Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-06
The Celebration
Of Independence Day
Was a Success which Reflected Credit
on Committees and Citizens.

The Morning Parade Was n Vision of
Delight and the Event of the Day---a
Great Crowd of PsOpIe---GOOd Music,
Sporting Events and Fireworks Pro-
Vidsd Entertainment thu Oug hOut the
Day and Evening.
independence day has come and gone.
Bellows Falls had its great celebration
Wednesday, and it was a gratifying sue
cess. The weather was of the typical
Fourth of July kind, bright and warm,
but not oppressively hot. The day opened
with national salute of 81 guns fred by
detail of Vermont Academy cadets, the
cannon being one of those furnished to the
school by the late ex-Gov. Fuller. The
morning railroad trains brought crowds of
people from every direction, the special
train from Brattleboro numbering II cars.
From early morning people Hooked in by all
the country roads, and the railroad grounds,
the Square, and the residence streets, pre-
sented such a crowd of people as has not
been seen here for many years, if ever be-
fore. The exact number of visitors can
not be figured, but there were at least 5000
people on the grand stand and in that inn
mediate vicinity during the sports of the
afternoon, and as many more were prob
ably distributed about the village, includ
ing BARRIERS park, where base ball game
was played and various picnics and other
sports were held.
All the arrangements were carried out
in a way highly creditable to the committee
having them in charge. The great feature
of the day was the morning parade at 8
o'clock, which was large in numbers, hap
PLY conceived, and carried out with ex-
Ill -, Joko
Nothing at all equaling this attractive fea-
ture has ever before been seen in Bellows
Falls and in the opinion of visitors who
witnessed it it suffered nothing by COM
parison with those held on special occa-
sions in neighboring towns. The process
sion was preceded by force of policemen,
and the marshal of the day, E. A. Nor
wood, and his aids At the head of the
procession was the Bellows Falls band un-
der the leadership of G. B. Wheeler. After
a suitable interval came the First Regi
ment band of Brattleboro, and near the
rear was an excellent drum corps of local
musicians. Captain Walter Taylor as hon
'orary marshal occupied a carriage in the
procession, as did the Brattleboro ceebra-
ton committee. A local company of
mounted "Rough Riders in kahki uni
forms made a very effective feature.
These were followed by the decorated car
riages, led by the handsome four-in- hand
drag of Hon. Thomas Nelson Hastings of
Walpole, who was chairman of the coach
ing parade committee. The decorated
carriages presented & great variety of eff
fects, and showed that no end of time,
thought and ingenuity had been expended.
The floats of the business houses were an
equally effective feature, and did great
credit to the firms thus represented. There
was also a contingent of men and women
on decorated wheels. Behind these came
the Bellows Falls fire department with
their apparatus trimmed in tasteful man
ner, and number of companies of visiting
fremen, who were to take part in the hose
races later in the day. A company of hor-
ribles, admirably conceived in their gro
tesque makeup, brought up the rear,
some of the take-offs being extremely
laughable. A hit effectively worked out
and universally appreciated was that on
the fire department-the "Jaytown Steam
or company" William A. Halls new au-
tomobile, occupied by himself and his son,
attracted the attention of everybody and
the ''auto" manned by the Weary Will
lies" was not less conspicuous feature.
The base ball game at Barber's Park,
band concert at noon and the gun club
shoot filled up the time until the list of
athletic events, which occupied the entire
afternoon, and was witnessed by large
crowd of people on and near the grand
stand on Rockingham street.
At 1880 a closing national salute of 81
guns was fired, and soon after 8 o'clock
the grand display of fireworks was set off
from the New Hampshire side of the river
The residents of the village were out prac-
tically in body to see this fine display,
and large number of visitors remained
for this final event.
The village was very handsomely deco
rated, the business men and citizens gem
orally joining in a cordial effort in this di-
rection. There was a profuse display of
the national colors upon all the business
blocks, and the residence streets presented
gay and spirited appearance, which per-
fectly fitted the occasion.
The general committee, which consisted
of DR.. ]. Sutclffe Hill, G. j. ONeil, E. A.
Norwood, j. E. Keefe and W. G. Belknap,
had the sum of about $1,000 at their dis
posal, this sum having been largely raised
by general subscription. That it was
used wisely, and in way to produce the
best general effect, there can be no doubt. |
This general committee was cordially sec
onded and aided by the subcommittee
who were in charge of the various features
and events of the day. 1t was, moreover,
an occasion when all our citizens Joined |
hands in an effort for the success of the |
day and the good name of Bellows Falls.