13 



Grand total 2033 entries from 29 out of 34 cities and 

 towns in Essex County against 2111 entries from 30 cities 

 and towns last year. Gloucester, Manchester, Methuen, 

 Nahant and Salisbury did not have exhibits this year. 

 The entries were : Amesbury, 68 ; Andover, 1 ; Beverly, 

 97 ; Boxford, 25 ; Danvers, 185 ; Essex, 1 ; Georgetown, 

 12 ; Groveland, 13 ; Hamilton, 12 ; Haverhill, 39 ; Ipswich, 

 9 ; Lawrence, 16 ; Lynn, 203 ; Lynntield, 15 ; Marblehead, 

 16 ; Merrimac, 17 ; Middleton, 15 ; Newbury, 29 ; New- 

 buryport, 14 ; North Andover, 78 ; Peabody, 991 ; Rock- 

 port, 3 ; Rowley, 13 ; Salem, 119 ; Saugus, 1 , Swampscott, 

 20 ; Topsfield, 8 : Wenham, 2 ; West Newbury, 11. 



REPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 



The annual meeting of the society was held in the Pea- 

 body Institute at Peabody, Sept. 22, 1897. President 

 Butler called the meeting to order at 10.30 o'clock, A. M., 

 and read the call. 



On motion of Col. J. Drew of Lawrence, it was voted 

 unanimously that the secretary be instructed to cast one 

 ballot for the present board of officers for the ensuing 

 year, and the following officers were declared elected : 



President. 

 Oliver S. Butler, of Georgetown. 



Vice-Presidents. 

 James J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead. 

 Horatio G. Herrick of Lawrence. 

 Asa T. Newhall, of Lynn. 

 J. D. W. French, of North Andover. 



Secretary. 

 John M. Danforth, of Lynnfield. 



On motion of Asa T. Newhall it was voted that a com- 

 mittee consisting of Francis H. Appleton, Oliver S. Butler, 



