Town Celebrations
2016.03
Collection Information
Title : Town Celebrations
Abstract : Collection contains items pertaining to celebrations held by the Town of Douglas. Items include letters, programs, souvenir booklets, photograph albums, ephemera, newspaper clippings and guest book registers.
Dates : Bulk 1903-1996
Quantity : 2 – 2 ½” Document Boxes comprised of 28 Folders, 1 Photograph Album, 1 Digital Item
Repository : Simon Fairfield Public Library, Historical Archive.
Finding Aid : Finding Aid in print form is available in the Repository.
Preferred Citation : [Box #, Item identification], Town Celebrations, Simon Fairfield Public Library, Historical Archive.
Provenance : Most items were found in the Simon Fairfield Public Library Archival Cabinet in 2016. Some items were found in the Simon Fairfield Public Library Attic in 2017. For these items, there is no further accession information available. Douglas Salutes America’s 200 Years of Independence souvenir booklet was donated by Betty Mikoalycik from her private collection. She acquired the item in 1976. The photocopy of the 1946 Baseball Game Scorecard was from Rebecca Lavallee’s private collection.
Processing Information : This collection was processed by Rebecca Lavallee on November 7, 2016.
Historical/Biographical Notes
Old Home Week : During a town meeting in 1903, the townspeople of Douglas voted to hold “Old Home Week” from July 28 to July 29.
The practice of “Old Home Week” began at the turn of the 20th Century in New England. The primary purpose of this celebration was for former residents of the town to return and to visit family, friends, and the place where they grew up.
In 1903, Douglas held her first “Old Home Week”. The event lasted two days and was attended by many Douglas natives, including United States Congressman John R.Thayer, Judge John F. Brown, and Charles H. Hutchins, president of Crompton & Knowles Loom Works. Also involved in the celebrations were Mrs. Mary Hunt (wife of Douglas native Leander B. Hunt), the Honorable M. Taft and General Augustus R.B. Sprague. Mrs. Hunt was a prominent activist and superintendent of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union’s Division of Scientific Temperance Instruction. The Taft and Sprague families both had deep historical ties to the Town of Douglas.
There are indications that an “Old Home Week” was also held in 1919, however there are no documents or artifacts in the archive to support this.
The 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home Celebration : In 1946, the Town of Douglas turned 200 years old. At the same time, the Second World War had come to an end and the town was welcoming home the 363 men and women who served. In celebration of both these events, the Town hosted a four-day celebration from August 24 to August 27.
The celebration included: a Grand Parade, Clambake for Veterans, Army Vets vs. Navy Vets Softball Game, Historical Exhibits, Victory Dances, Memorial Church Services, Blackstone Valley League Baseball Game, Band Concerts, Field Day and Doll Carriage Parade for children, Memorial Square Dedication, World War II Veterans Assembly and Testimonial, a Major League Baseball Exhibition Baseball Game and Fireworks.
One of the biggest draws of the celebration was the Major League Baseball Exhibition game, On the last day of the celebration, the Boston Red Sox and Ted Williams would be facing off against the Cleveland Indians at Schuster Field. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the game was rained out. Winfield S. Schuster managed to reschedule the game for September 25, 1946. The one change to the game is that it would be the Boston Red Sox versus the New York Yankees.
America’s 200th Anniversary : In 1976, the United States of America celebrated her 200th Birthday, and like most towns and cities, Douglas held her own celebration. The Bicentennial Observance was held on October 2, 1976. The celebration primarily consisted of a parade through downtown Douglas, with floats from the various town organizations, the school band, local military groups, and local businesses. The judging and awards of the parade were followed by musical presentations from the marching bands and corps with selections from the Bicentennial Choir. The celebration concluded with dancing.
The 250th Anniversary : In 1996, Douglas celebrated her 250th Anniversary. The celebration began in June with a re-enactment of the famous 1946 baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, in which fifteen of the original ballplayers were in attendance. In October, there was a six-division parade in which 15,000 attended the festivities. Time and Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas was published and gives an in-depth look at the history of Douglas, her people and the industries that once made up the town.
Scope and Content
This collection is comprised of items regarding the Old Home Week Celebration of 1903, the 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home Celebration in 1946, America’s 200th Anniversary in 1976 and the 250th Anniversary of Douglas in 1996. Included in this collection are letters, programs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, ephemera and commemoration booklets. In the 200th Anniversary Celebration, there is the packet that was given to veteran Fred E.J. Crockett regarding the celebration. To go along with the scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and commemoration booklets, there are tables of contents, picture indexes and name indexes.
Series Descriptions
Series 1 : Old Home Week (1903)
Series Description : Letters, letterhead, bulletins, programs, registers and newspaper clippings for Old Home Week.
Series 2 : 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home
Sub-series 1 : Ephemera
Sub-series Description : Table of contents, guest registers, scrapbooks, and newspaper articles
Sub-series 2 : The Fred E.J. Crockett Collection
Sub-series Description : Table of contents, program, packet distributed to veterans regarding the celebration, including event tickets, program and ribbon, and newspaper articles found in the booklet.
Sub-series 3 : The Stephen L. Limanek Collection
Sub-series Description : Packet distributed to veterans regarding the celebration, program and pictures.
Series 3 : Douglas Salutes America’s 200 Years of Independence
Series Description : Bicentennial program booklet and photograph album.
Series 4 : 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas
Series Description : Table of contents, indexes, Commemoration book, and anniversary cookbook.
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 1: Old Home Week (1903)
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 1 | 1 | 2016.03.01.01 | July 9, 1903 – Letter from Chas. A Pierce (Secretary of Old Home Week, East Douglas, Mass.) to Fred Jones of New Bedford, Mass., regarding observation of and schedule of Old Home Week. |
| 1 | 2 | 2016.03.01.02 | [1903] – Envelope and Letterhead of Old Home Week, East Douglas, Mass. (copy to stay in Library). |
| 1 | 3 | 2016.03.01.03 | [1903] – Bulletin from Chas. P. Pierce (Secretary of Old Home Week, East Douglas, Mass.) to the Fellow Townsman regarding the hospitality and yard conditions during Old Home Week. |
| 1 | 4 | 2016.03.01.04 | [1903] Program – Programme, Old Home Week – Douglas, Tuesday Evening, July 28 in the Second Congregational Church. |
| 1 | 5 | 2016.03.01.05 | Program – Old Home Week. Douglas. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28-29, 1903 (4 copies). |
| 1 | 6 | 2016.03.01.06 | Register – “Old Home Week, Douglas, Mass., Tuesday and Wednesday July 28-29, 1903”. |
| 1 | 7 | 2016.03.01.07 | [July 1903] – Various newspaper clippings regarding “Old Home Week” in East Douglas, Mass. * Many of the clippings are incomplete and do not have order. * Index can be found in Appendix A |
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 2: 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home
Sub-Series 1: Ephemera
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 2 | 1 | 2016.03.02.01.01 | Appendix B: Table of Contents for Guest Books by Mrs. Curfew and Mrs. Wye. |
| 2 | 2 | 2016.03.02.01.02 | Pages from “In Honor of: Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home For Veterans, World War II” Scrapbook #1, Presented by Mrs. Lilian Curfew. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.01.03 | Pages from “In Honor of: Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home For Veterans, World War II” Scrapbook #2, Presented by Mrs. E.A. Wye. |
| 2 | 4 | 2016.03.02.01.04 | “’Welcome Home’ Testimonial Scheduled Tonight In Douglas.” The Woonsocket Call. August 26, 1946. (Incomplete Article). |
| 2 | 5 | 2016.03.02.01.05 | Appendix C: Table of Contents for Town of Douglas Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook #1, 1946. |
| 2 | 6 | 2016.03.02.01.06 | Appendix D: Index of Names, Places, and Events for Town of Douglas Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook #1, 1946. |
| 2 | 7 | 2016.03.02.01.07 | pp. 1-85 Newspaper & Program Clippings from the “Town of Douglas Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook #1, 1946 to 1948”. |
| 2 | 8 | 2016.03.02.01.08 | pp. 86-145 Newspaper & Program Clippings from the “Town of Douglas Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook #1, 1946 to 1948”. |
| 2 | 9 | 2016.03.02.01.09a | Photocopy: “Official Scorecard – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, Soldiers Field, East Douglas, Sept. 26, 1946.” |
| Digital | 2016.03.02.01.09b | Photocopy: “Official Scorecard – Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, Soldiers Field, East Douglas, Sept. 26, 1946.” |
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 2: 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home
Sub-Series 2: The Fred E.J. Crockett Collection
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 2 | 1 | 2016.03.02.02.01 | Appendix E: Table of Contents for Town of Douglas, 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home for War World II Veterans. |
| 2 | 2 | 2016.03.02.02.02 | General, 200th Anniversary & Welcome Home Committees. Town of Douglas, 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home for War World II Veterans. Douglas, MA: [Publisher unknown], 1946. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.03 | Envelope – Town of Douglas Welcome Home for Veteran “Fred E.J. Crockett”. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.04 | August 10, 1946 – Letter to Veteran from the General Committee regarding the Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home for Veterans, World War II Celebration. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.05 | Town of Douglas, Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home for Veterans, World War II Program. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.06 | Ticket – Clam Bake for Town of Douglas World War II Veterans, Saturday, August 24, 1946 – 2 P.M. Schuster Field. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.07 | Ticket – Welcome Home Dinner for Town of Douglas World War II Veterans, Monday, August 26, 1946 – 6 P.M. Lower Town Hall. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.02.08 | Lapel Ribbon – Welcome Home, World War II, 1946. |
| 2 | 4 | 2016.03.02.02.09 | “4-Day Celebration to Mark 200th Anniversary in Douglas.” The Woonsocket Call. August 23, 1946. |
| 2 | 4 | 2016.03.02.02.10 | “Parade, Naval Air Display, Dances to Open Gala Douglas Observance.” The Woonsocket Call. August 23, 1946. |
| 2 | 4 | 2016.03.02.02.11 | “Town, Scoured And Painted, Awaits Thousands of Visitors” The Woonsocket Call. August 23, 1946. |
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 2: 200th Anniversary and Welcome Home
Sub-Series 3: The Stephen L. Limanek Collection
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 2 | 1 | 2016.03.02.03.01 | Envelope – Town of Douglas Welcome Home for Veteran “Stephen L. Limanek”. |
| 2 | 2 | 2016.03.02.03.02 | August 10, 1946 – Letter to Veteran from the General Committee regarding the Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home for Veterans, World War II Celebration. |
| 2 | 3 | 2016.03.02.03.03 | Town of Douglas, Two Hundredth Anniversary and Welcome Home for Veterans, World War II Program. |
| 2 | 4 | 2016.03.02.03.04 | Pictures from The Grand Parade on August 24, 1946. |
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 3: Douglas Salutes America’s 200 Years of Independence
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 1 | 1 | 2016.03.03.01 | General, Bicentennial Committee. Douglas Salutes America’s 200 Years of Independence. Douglas, MA: [Publisher unknown], 1976. |
| Shelf | 2016.03.03.02 | A Chronological Photographic Record of the Town of Douglas 1766 – 1976, Bicentennial Parade, Saturday Oct. 2, 1976. Photographs Taken by Bill Baron, Manchaug Road, E. Douglas, MA. And presented to the Douglas Historical Society on March 28, 1979. |
Town Celebrations
2016.03
Series 4: 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas
| Box# | Folder# | Collection# | Description |
| 1 | 1 | 2016.03.04.01 | Appendix F: Table of Contents for Time and Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas, Massachusetts. |
| 1 | 1 | 2016.03.04.02 | Appendix G: Index of Names, Places, and Events for Time and Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas, Massachusetts. |
| 1 | 1 | 2016.03.04.03 | Appendix H: Picture Index of People and Places for Time and Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas, Massachusetts. |
| 1 | 2 | 2016.03.04.04 | General, The 250th Anniversary Committee. Time and Town: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Town of Douglas, Massachusetts. Douglas, MA: [Publisher unknown], 1996. |
| 1 | 3 | 2016.03.04.05 | 250th Anniversary Cookbook Committee. What’s Been Cookin’ in Douglas: A Book of Recipes by the People of Douglas. Douglas, MA: [Publisher unknown], 1996. |