Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-01
CHELSEAS new Town HALL and LIBRARY.
lden Speare Remembers the Place
His Nativity.
Valuable Building Formal Dedcatory Services Last
Thursday. Speech by the Donor Notable Event
OF

Thursday, Oct. 18th, 1924, was d
day long looked forward TO BY tic
citizens and all lovers Of Chelsea, and
longer TO be remembered by them rs
the date of the formal dedication OF
the townhall and ALDEN Speare Me-
mortal Library.
AT an early hour, look about the
town indicated that something unusu.
al was TO occur. Flags and bunting
were in abundance and soon after two
O'Clock, the hour set for the exercises
to take place, the elegant auditorium
was crowded with people. including
many from adjoining towns and for
mer residents from distance, max
ing no less than seven hundred peo-
Pile who came together 10 assist in the
formal opening Of the new structure
and do honor TO the large-hearted son
OF Chelsea whose thoughtfulness and
generosity had made the possession Of
this building possible.
Occupying seats OF honor upon the
platform were Hon and Mrs. Alden
Speare. Hon. ;. b. llebard presided,
and after a selection by the Chelsea
Cornet band, the dedicatory prayer
was offered by Rev. II. +. Forrest, and
Rev. B. b. sherman, chairman of the
building committee, made Il detailed
report, at the close of which he deliy-
cred the keys To G. z. Dickinson, the
chairman of the board of selectmen,
who received them in well-chosen
words OF gratitude in behalf of the
people of the town.
The chairman introduced Mr.
Speare, the donor of the library, who
was received with great applause and
who spoke of his interest in his native
town and of the causes which led TO
his proposal TO erect the ''storehouse"
for its library, saying that ii was the
pleasantest service of his life, and that
he should watch with interest the sup
port which the institution should in
the future receive at the hands of the
voters, and the use made OF its con-
tents, as indicating the measure of APP
probation on the part of the people OF
the town The address was full of
thought and instruction and we re-
greet not being able to give it in full.
Music was furnished bv select choir
and recitations were given by several
of the young ladies and by pupils of
the public schools; letters of regret
from many persons were read, the ex-
ercises closing with selection by the
band. In the evening a concert and
were given by the band
and were attended by about 300 peo-
pie, and the most important and
proudest day in the history of the
town was at a close.
For the above cut and the follow
ing description Of the new townhall
and Alden Speare Memorial Library
at Chelsea. we are indebted 10 Messrs.
c. l. Hood \ Co.. of Lowell, Mass:
1.-The public building is situated in
the heart of the village at the junction
Of North Park and Main streets, and
IS charming accession to the re-
sources of a community which Ma
ture has generously enriched with field
and grove and stream.
OF this building, the library feature
i the donation of the Hon. Alden
Speare of Newton and in virtue of his |
splendid gift will be known as the Al
len Speare Memorial Library. The
.ownhall portion is erected from an
by the citizens Of Chel- |
,ea to which few of her sons and
abroad have lent timely aid.
The structure rests on foundation
If granite and blue limestone and Is a
one-story edifice, with sides
# brick and harmonious covering OF
green slate. Cornices, window frames
md sashes are cOlored dark olive.
Ridges. finals, cutters and conductors
ire galvanized iron. The steps and
ock-faced wind0wsiIls are of Yer
mont marble. The library is enclosed
With solid walls. The townhall is We
leered. Tie outline Is irregular.
.arge circular bays with conical roofs
,roiect from the northwest and south
vest angles. and with the latter is
oined a wing 27x22 feet. Lawn spaces