Harnett County NcArchives News.....Harnett's 50th Anniversary 1905 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Connie Ardrey n/a February 4, 2008, 9:36 pm Charlotte Daily Observer 1905 4 Aug 1905 Harnett's Great Event - County's 50th Anniversary Lillington, Aug. 3 - Harnett county celebrated here today it fiftieth anniversary, nearly 5,000 people attending, hundreds being from Raleigh and Cumberland. Among the party which came on the special train from Raleigh were Gen. Julian S. Carr, Henry Jerome Stockard, John D. Bellamy, Penitentiary Superintendent Mann, Chairman McNeill, of the corporation commission; William J. Peele, State Auditor Dixon, Editor Josephus Daniels and representatives of the newspapers. The Raleigh & Southport Railway carried 400 people from Raleigh alone. Lillington, merely a hamlet, was found to be decorated like a warship dressed for display, with big paintings by traveling artists hanging from buildings, no end of flags and signals of welcome, and a triumph arch. Promptly at 11 o'clock the exercises began in the auditorium, which the people had built alongside the railway, north of town, for permanent use. Half the crowd gathered there, being well dressed and well behaved. The affair was quickly seen to be a great reunion, with speeches as secondary features, but with music by the excellent band of the Third Regiment as a strong drawing card. Harnett has had seven sheriffs, the first one, named Johnson, died only last year; the other six were present. There was a parade, headed by Chief Marshall Hodges, with 100 mounted assistants. H.L Godwin was master of ceremonies, and everything went very smoothly, though several of the assigned speakers made only five minute talks, this courtesy being much appreciated by the two acres of people. Mr. Godwin said North Carolina had been invited and had certainly sent a big representation. No gathering is complete in Harnett county without Dan Hugh McLean, who delivered the opening address, touching upon fifty years of life of his county which, until a few years ago, had team transportation, and now has three railways and a big industrial plant. President J. Allison Hodges, of Richmond Medical College, made a striking speech. He is a native of Harnett and paid his county a tribute which was heartily cheered. He said he was, first of all things, a North Carolinian, addressing the young men, assuring them that North Carolina afforded golden opportunities of success and reputation and they do not have to leave here to win these. Curtis M. Muse introduced ex-Congressman John D. Bellamy as a man dear to the Harnett people. His address was historical and touched upon the whole of the Cape Fear section, his subject being "Alexander Lillington," whom he showed to be a real hero of the battle of Moore's Creek. Recess was taken for dinner, and from well-stored boxes cookery which reminded old-timers of before the war developed itself. There were big family, or rather clan, reunions and even the court house was given up to these. Over one thousand vehicles were in town and the suburbs, and good humor, bounty and hearty welcomes were features of Harnett's most memorable day. After dinner, Representative E.F. McCulloch, of Bladen, delivered an address on his county, in which he graphically described Elizabethtown and bespoke the erection of a monument there. John D. Bellamy said Governor Glenn had been slated for an address, but pressure of business made it impossible for him to be present. He spoke of Governor Glenn as the industrial Governor of North Carolina, and said the Governor had requested him to announce that President Roosevelt and his cabinet would attend the State Fair in Raleigh on October 19th, and address the people of North Carolina, and inviting the people of the State to be present and welcome and hear the President. Miss Mattie Young, a strikingly handsome young woman from Dunn, read an original poem, "Echoes," written by Harnett's poet, Prof. Thos. W. Harrington. She was given undivided attention and was rewarded by rattling applause. Time began to press, and the other speakers simply made talks, these being Dr. C.W. Byrd, of Harnett; Henry L. Cook, of Cumberland; Wm. J. Peele, chairman of the North Carolina historical commission; and Wm. E. Murchison. R.L. Godwin, of Dunn, introduced Mr. Cooke, whose theme was Cumberland county, and the part of the Scotch played in the great drama in the revolution. He then asked leave to print his speech. Chas. U. Harris introduced Mr. Peele, whose remarks were very witty, and who said he would not read his speech, which was on Cornelius Harnett, as Sir Walter Raleigh, who had written the first history of North Carolina had been officially killed, while Lawson, next historian of the State, had been burned alive by Indians. Capt. Samuel A. Ashe was slated for an address, but sent his address, saying it would give him peculiar pleasure to speak on some other occasion. Thos. W. Arrington introduced John C. Angier, of the Cape Fear & Northern Railway, and John A. Mills, of the Raleigh & Southport Railway, as being two of three men who had developed Harnett, the third man being Will Erwin, of Durham, builder of the great cotton mill at Duke. The celebration was unmarked by accident and was a model in every respect, and every visitor was delighted with Harnett's bountiful and sincere old-time greeting. 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