Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-09-29
The soldiers Home.


The repairs and alterations recently
voted by The trustees to be made at the
Soldiers Home are being carried out and
I he basin OF the fountain, the highest in
the world, has already been rebuilt and
made water-tight. The basin Is over 100 IT,
in diameter and the outside wall has been
thoroughly rebuilt and cemented. Hugh
Henry, president of the board OF trustees,
was at home Friday and determined what
should be done. New sewers will be put
in the home and barns reprinted and cleo
ir.c lights put into the home and on the
grounds. The bell and the seats for the
chaDci have arrived and will soon be
placed in position. The bell is 20 inches
in diameter and weighs 200 pounds.
The home was incorporated by the leg
islstare in 1884, among the incOrporators
being Redheld Proctor, Frederick Bill
lings, c. Z. kinsman, Hugh Henry, Frank
! lin Fairbanks, VIM. Wells, Julius j. Es-
tey, A. b. Valentine, Z. NJ. Mansur and A.
s. Tracy. The board soon after its or
ganization received offers from Randolph,
Barre, st. Johnsbury and Newport for
the establishment OF the home in those
towns, but finally selected the offer made
BY the trustees OF the Park home for des-
titute children and women located here
and consisting ola country house and lsS
acres OF land formerly owned by Seth b.
Hunt, which cost him $4,000. The prop
erty was finally conveyed to the board Of
trustees, giving them the use of the prop
erty as long as il should be used for a SOL
diers' home. The gift was accepted and
the work OF getting the properly into
shape was carried out, and May 18th, 1857,
the first old soldier was received. He
was Geo. 4. Wood of Randolph and for
merly belonged to Co. E, I'd regiment in
fantry.
Since the home was started there have
been inmates from every VI. regiment aud
battery, but none from the companies Of
sharpshooters. The first cavalry has fur
nished the largest number OF representa-
tives, there having been Is from it. The
4th infantry comes next with IL. Several
have also come from other states. One
soldier of the Mexican War has been adj
mitted as well as some OF the veteran Re-
serve corps. Since the home Was started
there have been 167 admissions to Sept. l,
| including in the number eight who have
been admitted the second time. The old
est man was Harry W. Peake of Wash
ington, who died few weeks ago. He
was 80 years old when admitted and was
member of the home only about a week
/ The next oldest was Daniel w. Fox of
Castleton, who was admitted Sept. 18th,
| 1890 and who died March IL, 1891. He
was Sc years old wnen admitted. The
following have been in the home over i've
wears: j. h. Whitney and John r. Colby
.
Derby admitted in Jure; Thomas O'Brien,
admitted in July, and Josiah Haley, adj
mitted in August, 1887. OF the total num-
Der of admissions i02 were American born,
80 Irish, IL French, ! German, English
and u Canadians. One hundred and thir-
/ ty lived in Vermont at the time they were
admitted. From Rutland county there
have been % admissions. Eighty of those
admitted were single men, the balance be-
| ing widowers OF married men. Sixty
eight were drawing pensions ranging
from q to s1S. The total number on the
rolls Aug. y was 81, of which A were
present; seven absent on leave and one in
the insa.e asylum at Brattleboro. The
average cost OF each ration for the quarter
ending June 80 last was p cents each day
and total expense for maintaining each
/ inmate for the same quarter was about
$50. The home now has accommodations
for over 100 inmates. Many Of the rooms
we're furnished by different Grand Army
Posts and Woman's Relief Corps OF the
state, the expense of furnishing being $50
each. The rooms contain two single wire
bedsteads, two chairs and a dresser, the
furniture all being in oak and every room
alike. Each room is warmed by steam,
and on the walls of these rooms, furnished
\ by the different organizations, is a banner
stating who furnished the room.
The reading room on the second floor is
furnished with nearly every paper pub
I lished in the state. as well as the leading
dailies from New York and Boston, which
are furnished gratuitously, and all in all
inmates are well cared for. Superintend-
ent r. J. Coffee and wife have bad charge
OF it since it was opened.