Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-06
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
A Big Crowd, Good Speeches and Over
flowing Enthusinsm.

At an early hour on Thursday morning
the people from all parts of the town, and
the surrounding country, began to throng
into Wilmington village. About 10 o clock
all places of business were closed and the
people gathered at the railroad station to
await the arrival of the trains bringing the
North Adams and other visitors. The
first train arrived soon after half-past ten
and the second one about an hour later.
A procession was then formed, and, head
ed by the Wilmington cornet band, the
line Of march was taken to the Vermont
House where dinner was served to the Wis
itors, in the hall. At half-past one the
great crowd gathered in the unfinished
freight and passenger building where the
formal exercises took place, platform
having been erected for the speakers. Hon.
Hosea Mann, jr., called the gathering to
order, and made short opening address,
which was substantially as follows:
MIR. Mann's Address of welcome.
| think l may justly say that this is the great
est day that Wilmington ever knew. IL is her
dav or triumph after nearly half CENTURY of
deferred hope and weary waiting for that gr-a
factor OF development Of modern civilization. Il
railroad. Since the locomotive first entered the
county at BrattlehoTO over 40 years agu. the PEG
pie Of Wilmington have had dreams Of us ma
JtStlc pTtSticr IN tncif valley. Several tiInrs
it has sought a passage through the state on
either side -crUssed the mountain above us and
gone under tue mountain below ms it has seem
ed 10 turn this way SO that We could almost era SD
the coveted prize, only To have il recede beyond
our reach During the half century drawing 10
close numerous railroad surveys 10 ami through
Wilmington from Sheburne Falls, BrattlebOrO
and other points have raised cur hopes high with
expectancy, only TO let them fan shattered at
our feet, and W. have cousUled our dlsappoint-
ment it'll the thought that
what the fates impose, that men must need
abide,
1t boots not to resist both wind and tide"
The untiring efforts and unhagging zeal of those
friends of Wilmington who in the past have done
what they could to help US 70 railroad cOnnec
tiuns, Is gratefully remembered in this day Of
our rejoicing and deeply do we deplore that he .
who in the enthusiasm Of his noble nature spared
neither time nor means IN his efforts TO connect
us by rail with his beloved town of Brattleboro.
could not have lived to rejoice with us today, as
We know he would have rejOced, even though the
railroad which he saw we needed so much, comes
from different direction from what he antic
pated, for no narrow view, looking to the imme-
date advantage Of his town. could cover from
the gaze of Edward Crosby the broader view
that that which fsvOrs the growth and prOsper-
~ OF any town or section Of country in a county
or state benefits all the rest. Many of our oWn
townsmen who worked zealousy for the great OBJ
ject this day realized have dropped into the
eI rnal slumber but we rejoice that many who
have felt the alternating thrill of hope and de-
spondency remain To rejoice with us IN this Cele-
bration.
When all hope had almost failed we heard how
the leading firm Of paper manufacturers in this
country, the Newtons Of Holy oke, he'd laid hold
on the development Of the Deerfied valley, had
brought the locomotive 10 ReadsborO and head
ed II toward Warrington. Then hope burned up
anew, We consulted with them, found them men
of enterprise and boundless energy with faith
in this valley and the result you know Il was
no small task 20 raise the required stock or gTatu
ity subscriptions Of $4,000, but Wilmington by
the handsome vote OF more than two TO one gave
S32, 900, Nottingham $1,000 and the balance of
$1,000, through the persistent work OF Mr.
Wheeler, Mr.. Spencer and others, was raised by
men to whom we entrusted our $50, 900 have usel