Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-12-21
FAIRBANKS MUSEUM.

The dedication of the elegant Fair
banks museum of natural science, pre-
sented to the town by Col. Franklin
Fairbanks, president Of the Fairbanks
Scale company, took place at St.Johns-
bury in the presence of a large gath
ering of people. There was music by
the ST. Johnsbury band from 7:15 to
1880 p. M, followed by the chanting
of the 148th psalm by the Mahogany
quartette, and prayer by Rev. E. T.
Fairbanks.
Col. Franklin Fairbanks then made
the address of presentation. In the
course of his remarks he said: This
day, one of the happiest of my life,
marks the completion of plan long
cherished, that of erecting building
suitable for the objects in natural sci
ence which I have been collecting
from my boyhood. I have been a
! careful observer, going about with my
| eyes and ears open. Nota bird comes
within my vision but try to learn it's
name, it's habits and its uses, and it's
] OOIlS3 IL ~ Has d11J LII UIIO
time this is a never ending source of
! light, and so [ might mention butter
flies, beetles and all insect life; the
| flowers and ferns and many other OBJ
| jects of study which live and move in
great profusion all the summer long.
Now, if this collection will create in
you desire to know the facts regard
ing the life which is around you, and
which your eyes ses and your fingers
touch, in short, if you are thereby in
duced to study and investigate the
things which are nearest you, my aim
will be accomplished and I trust thro'
the aid you may receive in yonder
building you may make far greater
progress than l can comprehend.
[ hope additions may be made by
those interested in these things of
such objects as shall be worthy and
useful in aid of the work in hand. 1t
is my expectation that studies in
the natural sciences will be introduced
into our public common schools, and
that arrangements may be made for
GLASSES 10 D0 n0lu III Uu0 CLASS Ol
the museum at such times as is best
In this way the museum will truly
become a factor in in the education of
our children and young people. 1t is
my desire that it's usefulness may not
be restricted to the public schools or
academy of this town, but that it may
be open to the inspection and use Of
any school or class in the country
or state. 1t is my desire that the mu-
scum shall be open free to all at such
times as the trustees may direct, and
that the public observe such rules and
regulations as seem necessary and
wise to be made. I desire to make
grateful mention of the fact referred
to so gracefully at the laying of the
corner stone that portion of the en-
from the estate of my reverend and
honor ed father, so that now [ rejoice
to feel that, though dead, he is still a
living factor in the museum and athe-
n8um as we'll as in the church he
helped to found and in the academy
WI1SIS LIS IAuCh
were made, not only in the mainte-
nance while living, but also in the en-
dowment from his estate, and it gives
me pleasure to say that there is no
debt upon the building or land and
that the institution is endowed in ad-
dition to the above alluded to, with
an amount sufficient to maintain it for
all time if the funds are properly in
vested and the income judiciously ex-
pended.
Rev. @. M. Lamson accepted the gift
on behalf of the people. A dedication
ode, written for the occasion, was
sung by the Mahogany quartette and
was followed by an address by Presi-
dent M. H. Buckham of the Universi-
ty of Vermont.
In his address, President Buckham
eloquently dwelt upon the educational
advantages of such gift as that of
Col. Fairbanks. In closing he said:
To the favored Inhabitants of ST Johns
bury and this vicinity, the benefits of
this museum of natural science will
most Immediately accrue. But as it is,
and is likely to be, the best equipped
museum of natural science in the State,
it will naturally attract visitors and
students from all sections and will be
a centre of scientific activity, receiv-
ing from, and transmitting to all parts
of the State, and of neighboring States
the result of scientific interest and
research.
We, who are interested in all good
learning and all institutions which
promote it, take great pleasure in
congratulating you, Col Fairbanks,
on the successful completion of this
long cherished design and henceforth
will number this among the institu-
tions of which our State has good rea-
son to be proud, and from which we
may expect great and leading benefits
to the interests of education, science
and religion among our people.