Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-05-01
A. o. H., DIVISION NO. 2.

A Strong Branch of Strong 0rder-lS5
Misunderstanding of $50 Members
Cadet Corps to be Formed--New Hall May
be Built.
Division No. 2, A. O. H., is one of the
strong organizations Of the town, and one
of which the community justly feels proud !.
We are indebted to G. j. O'Neill for the
excellent short sketch of the organization
and development OF the local branch of
this great order.
Division No. 2, A. O. H. was organized
January IS, 1881, in the basement of St.
Peters church, North Walpole, and began
its existence with but members. William
l.. Crowley, Charles j. O'Neill, Patrick E.
Cray, Patrick E. Griffin, John Healey,
j. j. Pierce, Edward German, John Mans
field, John Fitzgerald, William E. Flavin,
and John McCarty were the charter MEM
bers and were initiated by County Presi-
dent John w. Patten Of Keene, N. II.
The first board OF officers were elected
the same day and were as follows; Presi-
dent, William L. Crowley; vice president,
P. f. Cray; recording secretary, Charles
j. O'Neill; financial secretary, William E.
Flavin; treasurer, p. E. Griffin. For a
year the division met in St. Peters hall
and on January 4, 1882, moved to Bellows
Falls and had quarters in Gray's block in
the rooms now occupied by the Owl club.
At that time there were 80 members on the
roll. During the year following the divi-
sion made material progress and in Febru-
ary, 1888, held fair in Union hall that
Melted over 800. In March of this year
the division purchased the uniforms now
in use and made its first public appearance
on our streets on Decoration day and
assisted in the exercises with the G. A. r.
In July of 1888 the division had in
creased in membership so that it was neces-
sary to secure larger hall and the upper
floor of the Suter block was engaged and
elegantly fitted up with furniture, carpets
and fixtures SO that it was said to be the
finest lodge room in town. The following
| August the division visited Keene, and
Gardner, Mass, and gave very creditable
parades in both cities, and two years later
on st. Patrick's day paid visit to Rutland
and was entertained by the Irish societies
of that city.
Since the organization of the division
the following gentlemen have served as its
presidents: William L. Crowley, Edward
Barrett Timothy Sullivan, John H. Has
sett Charles j. O'Neill, Daniel P. Higgins,
Daniel H. Cray, and Edward Lawler. 1t
has always been recognized as one of the
most progressive and energetic branches
of the order in New England and has
always bsen prominently identified with
every movement looking to the advance
ment of the orders interests. 1t has
entertained some of the prominent Irish
men of the country and has enabled the
Irish citizens of this community to listen
to the eloquence of such men as Hon.
John BOYLE O'Rielly, Hon. John Z. Fitz-
gerald and Hon. Thomas Riley. From
the II members in 1881 it has grown to its
present strength and has now 1S5 members
in good standing, and will soon have to
seek more commodious quarters and has in
contemplation plan to erect hall for its
own use.
The annual report of the officers the
present year showed that there was invested
| in urnitare, flags and uniforms about
$500 and has a cash surplus of sbcut