DE
VRIES MONUMENT
1909
HUDSON
- DEVRIES CELBRATION
The
Hudson – De Vres Celebration held Wednesday , September 22,
1909
to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Dutch
occupation
of
Delaware's Cape's. The event was closed with a Ball in the
Auditorium
last
evening attended by hundreds of people and prominent officials,
all
entertained hospitable by the townspeople.
Poor
weather did not deter the details of the program which was
carried
out
successfully. Lewes businesses were closed for the day and well
decorated
with red, white and blue and Dutch colors and a holiday air
was
present.. Fog , drizzling rain came mid mid-morning and
obscured
the
sea craft in the inner harbor that included the Battleship
Montana
and
Cruiser Dixie.
The
DeVries monument was unveiled at two in the afternoon in a steady
rain
was attended by many, but, there were many who chose not to get
wet
and missed the most interesting feature of the celebration. At
three
the
sun was shining. The Dutch Minister to the United States, the
guest
of
honor, Baron Johnkeer Loudon, presented his address at the
monument
with success and attended by a battery of dignitaries of the
state,
counties and nearby towns.
Baron
Loudon made a favorable impression with his interesting remarks
of
history and his characteristic Dutch wit. There was a musical
program
of
patriotic pieces b the First Infantry Band.
The
monument is of gray granite, near eight foot high, resting on a
three
foot concrete base, four foot wide and two feet thick. The site
for
the
stone was donated by Captain & Mrs Harry Lyons. Funds came
from
the
state through the Legislature. There was a parade with the First
Infantry
Band and historic event floats., a Dutch Throne, a Spanish
Throne
with local occupants, a Dutch settlers house, a full rigged
ship,
the Hoorne house by Zwanendael Club, an old mill, Episcopal church,
and
others.
There was the First Delaware Regiment and Band, and The Lewes
Boys
Band
Abstract:
Wilmington News Journal, September 23, 1909
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