Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-10
HISTORIC WESTMINSTER
DELEGATES ITS NEW TOWN HALL.
The Interesting Exercises on Wednes-
dry Evening.

The Interesting Exercises on Wednes-
dny Evening.
REV CHAs. \. DICKINSON DELIVERS AN AID.
DRESS OF RARE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY,
AND SHOWS THE LOVE or A DEVOTED son
ron THE TOWN THAT GAVE HIM BIRTH.
Another noteworthy event was added on
Wednesday evening 10 the long list which
has made Westminster one of the most in
teresting towns in Vermont Some of these
events have been Of warlike and patriotic
interest, and have helped TO make the his
tory, not only of the state but Of the whole
country. Others have witnessed the LAYING
of the foundations of our legislature and
courts Of law, while others have only had
reference to the ordinary civil and social
life of the Windham county community.
Wednesdays event was not Of strictly his
torical significance, hut it had, neverthe
less, a certain historical interest from the
fact that il was the dedication, on ANDREW
Jackson's day, the anniversary of the bat
tie Of New Orleans, Of new town hall
built on the site and above the ashes of the
old Westminster church, erected in ITO,
and burned by stroke of lightning on the
night Of June 6, 1888 after having with
stood the storms and shocks of well.nigh
century and quarter.
The New Building.
The building is the exact size upon the
ground, IL by j6 feet, of the old landmark
which it replaces. 1t is built in two sto-
ries, with hip roof, and is surmonnted by
a cupola The lower story is 10 feet in the
clear, and the upper story, which forms the
hall proper, is II feet in the clear. In front
is an entrance annex, If by 81 feet. which
gives place for vestibule and for stair
ways leading to the main hall. On the first
floor is what will be known as the lower
hall, "A room of suitable size for social pur
poses, with "A seectmens room. cloak room,
kitchen, toilet room and closets. In con
nection with the selectmen's room is fire
proof vault for the storage of such records
and documents of historical or antiquarian
interest as cannot be given room in the
towns safe The town hall proper is the
siz p, on the floor, Of the main building, with
a broad stage or platform at the further
end 1t is well lighted, finished in ash, aud
presents a cheerful, attractive appearance
1t is an audience room in which the people
of Westminster may well feel Just pride
and which they will fnd a perpetual com
fort and pleasure. Over the entrance doors
Of the building is beautiful stained glass
which was the gift of j. II. Hol
ton of Burlington and ID. o. Wiley Of De
troit, both sons of Westminster
The original design for the building was
furnished by Architect Wentworth Of Bos
ton, though his plans were modified to bring
the outlay within the towns appropriation.
The contractor and builder was II A Viii
lard of Westminster, and it is evident that
his work has been done not only with abb
lty, but with a conscience 1t was pleasant
to hear ON Wednesday evening the univer
sal expressions Of approval of his work, of |
praise Of his faithfulness and fidelity, and |
IF assurance that no other man could have |
undertaken to give the town So much for |
lis money The cost Of the building rs it |
now stands, with the cupola. which was
not included in the original contract or ap |
has been $1,000
The building committee, under whose /
general direction the work has been done. /
are B. f. Atcherson, Reuben Miller, f. J /
Houghton, O. l.. Fisher and b T. Phelps
The Dedication ENrrci.es.
The weather ON Wednesday was not Of /
he most propltious character a light /
iprinkling of snow came Just at night to
End a cloudy threatening day and the
-oads were as deep with mud and as rough |
with bubbles as this phenomenal win
,er could make them, but IN spite OF |
al TINS half past seven IN the evening
ouhd tue NAH llteFally packed. Every |
'eat ana every loot ot standing room was
aken' anu many were unahle 10 gam even
,dmittance. Several delegations of Bel
o"s rams residents showed their interest
)y thelr presence. TN the platform. he
ldes the selectmen "a T.. brigham, !. {.
flchardson ana >. u. Mlnardl the builder,
ne building committee, anu Others who
lad part IN the exercises. were several Of
he oldest Westminster residents
The heene Orchestral society opened the
exercises with bit OF stirring music, Rev.
:. w thompson invoked the Divine bless
ng, ana then hon. NJ. w Davis, the chair
nan oil the evening, gave a cordial vel
'oine 10 the assembled company, stated the
'bJect which had brought them together al
uded tehcltously 10 the anniversary day
'hoseh lor the dedlcatloh-the '1th OF the
'attle oil New Orleans-and urged that the
lew building he devoted to better and higher
lms, ana to the moral social and political
lphuilding OF the community, especially of
he young
Contractor Willard, IN presenting the
lew building to the building committee,
$780, So - '''NN' ~
cendant' three generations removed, from
he generation that caused the old church
o be built, had much to do with impelllng
nm to undertake the erection of the new
'unding, 1t had been his honest endeavor
o so build that hundred years TO come,
hould Providence so will, might find the
'uilding standing strong aud sound. He
illuded pleasantly to the way IN which the
hartman OF the building committee, man
'usy and earnest with his own affairs, had
happily disappointed him with the time,
diligence and faithfulness which be had
-iven to the work, and closed with impress
We words, voicing his high hopes Of what
he new building may do Tor the commu-
llty, and trusting most OF all that the young
night never hear within ITS walls that
which would make other than wiser and
letter men aud women.
b. +. Atcherson, the chairman Of the
'uildlng committee, thus pleasantly intro
uced, said the committee entered upon this
rust with the wish, first OF ALL to make the
'ulldlng satisfactory to the town. They
we're fortunate IN securing Mr.. Willard as
he builder, and he wished to testify pub
Icly to the faithful. painstakIng character
# Mr.. Wizards work lie wished, also,
o signify the committees acceptance of
his work, aud he hoped and trusted it
iight stahu through generations 10 come
evs 10 NJ P;cborJsnn ~ tbe hoarJ 81 va