Boston Club Visits George H. Morrill’s New Home, “The Pines”-October 19, 1894

HELPED HIM CELEBRATE

Boston Club Visit George H. Morrill Jr.
His New Home, “The Pines.” at Norwood a Thing of Beauty.
The Famous Diners are Royally Entertained by the Host and His Wife.

The members of the Boston club held their annual fete champetre at Norwood, as the guests of George H. Morrill Jr, yesterday, and it was the consensus of opinion of all present that it was one of the most enjoyable outings of the club since Its organization. The members left the New England depot on the 10 am train.

At Readville Mr. Morrill met the train with two drags, each drawn by six horses, and those of the party who desired left the train and were taken for a delightful drive through the country. The other members of the club continued on to Norwood, where they were met by Lieut J. Stearns Cushing with several teams, and driven over to several of the principal industries of the town. These having been inspected, a short call was made at the residence of the genial lieutenant, and at the noon hour they joined the party which left the train at Readvllle, and drove to “The Pine”, the home of Mr. Morrill.

As the party drove up a salute of seven guns was fired from a battery on the lawn, in honor of Com Charles V. Whitten, president of the club.

After alighting the company was ushered into the large reception room and received a cordial welcome from Mrs. Morrill, who was assisted in receiving by her charming daughter, and it took but a very few minutes to make everybody feel thoroughly at home.

A recherche lunch awaited the guests in the dining room, and the well-known hospitality of the host was here fully demonstrated.

After lunch, a couple of hours was spent in sociability, and not a little interest was manifested in examining the beautiful new mansion of the host.

The structure is entirely of stone, and is built on a commanding eminence, overlooking the town and the surrounding country, and “The Pines,” is considered one of the most modern residences in its equipment in New England.

Everything is run by electricity, even to the playing of a grand piano in the hall, and the immense stable in the rear, which is also built of stone, is a model in interior arrangements.

Mr. Morrill has spent thousands of dollars on his home, and he has one of which he may feel justly proud. He was highly complimented by the members of the club on the site and architecture.

At 1 o’clock the company assembled in the upper banquet hall and sat down to an excellent dinner, at which Pres Whitten presided. The tables were loaded with choice flowers and presented a very attractive appearance.

At the right of President Whitten sat the host, while on his left sat George H. Morrill Sr and Dr. Thomas. L. Jenks, while at the tables running the full length of the hall sat Colonel Horace T. Rockwell, W. T. Adams, Oliver Optic, Benjamin Jones, Peter McIntyre, W. H. Swift, William Jackson, L. B. Porter, Norris C. Fitch, Horace B. Fisher, W. M. Flanders, H. H. Sawyer, Edwin L. Pillsbury, A. B. Heath, Lieut J. S. Cushing, Newton Talbot, L. Foster Morse, L. W. Creech Jr, J. A. Davis, Lewis J. Bird, and John Galvin.

Amid the popping of corks and the lighting of cigars. Pres Whitten called for order, and for the first time intimated what had brought the club to Norwood. They had come, he said, to assist their genial host in celebrating his 39th birthday, and he felt sure that every member of the club wished him long life and prosperity.

This sentiment was endorsed by Dr. Thomas L. Jenks and W. H. Swift, and in fact by every member of the club, by rising and drinking to the health of the host, whose response was loudly applauded.

Mr. Morrill said he could not find words to express his feelings at that time. He thanked the gentlemen for their kind greetings, and he hoped the day was not far distant when they would all meet again under similar conditions.

Rufus H Brown of Peabody made one of his facetious speeches, in which he eulogized the ozone and foliage of Norwood.

The health of George H. Morrill Sr was proposed by the chairman, and eulogistic speeches were made by Col Rockwell, Lieut Cushing, and Dr. A. B. Heath. J. A. Davis and others.

During the repast, some excellent music was interspersed with the addresses, and shortly before 6 o’clock the guests again mounted the drags and returned home by way of West Dedham, all thoroughly delighted with their day’s outing.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Boston Globe