Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-09-20
OUR COLONIAL DANES
State Society's Annual Meeting
Held in BrattIeboro.
Marker Dedicated on the Site of Fort
Dummer---Judge WheeIer's histor-
icaI Address.

Dummer---Judse WheeIers Histor-
ical Address.
The annual meeting of the Vermont
Society of Colonial Danes was held
in Brattleboro Wednesday and was at
tended by about 60 members, max
ing a dignified gathering of represen-
tative Vermont women. The meeting
was distinctive in some respects and
saw well begun, in the marking of
the site of Fort Dummer, a valuable
work to which greater effort undoubt-
eddy will be given in the future.
On Tuesday evening reception was
given by Mrs. Kittredge Haskins to
the visiting women, and to the mem
bers of the Brattleboro Chapter,
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, who were invited to all the ses-
sions of the annual meeting. The re-
ception was held in the Brooks House
parlors, which were handsomely dec
GRATED for the occasion with flags,
bunting and hydrangeas. On account
of the nations bereavement in the loss
of its President all formalities were
done away with and program, which
had been prepared, was given up.
The guests were received by Mrs. Has
kins and Mrs. Abbie Estey Fuller of
Brattleboro, Mrs P. G. Clement Of
Rutland and Miss Anna c. Park of
Bennington, president of the society.
The annual business session was
held Wednesday morning in the Con-
gregational chapel beginning with the
presidents address Miss Park had
no prepared address, but emphasized
in a graceful way that the society is
setting the example, as the state did
before it, of standing for right and
progress, and took delight in rejecting
that it's deliberations were not ham
pered by any root of discomfort.
The calling of the roll was followed
by reports of the officers, which show
ed that the society is in fourishing
condition, having considerably over
200 members. Twenty-eight members
have been added since last years
meeting, and the meeting in Brattle-
boro brought out several applications
for membership. Memorial tributes
were read as follows: OF Miss Elmira
Morgan of Bennington, by Miss Anna
G. Park; of Mrs. Eleanor Bixby of
Poultney, by Mrs. Mary B. Sanford;
of Mrs. Fannie c. Rice of Brattleboro,
by Mrs. F. w. Weeks. A memorial
Burlington had been prepared by Mrs.
Edward c. Smith of st. Adams, but it
was not read, as Mrs. Smith was not
present. 1t will go upon the records
of the society.
New bylaws were adopted, covering
certificates, insignia, the appointment
OF historian, officers, ETC. and these
officers were elected First vice pres
ident, Mrs. g. j. Ormsbee of Brandon;
second vice president, Mrs. F. S. Stran-
ahan of ST. Adams; registrar, Mrs. Ed
ward l.. Temple of Rutland; second
member of the board of management,
Mrs. F. B. Barrett of Poutney.
In accepting the monument in behalf
of the state society Miss Park, the
president, spoke of the custom, which
dated from many centuries before
Christ, of marking notable events and
deeds of valor with memorial stones,
and cited several instances recorded
IN the Bible. She exhibited a piece
In the Bible. She exhibited piece of
grey rock from Plymouth rock, and
continued This massive stone lies in
that part of Vermont that first receiy-
ed the impress of the white mans
claim to it, and it is a fitting tribute
bTdIIlG-
boro. Their first public work is to
mark the first spot occupied by our
aggressive forefathers in Vermont We
thank the brave Danes in Brattleboro
for so quickly seeing the work to be
done and for pushing it. forward to
completion with such CELEBRITY and good
taste. The work is done, and the Yer.
mont Society of Colonial Danes takes
possession of its first landed property.
MAY Vermont hold fast to her early
principles of righteousness, freedom
and unity, so long as this marker re-
tains its place"
Miss Parks address was followed nv
the singing of Sovereign and Trans
forming Grace" after which Col
Hooker introduced Judge Hoyt H
wheeler, who delivered an historical
address. Judge Wheeler gave a con-
else and interesting history and de-
scrlption of Fort Drummer, telling how
AZ came to be built, showing a plan of
the fort and indicating to his hearers
the location of its boundaries. "The
tort was attacked by Maquas, and
Scachticook Indians October -. and
Tour men were killed, whose names
are not known. This was the only
time 1t was ever directly attacked.
but parties from the fort were fire.
quently ambushed or attacked and
some killed. About 1927 Can't. Joseph
Kellogg became commander and Eben-
ezer Hinsdale became chaplain The
garrison was engaged chiefly in scout.
ing up West and Connecticut rivers
and viewing often at morning and
evening from the mountain for smokes
of Indian campires. Peace came on.
the garrison was reduced, a trading
post was established, and Capt. Kel-
iogg became truck master and com.
mander
John Sargent, the first white child
OF Vermont territory, was born there
Dec. T., 1882. Thus here was the first
permanent settlement by inhabitancy,
the first regular religious services, the
first white birth, and the first store of
Vermont territory. The truck house
was burned and trading stopped Col.
Josiah Willard became commander of
the fort in 1740 and Rev. Andrew
Gardner became chaplain.
A French and Indian war broke out
in 1744, and the garrison was increas-
ed. 1t was at its height in 1748. The
chief use of the fort was as a home
for scouting parties. Peace was de-
clared in October and hostilities ceas-
ed. Col. Willard, the commander of
the fort, died Dec 8, 1850, at Dun