CHAPTER XIX. ECHOES OF THE CENTENNIAL. The celebration having concluded, flags and bunting were now taken down, reviewing stands were removed from front yards and street corners, and Centennial medals and badges were laid aside for preservation as souvenirs. The headquarters of the Centennial Commission were kept open until the business was practically settled and then the rooms were stripped of their decorations, the desks, tables and chairs were sold, and the doors finally locked by the Director-General. This did not, however, end the labors of that official nor of the Commission. Meetings continued to be held, at which various matters incident to the Centennial came up for final disposition. A large oil painting of the harbor, which had been on exhibition in the Commission rooms, was presented to the Chamber of Commerce. Other diagrams, maps and drawings of value were transferred to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The committee in charge of the log cabin register presented this also to the society. A carefully prepared report was made by Bolivar Butts, Chairman of the Committee, showing the number and geographical distribution of visitors to the cabin from July 18th to September 11th. They came from forty-five states and territories, and from seventeen foreign countries. The total number was 344,000. The number registered was 7,210, distributed as follows: Cleveland, 4,213; Ohio (outside of Cleveland), 1,860; Pennsylvania, 224; New York, 207; Michigan, 132; Illinois, 94; Indiana, 58; Missouri, 37; West Virginia, 21; Wisconsin, 16; New Jersey, 15; Kentucky, 18; Washington, D. C., 14; Minnesota, 12; Iowa, 10; Connecticut, 15; New Hampshire, 7; Montana, 7; Colorado, 8; Kansas, 7; Maryland, 6; Tennessee, 8; Nebraska, 7; Texas, 7; Alabama, 3; Mississippi, 3; Louisiana, 5; Vermont, 4; Georgia, 4; Oklahama, 3; New Mexico, 2; Dakota, 5; Utah, 2; Maine, 4; Florida, 4; Rhode Island, 2; Washington, 2; Idaho, 1; North Carolina, 1; Arkansas, 1; Arizona, 1; Indian Territory, 1; Canada, 23; England, 18; Ireland, 8; Scotland, 4; Wales, 1; Isle of Man, 1; France, 5; Germany, 10; Hungary, 3; Switzerland, 2; Sweden, 5; Denmark, 1; Bermuda, 1; Newfoundland, 1; Japan, 1; Turkey, 2; Mexico, 2. The log cabin was sold and torn down late in September, and early in October the Centennial Arch was also demolished. Numerous letters from guests who were present at various times during the Centennial were received by Director-General Day. One from Governor Bushnell read as follows: To Wilson M. Day: I want to again thank you, your Commission, and the citizens of Cleveland, for the many courtesies extended me during my visits to your beautiful city; and I wish for you all health, happiness and abundant prosperity. With cordial regards, Very truly yours, ASA S. BUSHNELL. Another letter was from Colonel J. S. Poland, of the Regular Army, as follows: COLUMBUS BARRACKS, September 18, 1896. Colonel George A. Garretson, Chairman Military Committee, Cleveland Centennial Commission, Cleveland, (.: DEAR SIR:-One of the pleasantest duties devolved upon me in connection with the encampment of the United States troops at Cleveland this summer is to express to you the appreciation of the officers and soldiers of my command, of the many courtesies and the generous provisions which were extended to, and made for their comfort by your able and efficient committee. I feel particularly indebted to yourself, Captain J. B. Perkins, Mr. Webb C. Hayes, and Major A. K. A. Liebich, for constant attention to our situation under all conditions. I assure you that the officers and men have returned to their stations with the most kindly regard for and remembrance of the hospitable citizens of your beautiful city, and they will welcome orders for other summer tours of duty at or near the delightful city of Cleveland. I have the honor to be very sincerely yours, J. S. POLAND, Colonel Seventeenth United States Infantry, commanding United States Troops, Cleveland, O. The Centennial Finance Committee, after holding several meetings and paying all bills, reported a balance of $2,805.61 in the treasury. Of this amount, $2,455.61 was donated on December 1, 1896, to the Bethel Associated Charities for the benefit of the poor, and $350 was donated to the Floating Bethel. During the fall and early winter the Woman's Department was zealously engaged in an undertaking indicative of woman's thoughtfulness and far-sightedness. Believing that future generations would be interested in the celebration of 1896 it was determined to collect articles and collate facts connected with the same and place them in an aluminum box to be hermetically sealed, this box to remain in the custody of the Western Reserve Historical Society to be opened in 1996 by a lineal descendant of a member of the executive board of the department. Exercises connected with the dedication of the box were held in the assembly room of the Public Library building, at 2:30 o'clock, Friday afternoon, December 18th, 1896. A large audience, comprising the membership of the Woman's Department, was present. The programme was opened with prayer by Rev. Marion Murdoch, of Unity Church. Mrs. W. A. Ingham, President of the Woman's Department, then spoke briefly. After the rendition of a solo, Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, Chairman of the Executive Board, read an inscription written by Mrs. T. K. Dissette, and engraved on the lid of the box as follows: 1896 to 1996. GREETING. 1896 to 1996. This casket contains for you the records of the Woman's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission. To be opened by a lineal daughter of a member of the executive board in 1996. Mrs. W. A. Ingham, Mrs. Mary S. Bradford, Mrs. S. P. Churchill, Mrs. T. K. Dissette, Mrs. O. J. Hodge, 'Rise, too, ye shapes and shadows of the past, At last let us behold your faces, many courtesies extended me during my visits to your beautiful city; and I wish for you all health, happiness and abundant prosperity. With cordial regards, Very truly yours, ASA S. BUSHNELL. Another letter was from Colonel J. S. Poland, of the Regular Army, as follows: COLUMBUS BARRACKS, September 18, 1896. Colonel George A. Garretson, Chairman Military Committee, Cleveland Centennial Commission, Cleveland, O.: DEAR SIR:-One of the pleasantest duties devolved upon me in connection with the encampment of the United States troops at Cleveland this summer is to express to you the appreciation of the officers and soldiers of my command, of the many courtesies and the generous provisions which were extended to, and made for their comfort by your able and efficient committee. I feel particularly indebted to yourself, Captain J. B. Perkins, Mr. Webb C. Hayes, and Major A. K. A. Liebich, for constant attention to our situation under all conditions. I assure you that the officers and men have returned to their stations with the most kindly regard for and remembrance of the hospitable citizens of your beautiful city, and they will welcome orders for other summer tours of duty at or near the delightful city of Cleveland. I have the honor to be very sincerely yours, J. S. POLAND, Colonel Seventeenth United States Infantry, commanding United States Troops, Cleveland, O. The Centennial Finance Committee, after holding several meetings and paying all bills, reported a balance of $2,805.61 in the treasury. Of this amount, $2,455.61 was donated on December 1, 1896, to the Bethel Associated Charities for the benefit of the poor, and $350 was donated to the Floating Bethel. During the fall and early winter the Woman's Department was zealously engaged in an undertaking indicative of woman's thoughtfulness and far-sightedness. Believing that future generations would be interested in the celebration of 1896 it was determined to collect articles and collate facts connected with the same and place them in an aluminum box to be hermetically sealed, this box to remain in the custody of the Western Reserve Historical Society to be opened in 1996 by a lineal descendant of a member of the executive board of the department. Exercises connected with the dedication of the box were held in the assembly room of the Public Library building, at 2:30 o'clock, Friday afternoon, December 18th, 1896. A large audience, comprising the membership of the Woman's Department, was present. The programme was opened with prayer by Rev. Marion Murdoch, of Unity Church. Mrs. Ŵ. A. Ingham, President of the Woman's Department, then spoke briefly. After the rendition of a solo, Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, Chairman of the Executive Board, read an inscription written by Mrs. T. K. Dissette, and engraved on the lid of the box as follows: 1896 to 1996. GREETING. 1896 to 1996. the This casket contains for you the records of the Woman's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission. To be opened by a lineal daughter of a member executive board in 1996. Mrs. W. A. Ingham, Mrs. Mary S. Bradford, Mrs. S. P. Churchill, Mrs. T. K. Dissette, Mrs. H. A. Griffin, Mrs. O. J. Hodge, Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, Miss Elizabeth Blair, Mrs. A. J. Williams, "Rise, too, ye shapes and shadows of the past, At last let us behold your faces, |