Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-06-21
Westminster Centennial Ceiebra-
ton.
THE DAY AND THE OCCASION.

THE DAY AND THE OCCASION.
The Congregational Church at West
minister. celebrated the Centennial ami
versary of its organization on Tuesday Of
last week. June ll.h, 1867 and as it is
designed TO make the record Of that day
memorable. and one for preservation and
perusal hundred years hence, It is high
ly proper that mention be made Of the day
itself, which was not only fair and exceed
ingly pleasant, but one of the most splen-
did and glorious of the season. The sea
son though somewhat backward has been
very favorable for vegetation, giving great
promise TO crops and on that day all the
meadows and flat lands of Westminster,
as partitioned into lots by fnces, locked
like vast green velvet carpets, and as
struck by the sun, especially at shutdown,
shone out in unusual beauty.
The exercises of the day were fixed
TO commence at ten O'Clock in the morn
ing, but quite number, particularly from
lnlS Niflagcs SiiHCu a. q ihuS" S"'''N.
hour, and spent The morning in the place
looking at the old landmarks Of the his
toric village at the old Town House,
formerly the church, l,uilt in 1770, and
now itself almost century old, and al the
place where the old Court House stood,
where FRENCH fell by British bullet, the
first martyr Of the Revolution. They also
visited The cemetery and there saw the
grave Of French and the tomb of the
BRADLEYs. The grave # Frei CHI is the
Oldest March IA, l775,) we saw, but are
info med that one or two there are older.
Westminster Main street is Of Itself
peculiar in its great width, being nearly
double that of ordinary highways, and we
Judge nearly mile in length, beginning
at the upper end, where stood the old
Court House in 1875, going southwark ;
and it is supposed to be the first highway
ever laid in Vermont, and was so stated in
the grafton of the day.
THE OLD TOWN HOUSE, FORMERLY THE
CHURCH.
The old Town House, which was for
merly the Church, is in most excellent
state of preservation, the outside having
been recently painted, and properly re
haired. and in the lower hall inside is th'
same old pulpit and deacons seat occupies
in early days. Over the front door ar
the words. Built l7z0," and over that
neatly painted two green sprigs or vine
in semi-circle. This is handsome an
lasting credit TO the present generation
Westminster. May as much be said {
their successors enc hundred years hence
The reflections Of the day do not re-
essarily all run in one channel, and som
NAV be termed secular, al hough the in
mediate occasion was the celebration
the one hundredth anniversary of II
planting Of the Congregational Church
that town. In early days. when Churs
and State were more closely allied than
the present day, the history of the Chui'
was also Soou phtfoi VI ''S "'0'0'I
the town, therefore we refer TO both.
About five hundred people assembl
at the Church, and seine, unable TO G
inside of the house occupied tn If carria
at the windows outside. Extra seats we
brought in and Immediately filed, VIII
many stood in the ante-room and doorwa
at the entrance. The house was filed
10 O'Clock and the services commenc
soon after.
DEATH OF DIR. Stafford.
A veil Of sadness was thrown over
services of the occasion in the death
DR.. Stafford, whose remains were follow
TO their resting place On the afternoon
the previous day. He had been for
years an honored me mber of the Chur
and for 81 years had held the Office