Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-05
The Gill Odd Fellows Home of Ver-
Mont.

Under date Of July Sd, despatch from
Ludlow says: Ludlow is rejoicing to-
night. as it has been decided to locate the
Vermont Odd Fellows Home here. j. S.
Gill last night gave outright the summer
hotel he built last year, which is valued
at 900, and the committee at once ac-
cepted the offer. 1t is designed to use
the home for aged and indigent me lbers
of the order, its widows and orphans.
"When the Altimont lodge of this
place decided short time since to make
an effort to have the home located here
Mr. Gill offered to place the property in
the hands of the organization for that
purpose for 81, 900, which was equivalent
to a gift of $4,000 and the land. On the
basis of this offer the local committee at
once put themselves in communication
with the committe appointed in May by
the Grand Lodge of the State to locate a
home and invited them to visit Ludlow
before taking final action. The invita-
ton was accepted and yesterday three
members of the committee: w. w. Hall
of Burlington, II. L. Stillson of Benning-
ton, and l.. j. Retting Of Brattleboro,
came here to make a personal eXamina-
ton of the building and its surround
ings.
"After looking the ground over care
fully in company with the committee
from the local lodge and others confer
ence was had with Mr.. Gill, the result of
which was an offer to give the entire
property as a free gift 20 the committee
for the establishment Of an Odd Fellows
Home.
"Last evening the Altimont Lodge
gave a banquet at the Ludlow House,
which was largely attended by the citi-
zens and by many from neighboring
towns, much enthusiasm being shown.
"Dr. W. A. Bryant of Ludlow was
! toastmaster and several speeches were
made. Every speaker expressed himself
as beingin hearty sympathy with the
project of locating the Home in Ludlow,
and the expressions of gratitude to Mr..
Gill for his generosity were frequent.
There was a storm of cheers when H,
| w. Hall, chairman of the committee ap'
pointed by the Grand Lodge, came to
that part of his speech in which he prac
tically accepted the gift, thus virtually
assuring the location of the Home IL
| Ludlow.
"Among the speakers were w. w
Stickney of this place, H. L. StillsOn OF
| Bennington, ii. Z. Farrar ana Henry
Clark of Rutland, L. j. Retting of Brat.
tleboro, Judge Henry of Chester and
Henry A. Fletcher of PrOctOrsville."
The building stands on an elevated
plateau, 100 feet above the main street
of the village, and is approached through
a ravine. Tie slope of the street is easy
of ascent, on one side Of which stands
the Home and on the other the summer
residence of Mr.. Gill. 1t is just across
the street from Black River Academy
and the Graded schools of the place, anc
within so yards of every church in town
the Baptist being much nearer The
building is T-shaped and commands
magnificent view of the surrounding
country.
The main part is &C feet front and 81
feet deep, the entire length being 06 feet
1t is three stories high and has about 4C
rooms, of which % are very large. The
fourth floor or attic can easily be tittec
up with l6 rooms in addition to above
On the ground floor is a large parlor. {
spacious hail. dining room, kitchen, etc
There is also a good basement.
Every room is provided with gas
water and the best sanitary arrange
ments. The parlor, Office and hall arr
beautifully frescoed, and all the rooms