Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-03-28
Gill Odd Fellows Home at Ludlow.

Last Sundays issue of the Springfield
Republican contained very entertaining
article regarding the Gill Odd Fellows
home at Ludlow. The Republican said in
part. The formal dedication will be on
the third Wednesday in May with imposing
ceremonies. The grand lodge will meet
at Rutland that morning and at II o'clock
the whole body will proceed by special train
to Ludlow, where it is expected that there
will be gathered from 5000 to 10000 Odd
Fellows, their families and others, with
Grand Sire John w. Stebbins Of Rochester,
N. ", as orator of the day. and the COVER
nor and other state officials, including the
trustees of the soldiers home and of other
state institutions as guests.
The building, which was designed for a
modern hotel, is L shaped &C by SO feet.
The interior is most conveniently arranged,
including its large parlors, reading-rooms
with freplaces, dining rooms, spacious
kitchen, % sleeping-rooms and ample room
in the attic for 16 more dormitories. The
large halls are provided with frepaces,
and on each floor are lavatories and bath
rooms. The rooms are provided with
electric bells, the house being piped for
WdUcT, WuIlc tlC SCWSIdSc is tIG DcSU.
There is laundry in the basement, and
dry-rooms and billiard room, in addition
to vegetable cellar. The lower floor is in
hard wood, with natural finish. A wide
veranda runs around the house and the
whole will be lighted with gas and heated
by steam.
The home and grounds are the gift of j.
S. Gill of Boston, who is engaged in man.
u(acturing in Ludlow, where he has a sum-
mer home. The deed which CONVEYS the
title to Grand Master G. A. Perry was
signed July 4, 1895, and is free from re-
strictions of any kind. The idea of a home
in Vermont was started 10 years ago in the
form of resolution of Stark lodge of Ben
nington addressed to the sovereign grand
lodge for a national hospital and home.
1t was considered bv the national body.
but was deemed inexpedient, so nothing
further was done. The late George IL.
Bigelow Of Burlington, grand representa-
tive, presented the resolution at time
when a proposition was under considera-
ton to erect monument in Baltimore to
the memory of the late James l.. Ridgley,
for many years grand recording and cor
responding secretary of the soverei On grand
lodge. The Vermont delegates argued
that a Ridgley hospital and home, that
should be forever free to members OF the
order in good standing, located in some
centra! city would be a better and more en-
during monument to their dead brother and
more in consonance with his life work
But the monument project had progressed
too far, and it was erected.
The home scheme, however, did not
'down" in Vermont In 1928. under
Grand Master Farrar's administration,
over $4,000 was subscribed, one-third to be
when the cornerstone was laid and the
balance when the home was dedicated. At
the last annual session the grand master
alluded to the home. Louis V. Greene of
Rutland, now grand patriarch of the grand
encampment, secretary Of the committee,
madea report which led to the appointment
of the Odd Fellows home committee.
They were H. w. Hall of Burlington, W.
ID. Wilson of St. Adams, H. L. Stillson oil
Bennington, o. II. Henderson of St.
Johnsbury and l.. j. Retting of Brattleboro.
Both Rutland and Bradford presented
proposals for the establishment of the home
in their localities and the proposed sites
were visited by the committee. Pending
the consideration of the matters pertaining
to location, Mr.. Gill submitted a PROPOSE
,tion to sell his hotel property to the YER
mont Odd Fellows for $4,000, which was
about one-fourth of the actual cost of the
buildings and grounds. The committee
again met and inspected the proposed home,
which resulted in the gift. July Is the
grand master constituted the committee
trustees, with the addition to the board of
the names Of l.. G. Fullam of Ludlow, II.
G. Farrar of Rutland and II. +. Parker OF
Bradford, Grand Master Perry being by
virtue of his office president ex-oficio, II
w. Hall chairman, III. l., Stillson secretary
and l.. G. Fullam treasurer. The official
title in the deed is ''Tbe Gill Odd Fellows
home OF Vermont
The committee found that $1,000 was
necessary to furnish and finish the bnilding
for occupancy. This sum was readily Sc
cured from the order. The several rooms
in the building are assigned to the lodges
to furnish. and Wantastiquet Of Brattleboro
will furnish the parlors.