Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-08-23
The DeCennial Reunion
At South Randolph, gainesville on
Thursday, Aug. 18th.

by DIR. Horace Tracy Hanks of New
York City.
The many friends-some five hum
dred in number-who met in reunion
of present and former residents, teach-
ers and pupils, upon the hill (desig-
mated in old times as "Old Bunker
south of the schoolhouse, were blessed
with one of the pleasantest days OF the
summer, and enjoyed a splendid time,
a grand and true reunion long to be
remembered.
The people began TO assemble at $3.50
O'Clock. and al about II o'clock, the
meeting was called to order by the
president, Mr.. \. 4. Storrs. EXer-
cises were opened with prayer by Rev.
A. II. Francis of East Bethel,a then
all Joined in singing coronation.
Then followed words of welcome by
the president He said:
Friends, teachers and schoolmates, once
again we welcome you back to these old
school grounds and extend our heartiest
greeting.
II is With the tenderest emotions hat we
with us, you cherish in your memories the
days OF your youth, when as teachers or
scholars, the happiest part OF our lives
were passed; when we were treest irom
care and trials that are incident to the
lives of most of us; when that point in our
lives was reached that decided whether
we would endeavor TO be somebody and
make the world better for our havlrg lived
in II, or whether we would have that feel
IN. - ~
with only the mission OF filling space.
The ten years that have passed since
welcomed YOU here at our last reunion,
have been fraught with many changes.
Friends who met with us here at lbat
time and expressed their heartlest greet
ing, will not meet with us again in these
reunions. Ten years has made a great
change in all of us; a long milestone has
Deen reached in our lives. with some, no
dou bt, the last reunion will be passed to-
day; we will never b. able to meet you all
again in an unbroken band.
/ would not make this welcoming ad.
dress a dirge, but " ould try to impress up
ON you what privilege 1t is Tor us 10
meet together once more, to live over the
scenes OF our childhood, 10 sit once more
under the very trees where we used 10 SIT
when we had an afternoons school out of
doors Many times have teachers ana
scholars parted here on the last day OF
school, and how appropriate TO meet to.
getheronce more, where the parting word
was given. How familiar these old trees
are and this old hill; how many happy
hours have been spent in each others
company here, years gone by, as also by
the brook that courses by its side. and the
question arises, were there ever school
children so happy as we were, or were
ever teachers like our teachersY
Meeting you all here to-day, carries rs
in memory back to those old, old times,
and we rejoice that you have felt 1t in your
hearts to come back to this old home place
and meet with us to day.
And to all the associations of the past
that cluster around this place,we welcome
you, and extend our heartiest greeting.
The address of welcome was ably
responded to lin the absence of Rev.
:. a. Parker by Hon. Jas. G. Fowler
of East Bethel, who expressed the
pleasure he felt in being present, the
advantages of such gatherings, and his
belief that the southeast part of Ran
dolph is a favored section of the land.
The choir sang ''llome Returning.
A historical sketch, written by Chas.
). Paine. the oldest and only resident
of the district who attended school
here from fifty TO seventy years ago,
was read by his daughter. Miss Carrie
NJ. Paine. The following is part:
In old times, we are told, a school
house stood where the postofiice now
stands. This was n small building
l6x3l feet, lighted by three small win
dows. This house was built by Wal
colt Allen, grandfather of A.A.Storrs,
for the sum Of twentv-nine pounds
and ten ,lillings Ito be paid in wheat
which would be about Sl25. This
house was built in l794. The Oldest
records of the district speak of Evens
Benedict, Blodgett, Allen, Belknap
Persons. kibbee, Davis, Peckham
/ Ramsey. Pope, Cole. Frizzle and
Grimes. Now. with one exception
there is not a person living in the dis
trict bearing one of these names, tho
there are several of their descendant
among us. The schoolhouse was thu
described: There were writing desk
arranged around the walls of the hous
and seats in front of the desk, made o
sawmill slabs, with legs stuck into an
ger holes. When the scholars wer
writing, they faced the desks, an'
when studying, they used the desk
to support their backs; SO when shift
ING from writing to studying thei
lessons, they would throw their lowe
extremities over the slabs and adjus
themselves to business. In 1874. thi
house was burned, and new one wa
built in 1915 about opposite wher
Chas. Belknap now lives and wheT
Samuel Paine then lived. | presum
there are few here who went to scho'
in this house, though quite numbe
with gray hair and wrinkled faces. al
still clinging to old Earth. They al
scattered over the land, and some al
here to-day.
In old times, in that house, reading
writing and spelling were the chi
studies. The old Webster's spelliT
book was used. which began with !
i. I's,then Abs, then the Baker tabl
and soon with the words growing bi