Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-01-11
GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATION.
A Happy Event Wednesday Planned
Without the knowledge of the Prin-
cpas, Mr.. and Mrs. II. F. Steven

son.
With many verbal and written ex-
pressions of congratulations, with
tangible evidence of esteem, with
merry children's voices and with good
cheer on every side, Wednesday was
happy day in the lives of Mr.. and
Mrs. II. f. Stevenson of Canal street.
The day marked the completion of %
years of welded life and to Mr.. and
Mrs. Stevenson the celebration
brought all the more pleasure be-
cause it was planned without their
knowledge by the people who live in
the house with them Only the more
intimate friends of the couple were
invited, but many sent letters of con
graduation and good will. Two OF
those who called, o. b. Mack and
Miss Mary Salisbury, attended the
marriage of Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson
so years ago.
While Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were
at breakfast the other families in the
house assembled in one room and
Joined in singing AUD Lang Syne."
To the bride and bridegroom of so
years ago the situation was soon APP
parent and in a few minutes congratu-
lations had been said and Mr.. and
Mrs. Stevenson had been told that
reception had been planned for them
in the afternoon from to o'clock.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson could do
nothing but acquiesce, and the work
of decorating, necessarily delayed
until then, was begun.
The decorations, which had been
carefully planned, were confined
largely to the large open stairway
through which the guests must pass
to reach Mr.. and Mrs. Stevensons
rooms, and many said they had
never seen decorations, arranged on
the same scale, so pretty. High up
on the main wall was a monogram
of the letters Ssh" on a green back
ground. Beneath the monogram was
what might be called the Stevenson
coat of arms. consisting of a back
ground of greens with shoemaker's
hammer and awl for the emblems.
This was surmouhted by cupid with
bow and arrow.
On one of the side walls was a large
gilt frame enclosing the date 1851"
while on the opposite side was a du-
plicate frame with the date 1901"
These were decorated with hemlock
boughs, among which white doves
spruce trees stood about the main
landing, the banisters were wound
with white and yellow bunting and
green branches, and numerous
wreathes of laurel and evergreen
were arranged to give to the whole a
harmoniZing effect. The ceiling
was decorated with streamers of vel
low crepe paper twisted.
Soon after the hour appointed for
the reception 10 of the little friends
of Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson arrived
and joined in merry songs, and in be-
half of them all Margaret Barber pre-
scented Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson so car
nations with appropriate verses. A
solo was sung by Lyman Smith,
Marion Stone gave a recitation, and
a poem by Rev. f. S. Smith, author of
America" entitled "Fiftieth Anniver-
sary,' was read by Miss Minnie
Brasor. Seventy-five or more guests
were present during the day, and each
guest was given a wedding card.
The cards were designed by w. r.
Stuart, who also planned the decora-
tions, and they were models of ar
tistic conception. The fly leaves
bore, on the outside, the dates 1851
1907 in gold letters, while on the in
side were the names Mary Edwards
Howe-Hiram Farum Stevenson" On
the body of the card were drawings
of the large Reed house on Green
street, where Mr.. and Mrs Stevenson
were married, as it appeared in 1851,
and of No. 3 Canal street. where they
now live. In gold letters were the
words, Mr.. and Mrs. H. F. Stevenson.
United in Marriage, Jan. 9, 1851, by
Rev. D. S. Morris, Brattleboro, Vt"
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson were pre-
sented with many handsome gifts, in
Guiding a Morris chair from the sew
ing circle of the Universalist church.
One of the gifts was a silk bag from
which hung ribbons to which were at
tached heart-shaped cards bearing
dates from Jan. 9 to Jan. 81. On each
day until the end of the month one
of the ribbons will be drawn out of
the bag, and with it will come happy
reminder of the pleasant occasion.
Hiram Farum Stevenson was born
in Swanzey, n. H., and was one of
three children of Enos and Polly Ste
venson. He came to Brattleboro in
lS4S and began business as boot and
shoe repairer for Willard and Charles
Frost. He was first in the RAY build
to Hinsdale, n. H., for about a year.
Returning to Brattleboro he was en-
ployed in the old building which
stood where the Milestone building
now stands and which was carried
away by the freshet of 1878. For the
past % years he has been in bust
ness for himself in Thomas Judges
building.
Mrs. Stevenson's maiden name was
Mary Edwards Howe. She was born
in Brattleboro, and was an only
daughter of Edward and Mary Howe.
With the exception of the year spent
in Hinsdale while Mr. Stevenson was
in business there she has always
lived in her native town. Two chill
dren were born to Mr.. and Mrs. Ste
venson, Fred, who died when he was
seven years old, and Charles, who
died at the age of 81.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson are both
familiar with the history of the town,
and Mrs. Stevenson especially has
fund of information in regard to
events which have taken place in
town during her lifetime. They have
many visitors, Mr.. Stevenson in his
shop and Mrs. Stevenson in her
home, and whether it be in one place
or the other the same spirit of cor
diality is manifested and the visitor
is made to feel at home and at ease
They are members of the Universal
list church, and they are respected bv
all who know them.