Dr. Spafford Cavendish 1879

Linda Welch, the Historical Society's genealogist, submitted the following:

Dr. George Spafford came to Cavendish in 1879. He lived right next to the Universalist Church. He was quite a socialite and often hosted and attended cultural events in the area. This one took place while Glimmerstone was owned by F. W. Ely. (pass it around).

NEWS: --Cavendish, 29 Aug., 1879: "For a quiet little place whose mills are burned, and business gone (as our rival towns tell us), we manage to have some very enjoyable times, quite up to the level, perhaps than most ambitious localities. It is very fortunate for us that Dr. Spafford's family love music and flowers, as well as pills and patients. Thursday night of last week, Mrs. Spafford gave a quiet little entertainment. The inmates of 'the Fourteen Gables,' as your editor has named F. W. Ely's residence, which has that number by actual count, were there as well as others. Of course Mr. & Mrs. G. W. DeLano of NY sang solos and duets, and were heartily encored. Mrs. H. Clay of Boston, sang a solo or two and some pieces with others. Mrs. Stiles Bent rendered a voluntary on the piano with such skill and beauty that an encore called her back when she gave the grand 'Old Oaken Bucket' in a most charming manner and to the delight of all present. The parlor, hall, porch, and door yard were filled with attentive and appreciative listeners, some from Proctorsville. Saturday evening essentially the same company gathered at General Davis' [the Red Brick House] Miss L. M. Kendall played most of the accompaniments and at Dr. Spafford's request, rendered one of the Chopin's waltzes in a manner that compelled the most enthusiastic applause. The DeLanos, Mrs. Clay, and Mrs. Spafford sang, of course, to the delight of all. Mr. DeLano's humorous piece, "Old Grimes Cellar Door" was called for on each occasion. Mrs. DeLano's "Entreat Me Not To Leave Thee" was especially gratifying. Mrs. Dora B. Smith of Boston, gave two specimens of her ability and skill as a reader. Her selections were humorous, but they were recited in a most perfect manner. She is an elocutionist of rare talent and excellent culture and it is too bad that we have not had a public reading from her while on her vacation. As the week waned and the Sabbath drew near, the entertainment broke up, not without a slight feeling of sadness, as several of the artists were to leave town Monday. We cherish a slight felling of pride over these unpretending, but highly enjoyable entertainments."