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The Bethel Journals Dr. William Rogers Chapman Chapter 1 - Page 2 The Oxford County Citizen, Special
Edition, August 3, 1931 |
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DR. WILLIAM R.
CHAPMAN Dr. William Rogers Chapman, a son of the Rev. William Rogers Chapman who was
born and raised in Bethel, is very proud of his Maine ancestry, and although
he resides in New York in the winters, he has for many years made Bethel his
summer home. He has been noticed in both Bethel celebrations with paper
write-ups, and at this time we will only mention the outstanding events of
the last 30 years. Dr. Chapman has done more for music all
over the State than any other man of this generation. His name is known in
every town as well as city over the State. For 30 years beginning in 1897, he
conducted the Maine Music Festivals in Bangor and Portland, bringing to these
annual festivals the greatest artists in the world to appear with his chorus
and orchestra. These were most successful, but because of neuritis in his
right arm, he was obliged to resign the strenuous work in 1927. Dr. Chapman had charge of the music for the
Maine Centennial in Portland in 1920, and then assembled the bands from all
over the State, comprising 214 members, with a chorus of 1,000 voices gave
two great out-of-doors concerts, attended by audiences from all over New
England. It was estimated that 20,000 people attended these concerts. In June 1926 he was honored by the
University of Maine with the honorary degree of Doctor of Music, the first
time the degree had ever been given by the University to any musician.
President Boardman, in making the presentation used these words: Dr. Chapman has written many
compositions for piano, church, choir, chorus and solo rendition. The last
two: “Spring Joy” and “The Call of the May Dancers,” written for the
Rubenstein Club of New York, have been very popular, and sung by many
choruses all over the United States, and placed on the programme of the
Biennial Convention in San Francisco in June 1931. On April 27, 1927, a red oak tree
was planted in the Honor Grove of Central Park, at the same time that General
Charles A. Summerall was also honored. The tree bears this inscription on a
brass plate (right): There was a wonderful ceremony
arranged by Mrs. William Albert Lewis, the founder of the Honor Grove.
Hundreds of invited guests were present, among them Ex-Governor Milliken of
Maine, who gave an address |
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“William Rogers Chapman. Doctor of Music. Loyal son
of the State of Maine. Director of Music. Founder, Director-in-Chief and
Guiding Spirit of the Maine Music Festival. Inspiring conductor and dauntless
promoter. You have been a benefactor
to your native State through the presentation to her people, for three
decades, of the great master works of music and of the world’s foremost
artists and interpreters. And by virtue of the authority granted to me by the
Board of Trustees, I declare that to these recipients of honorary degrees
belong all the honors and privileges of
the several degrees which have been granted and that their names shall
forever be borne on the rolls of the University.” |
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“Dedicated to Dr. William Rogers
Chapman, and Mrs. William Rogers Chapman, the Musical Director, and the
President of the Rubenstein Club, in recognition of their national, musical,
patriotic, and humanitarian service for 40 years in New York City.” |
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At the Waldorf-Astoria on October 3,
(1931), the largest musical Women’s Club will give
the first big affair in the ball room of the new Waldorf-Astoria (rebuilt in
a new location) with an autumnal breakfast at noon that will tax the seating
capacity of the new ball room. Dr. Chapman will conduct the orchestra, and
has written a new march for the opening event. Elaborate plans are under way for pageant
and scenic effects in addition to the musical program which will be the first
given in this new hotel, the finest, newest, most complete hotel in the
world. Dr. Chap continues his work as conductor of the Rubenstein Club, with
headquarters in the Waldorf-Astoria, and has arranged for a brilliant season
for 1931-1932, which marks the forty-fifth season of the Club. Dr. Chapman is justifiably proud of his record of
conducting this Club for 44 years and never missing a concert. Mrs. Chapman
is the president of the Club, and much of its success is due to her ability
and untiring efforts to keep up its high standard in the musical and social
life of New York. With world wide honors constantly showered on him,
Dr. Chapman has never lost his interest in his home town. During the last 15 years he has
purchased as many properties,
remodeled and improved them, both inside and out, and converted the often
formerly neglected building into an attractive and useful dwelling or store. He is lavish with fresh paint and his business
blocks and houses are constantly kept in fine appearance. The Ryerson
property in Mayville, now Bethaven, with its
colonial interiors, wide verandas and beautiful trees and grounds, is one of
the many places that bear able testimony to Dr. Chapman’s artistic ability
and civic pride. (See photo right.) His home in the center of the town
facing Bethel Common is a place of loveliness and charm with luxurious
furnishings and spacious gardens. (below right) Here Dr. and Mrs. Chapman and their
family spent the summer months and occasional brief visits from their
professional duties in New York. Chapman Home in
1931 |
