some ten years before, but thus presented for the first time to fill an emergency gap in the program.
This was by
Moses W. Mann, who gave it as the ‘Cruise of the
Merrimack.’
An abstract of this paper was then in press for the register under that title.
Rosewell B. Lawrence,
Esq., one of our vice-presidents, on November 16 entertained the society (as he has previously done) with an account of his vacation trip, this time to the ‘
Hawaiian Islands.’
Mr. Lawrence's interesting story was made the more vivid by numerous views, most of which were secured by his own camera and shown by
Mr. Brayton.
On December 21 another of our members,
Mrs. Augusta Brigham, favored us with her story of ‘Ten Soldier Brothers in the Revolution,’ an uncommon occurrence, and the story most interestingly told.
At the January, or annual, meeting the reports were made and election of officers took place, prior to which former
president John H. Hooper read the highly interesting account of
A. K. Hathaway, ‘An Old Medford Schoolmaster,’ who was known to the older members of the society.
The speaker on February 15 was
Mr. George G. Wolkins of the
Old South Historical Association, and his
[p. 88] subject ‘The
Old South Meeting-house.’
The speaker dealt with the earlier history of the church more particularly; also at less extent, with the meetinghouse, and the means by which it has been preserved.
The same was replete with interest, and a goodly number were present.
March 15 was ‘Old Home Evening.’
Our townsman,
Mr. George W. Hersey, with the assistance of
Mr. Brayton, gave us a personally conducted tour through
Medford, and brought out of his camera treasures, things new and old, the lakes, the Fells,
Medford's old houses, streets and people, and all so true to detail, life and nature.
We
let George do it, for he is master of his art.
April 19, Patriots' Day, was noticed by a program of patriotic readings, and music by young ladies of the high school.
The president displayed the old flag taken at
Lexington, and spoke of the events of April 19 of 1775 and 1861, and
Medford's part in them; also of the legislative enactment of the 19th as Patriots' Day, and at intervals introduced the
Misses Gladys Falt,
Mildred Grimes and
Mary Rowan, who read ‘
Paul Revere's Ride,’‘Hang out the Lanterns,’ and a poem on Patriots' Day by some
Medford author (unknown) on occasion of its first observance.
Miss Myrtle May Meloon entertained the company with selections on the mandolin, and also played the ancient piano, made in
London over a century ago, closing with
America.
This entertainment, ‘Made Mostly by Medford Maidens,’ was favored by the largest attendance of the season.
On May 17
Rev. Anson Titus of
Somerville gave a most interesting address on ‘The Social and Economic Conditions Attending the
Years Following the
American Revolution.’
Those present found it ‘the best wine at the last of the feast,’ and were sorry for the absent ones.
Some untoward circumstances caused a small attendance, the least of the season (perhaps the least ever known). Ten days later the society vacated its rooms, which are now but a memory.
