Appleton Reunion 1890
About 100 of Its Former Students and Teachers Attend a Reunion---An Association Formed
February 25, 1890
,Former students and teachers of the New Ipswich (N. H.) Appleton academy held a reunion at the American House in Boston, Tuesday evening, and took steps toward forming a permanent organization. The projectors of the meeting had known personally the present location of comparatively few persons who had been connected with the academy, but the list had grown until nearly 1000 invitations were issued. Some of the invited, ex- Calef Justice John Appleton of Maine among the number, replied by letter, regretting that they could not be present; but about 400 enjoyed themselves in the hotel parlors and in the hotel dining- rooms and exchanged reminiscences of their school life in the New Hampshire town.
John Herbert, chairman of the executive committee which had arranged for the reunion, presided, and Rev. W. C. Richards of Natick, 31, was the chaplain of the occasion. John Yorke Atley of Washington was heard from, by phonograph, in a whistling solo, for he could not be present in person, and Prof. J. W. Churchill of Andover read a poem which had been written by S. H. Thayer. Rev. Perley B. Davis of Hyde Park spoke of his associations with the academy which is located in his native town. Mrs. Julia Houston. West of Haverhill sang "The Guardian Angel," Myron W. Whitney, "The Two Grenadiers." Mrs. Hattie Mckown of Now Ipswich, "Oh Promise Me," and Charles H. Clark of New York, "The Postillions,"
William A. Preston, the principal of the academy, Dr. Cecil F. P. Bancroft of Andover, Prof. C. F. Emerson of Dartmouth college, Albert E. Pillsbury of Boston, Charles H. Amsden of Pennacook, N. H. and Charles H. Burns of Wilton, N. H., made speeches under a "five minute rule. On motion of Mr. Pillsbury the thanks of the assembly were tendered to the Lairman for conceiving and doing g so much toward carrying out the idea of "this magnificently successful reunion," and on motion of Mr. Davis the following resolution was adopted by a rising vote, first of Prof. Quimby's former pupils who wore present and then of all who took part in the reunion.
"We, the former pupils of Prof. E. T. Quimby, assembled in reunion with other alumni of New Ipswich Appleton academy, in Boston, Feb. 20, 1890, recalling with thankfulness the valuable service he rendered us in the institution over which be so long and so efficiently sided, desire hereby to express our profound sorrow at the sad tidings just borne to us of the sudden increase of his prolonged illness and to testify that our grateful memories and our deepest sympathies shall attend him until the weakness and weariness of earth shall be exchanged. for the rest of heaven."
The institution had been wen incorporated in 1789 as the New Ipswich academy, and had been named the New Ipswich Appleton academy in 1853, in honor of Samuel Appleton, the donor of nearly $30,000 to its funds. Mr. Appleton's grandnephew, Samuel Arthur Bent, was present during the early part of the proceedings at the reunion. More than one of the speakers deplored the fact that a gathering such as the present was so rare, and Messrs. John Herbert, C. H. Burns, P. B. Davis, C. F. Emerson, Melvin 0. Adams and W. A. Preston were appointed a committee to consider the subject of forming a permanent organization, with the view of having much more frequent meetings in the future. By unanimous vote Mr. Herbert was designated by the meeting for the first president of the association, should one be formed. The singing of a reunion ode which had been written by F. H. Hardison, '72, to the tune "America," ended these proceedings. Afterward the informal reception was resumed, and the committee which had been appointed voted that it was advisable to form "The Appleton Academy association."
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James Roger diary entry
19th August 1913
Fair and warm with nice cool northeast breeze. David at store. I played golf with J. Cummings who beat me 4 up on 15 holes. I cut some lots in afternoon. Got letter from Hamish and Lucy's mother died on 17th. John Cummings to speak at opening of Men's Club on 29th. Ralph Packer asked for leave to make town dump in our pasture. Refused.