Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-07
AFTER FORTY YEARS
The Town House Re-dedicuted.

Repaired, Enlarged aud Improved---the
Exercises on Snturdny---Judge Wheel
er's Historic Address.
The committee appointed at the last
town meeting to have charge of the re-
pairing, charging and improving of the
town house submitted their work to the
| inspection of the public last Saturday.
At 2 o'clock the doors were opened, and
| from that time until the hour set for the
dedicatory exercises, a constant procession
! of townspeople was passing through the
| building. The building committee were
present and gave the visitors every oppor-
tunity to thoroughly inspect the building.
The music of the First Regiment band,
which gave a concert in the festival hall
during the afternoon, was an enjoyable
feature of the occasion.
The dedicatOry exercises proper began
at o'clock, when every seat in the audto-
rum was taken. Hundreds, Including many
women, were obliged to stand during the
evening, and many others went away una
BILE to gain admission. Gen. j. j. Estey,
the chairman of the building committee,
presided. His colleagues on the commit
tee, DR.. II. D. Holton and Col. G.. W.
Hooker; the selectmen of the town, Dr.
ID. p. Webster, II. F. Weatherhead and E.
II. Putnam; and Hon. H. II. Wheeler,
who gave the historical address, also had
seats on the stage.
The numbers on the program were all
contributed by "town people," the public
schools of this village and the academy at
West Brattleboro being represented by stu
dents and recent graduates.
Beside the music by the First Regiment
orchestra there were two selections by a
quartet, Mrs. Simpson, Miss Cook, f. s..
Brasor and f. w. Crosby, Mrs. McLane
acting as accompanst.
The following was the program of reci-
tations and declamations
Recitation, The Duklte snake" Miss Fisher
Defamation, ''On liberal education by Chaur.
cey NJ. Depew, Ralph W. Stoddard
Recitation, Commodu', the archer Of Rome"
4 Defamation, Camilla Benso di Cavour.'' ''''''
Robert c. Clark
All of these numbers were given in a
manner highly creditable to the young
people. Miss Willard was received with
especial favor, her rendering of the thrill
ing account of "COmmodus, the archer of
Rome" being listened to with the close at
tention that is the best compliment a
speaker can receive.
The historical address was given by Hon.
II. H. Wheeler At its close Gen Estey,
in behalf of the town, thanked the speak
er for his interesting address and asked
that it be published that its valuable histor-
icA matter might be preserved. The ad-
dress is printed in full herewith.
Following this address and before the
concluding numbers, Miss Brasor gave a
humorous selection which was warmly re-
ceived, being capitally rendered. like ev-
erything which she attempts.
The presentation of the KEYS by the
building committee and their acceptance
by the selectmen was next in order. Gen.
Estey made brief address, speaking of
some of the details of the committed
work. He said that he was aware that
many had been inclined to crticise the work
as it progressed and that he presumed many
of the criticisms were well made, but that
the committee had endeavored faithfully to
carry out the wishes f the town, and any
failures made were because they "knew no
better" In behalf of the committee Gen.
Estey expressed his appreciation of the
work of III. K. Lawrence, the secretary of
the committee, without whose services it
would have been impossible for the COM
mittee to have completed the work in so
satisfactory a manner. With the words,
1--WE have done the best we knew how" he
handed the keys to the representative of
the town.
DR.. Webster, in behalf of the selectmen,
received the keys. He congratulated the
committee on the completion of their la
bors, for he appreciated the labor, the
anxiety, the sacrifice of time and comfort,
and the criticism, as well as the praise,
that comes from an honest and vigorous
effort to perform the duties of servants of
the town. The committee had endeavored
to fulfil the wishes of a majority of the
voters of the town and for their full and
final reward they must look TO the future,
when the worth of their work shall have
been tested by actual use AS chairman
of the board of selectmen he received the
keys, expressing the hope that the wisdom
of the committee would be vindicated in
every particular.
The exercises closed with the singing of
America by the audience.