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12
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
APRIL 28, 1923
Chickering Centennial Celebration
Notables From the Entire Country, Headed by Vice-President Calvin Coolidge, Gather in Boston to Honor
the Centenary of the First Piano Manufactured by Jonas Chickering, the Founder of
Chickering & Sons, and His Pioneer Work in Developing the American Piano
BOSTON, MASS., April 23.—There was celebrated
in this city on last Saturday with appropriate
and elaborate ceremonies an event of unusual
interest to not only the music industry of the
United States, but to all those directly or in-
directly associated with music in all sections of
Jonas Chickering
Founder of the House of Chickering
the country, namely, the one hundredth anni-
versary of the completion by Jonas Chickering
of his first pianoforte. Every phase of the cere-
monies—and they were many and significant—
was designed to pay tribute direct to Jonas
Chickering himself, his inventions which have
played so important a
part in the development
of the American piano-
forte, and to the ideals
which he established and
which have been adhered
to closely.
T h e completion b y
Chickering of his first
pianoforte marked the
permanent establishment
of the American industry
d e v o t e d to pianoforte
building, and that the in-
dustry has grown so sub-
stantially and been able
to produce a product
that dominates the world
represents the a c c oin -
plishment of a century
that has passed.
That
the P r e s i d e n t of the
United States saw fit to
e x t e n d his. congratula-
tions by telegraph; that
the Vice-President of the
United. States considered
the affair sufficiently im-
portant to warrant his
attendance as principal
speaker, and that men
prominent in practically
The ceremonies in this city on Saturday
marked the climax ot" a celebration which has
been, or will be, observed in many cities
throughout the country and which have been
commented on so freely by the leading daily
papers of the country.
The first event in honor of the memory of
Jonas Chickering was a dinner and reception
for the employes of Chickering & Sons, held at
the factory on T r c m o n t street on Friday eve-
ning, when thirty men and one woman who
have been in the service of Chickering & Sons
for periods ranging from twenty-five to fifty
years were presented with handsome gold
watches suitably engraved.
A bullet supper
preceded the presentation of the watches and
the ceremonies were followed by dancing.
The Ceremonies at the Factory
The ceremonies at the factory were opened
by C. Alfred Wagner, president of Chickering
& Sons, who emphasized the significance of the
celebration and paid high tribute to those mem-
bers of the factory organization who had so
conscientiously worked to maintain the ideals
laid down by the founder of the business and
whose work was responsible for the high stand-
ing of the Chickering piano of to-day.
Mr. Wagner then introduced Richard W.
Lawrence, president of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, who, for his part, told
of the significant part played by the inventions
of Jonas Chickering in the development of the
American pianoforte of to-day, and who em-
phasized the fact that without the men and wom-
en at the benches at the factories and their
proper spirit of co-operation the present rcpu-
talion and standing of the American piano
would have been impossible. After a short ad-
dress by George E. Foster, president of the
American Piano Co., Mr. Wagner read to the
employes a letter from Mrs. Mary Chickering
Nichols, granddaughter of Jonas (bickering,
attend the celebration exercises next Friday
night and, as the only living grandchild of
Jonas Chickering, to hand personally to those
who have been for twenty-five years or more in
the service of Chickering & Sons the gift to
be given them on this anniversary. It is most
lilting that such long and faithful service should
be recognized, for the work and genius and lead-
rrship of my grandfather, and later of my uncles
C. Alfred Wagner
President of Chickering & Sons
ami lalher, would have been of no avail with-
out the co-operation, always so loyally and ef-
ficiently given, by the manufacturing personnel.
My grandfather died before I was born, but I
have heard from my parents and family of his
kindness, generosity and his human sympathy,
and I know better than anyone else how great
and how keen a personal interest he took in
those who worked with him. I also know that
t lie re is no one who
would be better pleased
than lie at the deserved
recognition w h i c h the
old employes are to re-
ceive.
"During all my child-
hood I lived almost un-
der the shadow of the
old factory. I was born
around the corner at 133
West Chester Park (now
Massachusetts
avenue),
and we spent many years
there so that my father,
George IT. Chickering,
who later became presi-
dent of the company,
might be near his work.
I well remember how he
would leave for the fac-
tory early in the morn-
ing, return for dinner at
the now unusual hour of
three and then go back,
often to remain till late
in the evening. I also re-
member, whenever there
was a fire, with what
anxiety he would count
the strokes of the fire
bell, which used to be
eve^y walk of life agreed Memorial Tablet Presented by Chickering Representative and Its Sculptor, Giuseppe Moretti— rung in those days, to
to serve on the commit-
Insert, Arthur Bissell, Who Made Presentation
know whether the fire
tee in charge of the Chickering celebration gives
which is herewith reproduced tn its full extent:
was in the factory district.
some idea of the importance in which it was
" I t is a very keen personal disappointment to
"There are, doubtless, many of the men who
held and to which it was justly entitled.
me that I am unable to accept the invitation to
are lo receive gifts who will remember him and