Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-06-28
BELLOWS FALLS.
CLOSE OF COMMENCEMENT.
Reception Friday EVening-5anquet
and Business Meeting of Alumni AS
nnniation=Retrosneoti Glance.


acknowledgements Glance.
The events of commencement week
reached a fitting close on Friday even
ing, when the newly-fedged alumni
met with those of longer standing in
the annual reunion of alumni, in Union
hall. Between the hours of and 8
the guests were received by commit
tee, consisting of Mrs. Annie Dow
Green, 'S5, Mrs. Mary Wales Clair,
'S5, Miss Mary Powers, 80, Miss Helen
Guild, 81, Harry McKinnon, '9S, Mrs.
Anna Williams Perry, '99, and William
Barker. '99. The hour was spent So
cially, and at ) o'clock a banquet was
served to about 1870 persons by Ca
terers Fuller and Farr, members of
each class occupying specially assign
ed seats at table.
Following the collation., occurred the
annual business meeting Of the asso-
citation, at which George H. Rabbit
'78, was elected president, Miss Hattie
HildIeth, &c, secretary, and Charles
b. Underhill, 81, treasurer, with an
able corps of vice presidents and an
executive committee of five. 1t was
voted to levy an annual membership
fee of so cents, to form the nucleus of
a fund which should be sufficient with
in a few years to render the annual
banquets free to all members.
The address by Rev. Alfred Ham
matt was greatly enjoyed by all pres
ent-especially so, as it was under
stood that he had come from Boston
the day before, where he was attend
ing commencement at his alma mater
at considerable personal sacrifice, to
be present on this occasion. His
theme was our town system of edu
cation, and he spoke in the most glow
ing terms of the work of Superinten
dent Lord and Principal Downing, his
sentiments receiving a hearty echo in
the minds of all present. After the
adjournment of the formal meeting
the tables were cleared, and dancing
was enjoyed until l o'clock, music fol
reception, banquet, and dancing being
furnished by Exner's orchestra.
1t is worthy of note that this com
mencement is the 25th anniversary oil
the graduation of the first class from
the Bellows Falls High school. The
class of '76 contained either three Of
four members, and held it's exercises
in the Congregational church, which
was then a structure of the square
white box fashion, with old style stee
pie rising from the ridge pole. Al
that time the old High school building
in it's original form, with only foul
rooms, was the only school building
and accommodated all the children
with the exception of one primary
grade, which held it's sessions in the
basement of the above mentioned
church. Prof. Ward was then princi
pal of the High school, with Miss Su
san Leach, now living in Westminster
as assistant. We now have five sub
stantial brick buildings, the new Higf
school with it's modern equipments be
ing one of the finest in the state, ant
an able corps of &c teachers. Anyone
having a slight knowledge of the meth
DDS of a quarter-century ago, would
find much to interest him in WISH
to the schools of the present day, ant
would discover that the gain has mo-
been entirely along the line of size
and numbers. although there are al
present enrolled in our schools about
1000 pupils.