Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-17
5OTH ANNIVERSARY
OF Arrival Of the First IRAN III
BrattlebOrO

And of the Formal Opening of the 'er-
mont and Massachusetts H"ilro"u-
The Celebration In Commentator OF
Those Events.
1t was half a century ago Monday tnat
train of cars first arrived in BrattleDOIO
and it will be half century next MONDAY,
Feb. 20. that the railroad over which that
train passed was formally opened 10 puolc
travel Both of those events OF % years
ago were attended with great enthusiasm
on the part of the citizens OF Brattle0oro,
and the days upon which they occurred
are red letter days in the history OF TINS
town.
some of the older citizens of Brattleboro
state that the weather at that time was IN
tensely cold, closely resembling the
weather that has prevailed in Brattleboro
the past week. In an editorial paragraph
the Semi-Weekly Eagle of Feb. ID, lS49,
edited by the late Hon. b. d. Harris, said
"Quite a crowd-somewher in the
neighborhood of 1000-assembled on our
depot grounds on Tuesday, some 20 wit
ness the arrival of the cars at this place
for the first time, and others to take pas
sage in them for Boston to attend the an
nual meeting of the VT and Mass. com
pany. About twenty minutes past / the
train hove in sight, tail foremost. There
was a rush to secure seats, and not little
fear manifested by some lest they should
be left behind. The two beautiful and
commodous passenger cars were soon filled
with stockholders and the train, after the
engine had given one good brazen snort to
brighten the natives, moved off, and
that's all.
THE road will be opened to Brattleboro
for public travel next Tuesday, on which
occasion it is proposed to celebrate trife,
and over 5000 have already been subscribed
by the citizens of this place for that pur-
pose. We hope to see our friends from far
and near"
Next Tuesday came and with it the
opening of the road, the celebration by the
citizens and the "friends from far and
near" A snow storm also came, but mot
wthstanding that" says the Eagle of that
week, "before II o'clock the depot grounds
and the high bank above were covered by
thousands Of men, women and,children as
sembled to witness the arrival of the cars
TO many novel spectace--and to welcome
the expected visitors to the Inequalities of
Vermont. About 2 - o'clock the sound
of the whistle was heard, and not many
minutes after, two noble trains, consisting
in all of IL cars, literally packed with hu.
man beings, not less than fifteen hundred
in number, arrived at the depot amid the
cheers and shouts of the multitude.
"a procession was Immediately formed
under the direction of DR.. Charles Chaplin.
Chief Marshal, which escorted by the Fire
Companies of the village in uniform.
al bo of Hos.
thence back to the Depot buildings, where
dinner was served. 1t is estimated that
not less than fifteen hundred dined at the
first table, and much larger number sub
sequently.
After active operations at the table had
ceased the procession was reformed and
marched to the Centre Church, for the
purpose of making and listening 10
speeches, interchange of sentiment, &C."
DR.. WIN. II. Rockwell presided at the
meeting, and speeches were made by Col.
Croker, who raised funds for building the
road; Mr.. Whittemore, Mr.. Chapman.
Mr.. Bradley, President II. S. Moves of the
railroad company, and others.
after the adjournment at the church
the pertinent inquiry arose where all the
strangers in town were TO sleep. Our citi-
zens, one and all, opened their doors for
the reception of guests, but after every
nook and corner had been filed, some
three or four hundred remained unprovided
for, large share of whom took up lodg-
ings in the church, which was kept com
fortably warm for the purpose; and right
social time they had of it,"
In the evening there was grand ball in
Wantastiquet hall, which was attended by
three or four hundred persons. Flagg's
band of Boston furnished music. The
next forenoon, Wednesday, train of 10
cars left here, carrying back to Boston and
places along the line of the railroad a large
part OF the visitors who had come here.