Rochester, Monroe, NY Democrat & Chronicle Sat May 31, 1902 AT AVON Decoration Day was appropriately observed at Avon yesterday. The monument was gayly decorated and the flag was at half-mast. H. C. Cutler Post and the Woman's Relief Corps met at the post rooms at 2 o'clock and headed by the Avon Springs Cornet Band marched to the cemetery, where the committee decorated the graves of their departed comrades. Returning they marched to the monument, where the ritualistic ceremonies were performed. Marching from there they went to the Opera House where a programme of recitation and song was carried out and a patriotic address was made by the Rev. S. W. STEELE, pastor of Central Church. At 5:30 o'clock the Woman's Relief Corps served supper to the post, the band and invited guests at the parish house. ** STEUBEN A Very Quiet Day on Corning But Dead Were Tenderly Remembered Memorial Day in morning was duly observed in a quiet manner. The day was pleasant, with sunshine everywhere, and "Old Glory" flying from many places in the business center, although this has been the custom in years gone by. Scores of citizens wended their ways to the cemeteries with bouquet and wreaths of flowers to decorate the graves of the Soldier dead. The Grand Army posts and their auxiliaries held services at the cemeteries, and at Hope cemetery and St. Mary's Roman Catholic cemetery volleys were fired in honor of the sleeping soldiers. Last evening services were held in the First Methodist Church by the Grand Army posts, which was filled to overflowing. The programme, already published in the Democrat and Chronicle, was fully carried out. Business places generally were closed during the afternoon. Many of the younger people went to Elmira and Rochester to spend the day. ** AT BATH Veterans at Soldiers' Home Always Give Celebration an Added Interest Memorial Day in Bath was ushered in by overhanging clouds which broke away about 11 o'clock and a beautiful sunny spring prevailed the remainder of the day. There was not as large a crowd as usual on the streets, many people going to Rochester, Buffalo and other places to spend the day. The exercises in Bath, however, were carried out as usual under the auspices of Custer Post, G. A. R. A parade consisting of the soldiers from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Barry Post of the Home, Major John Slocum Camp, sons of Veterans, Custer Post, Bath Common Council, Bath Fire Department, headed by the home Band, was formed at the soldiers' monument on Washington square and the line of march was down Liberty, around Pulteney park, down Morris street to Grove cemetery, there the Grand Army exercises were held. After the parade Rev. John S. BACON, of Pultney, delivered a patriotic address at the Court House. The exercises at the Soldiers' Home were held in the morning, Custer Post and Sons of Veterans of Bath participating. The services at the Home cemetery were held around the grave of the late Sergeant Major John J. McGUIRE. Hon. John PALMER of Albany, formerly commander-in-chief of the G. A. R., was the speaker at the exercises held in the assembly hall at 10:30. ** AT COHOCTON Decoration Day was observed at Cohocton under the auspices of Rodney E. Harris Post No. 240, G. A. R., of Cohocton. The line was formed in front of the post rooms on Maple avenue by Edwin A. DRAPER, marshal of the day and marched to the cemetery, where there was an address by Rev. J. F. BENNETT, of Haskinsville. The graves of soldiers in the Catholic cemetery were decorated by a committee from R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., of Cohocton. This was one of the most successful observances of Memorial day ever held in Cohocton, the weather was fine, the hall was crowded and every one was pleased. ** ONTARIO A Pretty Incident of the Day's Doings at Canandaigua Yesterday Although the promised fair weather failed to materialize for Memorial Day, the occasion drew many people to Canandaigua from the surrounding country. The programme arranged by Albert M. Murray Post, G. A. R., and the Woman's Relief Corps, was carefully carried out. The many friends of these organizations had provided a profusion of blossoms and the morning was passed by delegations from the post in decking the graves of the soldier dead with sweet flowers. A pretty little ceremony was also conducted in the forenoon at the lake by the Woman's Relief corps, who took flowers to the pier and strewed them on the water in honor of the dead sailors, the beautiful custom so recently inaugurated. Promptly at 1:30 o'clock, a column was organized in the public square, in which were included the members of A. M. Murray Post, G. A. R., and other veterans, headed by Marshal Peter SCHLIECK and the Manchester Band. The procession went down Main street to Clark and counter marched to the public square, where ladies of the Relief Corps met it, and joined in the services on the square, which consisted of planting a cross in honor of the soldier and sailor dead that were interred in unknown graves. The service consisted of a dedicatory prayer by Rev. William N. THOMAS, pastor of the Baptist Church; a dirg? by the band, a quartette song, ‘We Decked Their Graves Alike To-day." by Messrs. BROWN, SPENCER, MARTIN and FURN??. after the benediction the procession went to Sch??? hall where an interesting programme was carried out, consisting of an overture by the band, singing by the quartette, chorus singing by the members of the Junior Department of the High School, led by Mrs. E. M. MORSE; the reading of orders by the adjutant of the post, reading of the speech of LINCOLN at Gettysburg, and the introduction of the speaker by Hon. T. H. BENNETT, the president of the day, and a splendid oration by General Joseph E. EWELL, of Buffalo, the judge advocate of the Department of New York, G. A. R. The benediction and singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" by the assemblage, concluded the exercises. In the evening Canandaigua enjoyed two delightful band concerts, that of the Gorton Minstrel Band, on lower Main street, and the Manchester Band, at the park, where a programme of eight selections was rendered. During the afternoon many visitors came from Clifton Springs, Shortsville and other points south and east to witness the ball game at the fair grounds, between the local aggregation and the crack Clifton team. ** AT PHELPS The day sacred to the memory of our dead soldiers was observed at Phelps as usual. A very large audience gathered in Gibson Hall where exercises were conducted under auspices of the John B. Murray Post, consisting of selections by Phelps Coronet Band, singing, reading the roll of honor, a recitation by Miss Lois SECAR and an address by Hiram L. HUTCHENS. Members of the G. A. R., Sons of Veterans, Fire Department and citizens then formed in line and, led by Phelps Coronet Band, marched to the cemetery where graves were decorated and a floral cross planted at the grave of George H. McMILLAN, the last soldier of the post, who was buried in the cemetery. ** Find ALL of the News Abstracts for Monroe Co., NY at http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/NY/Monroe/index.html -- GjS