Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09
THE WILLIAMS LIBRARY AT WOOD.
STOCK
a Welcome to Its Donor-A Happy Speech
by Hon. Frederick Billings.


a Welcome to Its Donor-A Happy Speech
by Hon. Frederick Billings.
Readers of the FREE PRESS are already
aware that the lovely village of Wood
stock, VT, has "A beautiful public library
built (of our Burlington stone) on the site
of the old Williams homestead and filed
with books, by DR.. Edward H. Williams
of Philadelphia-one of Nermont's most
public-spirited and worthiest sons. 1t is
one of the notable benifcences in our
State worthy to be classed with the Ath-
enTum, given to St. Johnsbury by Hor-
ace Fairbanks, the gifts of John y. How
ard to the University and Home for Des-
titute children, the Mary Fletcher Hospi-
tai and Library, and the Billings Library
in this city. The Woodstock Library was
opened to the public some months since A.;
but its generous donor, DR.. Williams, has
been absent from the country, looking
after the interests of the great Baldwin
Locomotive manufacturing company of
Philadelphia, of which he is member, in
South America, and has not visited Wood
stock since the completion of the Library
till within n few days past. His presence
and the obligation of the town to him,
were gracefully recognized last week We'd
nesday, by the citizens of Woodstock, by
II reception and welcome, rendered to him
in the Williams Library building. Aside
from their intrinsic interest, the proceed
ings-a report of which we find in the
Woodstock StdHdurd-will have especial
interest for not a few of our Burlington
readers, for they will remember the ties of
! friendship and kindly feeling aud com
: mon sonship of our Vermont University
that have existed 50 many years between
Woodstock and Burlington.
CHANGING over the names prominent in
the report of this pleasant affair we notice
that of Norman Williams, after whom
: the Woodstock library is named. was Il
graduate of the University of Vermont {;
that DR.. Edward II. Williams, its builder
and donor, is an honorary alumnus of the
University that Norman Williams of
| Chicago, his younger brother, and Fredcr-
lex Billings, whose beautiful and most fit
ting words we copy below and Charles
Phelps Marsh, VINO introduced the guests,
y are graduates of the University who have
shown their loyalty to and filial regard
. for their alma mater in most substantial
l ways, and that the Hon. O. p. Chandler,
vlce-presldent of the library was for many
years one of the college corporation, and
rendered most valuable service to the Uni
, Ncrslty. The University cannot but feel
hOnored i'll her sons, vino have the heart
as we'll as means to devise such liberal
things for the public good.
. The Reception.
- The different rooms of the Williams Lii
Orary building were adorned with ferns
, autumn leaves and wild flowers, together
with tropical and other green house
plants while at the east end of the book
room was Il motto in evergreens, "Wel
, come Home" instrumental and vocal
!, music were given during the evening bN
, MurdOck's orchestra and quartette OF
= male voices.
A The guests were presented to DR.. and
Mrs Williams by Hon. Charles p. Marsh
in the reading room. DR.. and Mrs. VII
liams were attended by the following
members of their family Their daugh
, ter, Miss Anna Williams of Philadelphia
: Mr.. and Mrs. Norman Williams of Chca
60 and their children, Misses Laura and
5 Mary Wentworth and Master Norman
$ Mrs. Thatcher Tucker, a sister of the late
6 Mrs. Norman Williams, Mrs. Charles b
. Caldwell and Mrs. WHY'S Taylor of Mont
5 clair, n. j. Miss Anna Higginson OF
!. Brattleboro Mrs. Lucia w. A. Goodwin
e daughter of the late Hon. Hezekiah vii
liams, and her niece, Miss Gertrude De
ment of Springfield, Ill.,, and Mrs Dr.
Thayer of Burlington who is IL sster-in-
! law of DR. Williams.
: In the latter part of the evening the
= Hon. o. p. Chandler, vice president of the
library-under whose guidance the recep-
ton was au entire SucceSS-cOmmanded
Tie attention of guests present, and after
- gracefully abiding to the gift of DR.. vii
, llams, its far reaching benefits to this peo
pie and the gratitude manifested on AL
. sides to the donor, introduced the Hon
Frederick Billings, who spoke IL follows
| MIR. Billings's Remarks.
) My FRIENDS: If should seem to speak
to you in Il 100 personal and tender way
for public occasion like this, pray you
bear with me, for my heart is uppermost
: tonight and speak out of its fullness.
2 On the spot where this library stands
was once one of the loveliest homes of
: Woodstock. In its physical appearance
without and within it was most attractive
: Who will ever forget the broad piazza
2 away from the dust Of the street, shaded
Y by maple trees, or those large rooms front
e ing on the piazza with their high ceilings
= and walls covered with figured paper
' teaching lessons of history. What a won.
| der those walls We're to me in my boyhood
e and how glad | was to look on them in
later years, And what home that was
in its domestic life, its social life, its hos
! pltallty, Its cheerfulness its culture and
e Christian refinement. How could it be
1 otherwise where Mr.. and Mrs. Norman
= " llllamS llved so many years man of
: liberal education, keeping up his classical
' knowledge all his life. happy to live here
= IN ms native town, turning away from
e larger fields and opportunities of high po-
| lillcal honor, sympathizng with every
| thing pertaining TO the community's wei
fare, taking special interest in church and
' school and village, helpful to everybody,
| especially to youth, AS | can testify from
e personal experience, modest aud genial
+ always, he was the model citizen. And
: while he was this to the public he was
with his great atfectiOnate nature the
husband ba do
- lightful friend. And she-but must not
attempt to describe her here, nor could |
if | were so disposed. From the time
/ when ! came "A lad of twelve years to
Woodstock till a few years ago when last
1 saw her sitting at the chamber window
e with snowy white hair and snowy white
cap, with book in hand just as much in
terested in art and literature and the
worlds progress in religion and every
thing that elevates, AS in earlier years,
she was always the same dear Mrs. viii
Hams to me, graceful in person, lovely
, oh f,,l Unit