The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-27
The Proposed Soldiers Home.

The subject of Soldiers Home in Ver-
mont has been more or less discussed by the
lawmakers of the state and Grand Army
veterans ever since the war closed. The
necessity and desirabilty of such an insti-
tuition have long been conceded by every
citizen of the state interested in the welfare
and temporal condition of the old soldiers
who are suffering from poverty, disease or
physical disability. Vermont furnished
81 ,23S soldiers in the war for the Union, at
an expense to the state of more than S90O0,-
600. In addition to seventeen full regi-
ments of infantry, three batteries, three de-
tached companies and one regiment of cav
airy, she sent 0,437 recruits to fill the de-
pleted ranks of these organizations. OF the
sons of Vermont who went forth to save the
Union 5,l24 gave up their lives and sop
more came home physical wrecks and
wounded. The total casualty in various
forms aggregated 1924 officers and men.
1t is estimated that not more than 5000 vet
Grams are now living within this state.
One-half of these belong to the Grand
Army of the Republic. There are at least
seventy-fve veterans who are at present
being supported and cared for by the Grand
Army and the authorities of various towns.
Some twenty-five old Vermont soldiers are
inmates of Soldiers Homes in other states
This indicates that nearly 100 old soldiers
would be ready to enter Home immedi-
ately upon its completion. The last legisla-
ture passed bill appropriating $4,000 for
the establishment OF Soldiers Home in
Vermont. The trustees named in the act
are as follows: Colonel Redfeld Proctor of
Rutland, Quartermaster p. p. Pitkin Of
Montpelier, General William Wells of Bur-
lington, Colonel A. S. Tracy of Middlebury,
Captain G. G.. Kinsman of Rutland, Frank
Kenfield of Morristown, Quartermaster A.
b. Valentine of Bennington, Hon. Franklin
Fairbanks of St. Johnsbury, Hon. Julius j.
Estey of Brattleboro, Hon. Hugh Henry of
! Chester, Sergeant Warren Gibbs of st. AL
bans, Lieutenant III. X. Ide of ST. Johns
| bury, Adjutant John G. Stearns of Brad
bans, Il. l.. Mansur of Island Pond, Major
Josiah Grout of Derby Hon. Frederick
Billings of Woodstock and Colonel A. b
Franklin of Newfane. The trustees are an.
thorized to receive, hold, encourage and
convey such real and personal estate, moi
exceeding in all 100000 in value, as they
may acquire by gift, grant or purchase, for
the purpose of maintaining home for de-
serving soldiers and sailors. The trustees
have formed permanent organization
! with the following officers: President
General William Wells Of Burlington; sec
rotary, Captain c. c. Kinsman of Rutland
treasurer, General p. =. Pitkin of Mont
| pelier The trustees will soon issue ~ man
ifesto TO the different towns in the state fol
proposals for sites for the buildings, ant
also an appeal to the public for donations
of money for the proposed Home. Severa
Grand Army posts propose to furnish
rooms in the Home, Post Tracy of Windso
having already offered to contribute SlO
for the purpose. The trustees will sool
issue letter of inquiry to be sent to eacl
town, for the purpose of ascertaining tn
number of old soldiers who might becom
inmates of the Home. Waterbury, Ben
nington, Cambridge, Barre, st. Johnsbury
Montpelier, Burlington, st. Adams, Ran
dolph and Brattleboro are each DESTROYS {
. securing the Home. The trustees hav
voted TO authorize the president and secr'
, tary to call on the state treasurer for tn
appropriation of $4,000 to be invested &c
the benefit of the Soldiers Home; VINE
the proposed Home assumes substantii
form the legislature will no doubt make
r liberal appropriation to build and furnis
the necessary buildinge.-Forbes, in BoSto
JOuru0J