Scores of friends, neighbors and relatives and also many state officials, including Governor Horace A. Hildreth, Mrs. Hildreth and other members of the official state family called at the Carter home.
Many cards, telegrams, phone calls, gifts and flowers and money poured in.
Mrs. Everett H. Maxey of Augusta received the guests and had charge of the guest book. Receiving with Mr. and Mrs. Stairs and Mrs. Carter were a sister and brother-in-law of Mr. Stairs, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Jardine of Washburn, who also received with them ten years ago on the occasion of the golden wedding anniversary held in the Odd Fellows hall in Washburn.
At the reception on Saturday, Mrs. Stairs wore a heavy gold chain with ruby studded locket which Mr. Stairs gave her shortly after their marriage in 1886.
The Carter home was beautifully decorated with cut flowers and potted plants. The dining table center piece was made up of white stocks, white carnations with a base of green boxwood. Tall white tapers were used throughout. Mrs. Parker Cushman arranged the flowers.
Miss Villa Hayden poured and assisting Mrs. Carter in serving were Miss Elaine Russell, Miss Lucy Bull, Miss Hilda Green, Mrs. Parker G. Cushman, Mrs. Ernest Grant and Mrs. S. E. Patrick. With the exception of a few years spent in Boston, Mr. and Mrs. Stairs have lived in Washburn. Mrs. Stairs was formerly Mary Warren of Fairfax, Vermont and went to Washburn when she was 16 years old.
Farming and dairying have been Mr. Stairs' chief business interests over a period of many years. For some time he operated his 320-acre farm and dairy herd, but in recent years he has sold off some of the land so that today, the farm comprises about 140 acres. Ralph Keith Bull, a son-in-law, is now associated with Mr. Stairs, working part of the farm.
Besides tending to her household duties, Mrs. Stairs taught piano playing for over 30 years and she played the organ in the Lidstone Memorial Methodist church every Sunday morning with very few exceptions for 25 years. Mr. Stairs was superintendent of the Lidstone church Sunday school for 34 years. If she has any hobbies, Mrs. Stairs family avers they must be making braided rugs and sewing. Only recently she fashioned a three-piece tailored suit for herself, which bespeaks highly for her ability as a clever seamstress.
Mr. and Mrs. Stairs have three daughters, Mrs. Carter of Augusta, Mrs. Allen C. Russell and Mrs. Ralph K. Bull, both of Washburn. They have six grandchildren, G. Milton Carter of Caribou, W. Berkley Carter S-Sgt., who arrived in New York aboard the S. S. Costa Rica Victory Sunday, March 31 after a year and a half service with the 66th Infantry Division in France, Germany and Austria, Jack Russell of Worcester, Mass., Elaine Russell and Chipman and Mary Bull all of Washburn. There is also one great grandchild, Lewis Bearce Carter, son of Capt. and Mrs. G. Milton Carter of Caribou.
Out of town guests at the Saturday reception included the following: Dr. and Mrs. Edward L. Young, Boston; Dr. and Mrs. Harrison C. Lyseth of Portland; Mrs. John Sloat, Cumberland; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Libby and Miss Eliza-Libby of Buxton; Mrs. Earl M. Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Woodworth of Lewiston; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Frank of Gray; Mrs. Parker G. Cushman of Ellsworth; Miss Harriet R. Williams of South Union; Jack Russell of Worcester; Mr. and Mrs. Warren D. Walton and Mr. W. W. Walton of Wayne; Mrs. Herman A. Clark, Mr. and Mr. Harold I. Goss of Gardiner; Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Patrick of Waldoboro.