Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-20
OPENING OF BARRIERS lark.
Bellows Falls and SaxtOns River Joined
Hands on Tuesday.

Special Cars Carried the CeIebrants to
the Park, Where Refreshments Were
Served--InIeresIIng POst-PrandIaI E1-
ercises.
The event of the present week, having
the widest significance to the citizens of
this town and to this end of the county,
has been the dedicatory exercises and
formal opening of BARRIERS park, which oc
Cured Tuesday afternoon. Although the
park has been in use some weeks and thou
sands have visited it upon the electric road,
it has been, and still is, in an unfinished
condition. A large gang of men have been
employed for over a month clearing up
the grove, building a large and we'll APP
pointed pavilion, a stage for an out door
theatre, putting in electric lights, building
a grand stand on the athletic grounds and
base ball field, putting In seats through the
grove, putting up swings and bringing in
a supply of pure water. This is still much
in an unfinished condition, but the grounds
are in suitable shape for use although i'm
provements are constantly being made. 1t
is developing into the best park for its
uses there is in New England, and the man
agement of the electric road and citizens of
all this locality are to be congratulated
upon its excellence. 1t marks the begin
ming of a new era, making possible much
extended out door recreation, which must
tend to the best interests of the people.
Another important effect of the new
order of things was indicated by Tuesdays
exercises, and that is, the close union of the
villages of Bellows Falls and Saxtons River,
making possible a much better knowledge
of each other, and gradually developing
into one large village by the growth along
the line of the road between the two.
When the cars first went through to
Saxtons River a large number of our cit
liens went out and greeted those of the
other place, and were pleasantly enter
tanned there. For some weeks it has been
the intention here to return the courtesy.
This feeling developed into Tuesdays cele-
bration, at which over 100 of Saxtons
Rivers citizens were met at the park, and
entertained by over 200 Bellows Falls
people. Among those having the lead in
carrying out the arrangements at this end
were DR.. E. r. Campbell, Geo. R. Wales
and ]. w. Flint, and they were eminently
successful. More than 200 tickets were
sold here at 81 90 each, which included the
car fares and entertainment of lunch and
music at the park, besides furnishing over
100 complimentary tickets to SAxtons River
people. The refreshments were in charge
of George B. Wheeler with an able corps
of assistants. The tables for about 300
were set under the trees in the back part of
the grove, at a little distance from the
pavilion.
Special cars were provided, leaving here
and at Saxtons River at four O'Clock, and
the large party was handled in an excellent
manner by the road. Exner's orchestra
was stationed in the centre of the pavilion
and rendered fine music until the an
nouncement was made that the refresh
ments were ready. They consisted of
sandwiches, coffee, lemonade, pickles,
olives, ice cream and cake, the larger part
OF the company being seated at the tables.
After refreshing the inner man, DR.. Camp
bell raped the company to order, and act
ing as POSTMASTER, called out number of
speakers who filled the time until darkness
obliged a return to the pavilion, where
music for dancing was provided until late
hour, the company returning to their
homes, at all hours of the evening as they
chose.
Among the speakers called upon were j.
H. Holton, president of the road, who re-
turned thanks to the people for all their
kindness and consideration during the
months of planning and building the road,
speaking particularly of the good feeling
and assistance accorded him. He under
stood this to be the first road built in New
England without being enjoined for any
cause. Hon A. N. Swain was in a remi-
niscent mood, giving anecdotes and circum-
stances of the inception of the road. He
was in the legislature and introduced the
charter eight or ten years ago and was one
OF the incorporators. He was followed by
w. b. Glynn of Saxtons River, who spoke
in behalf of his part of the town, and Geo.
A. Weston gave humorous account of a
noted boiled dinner" party which was