Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-22
How to Observe Old Home Week

The people of Vermont have been learn
ing during the past few days how to prop
erly observe Old Home Week. When the
project to inauguratc this commendable
custom in the Green Mountain state was
begun. the idea was entirely new to the
great majority of our residents. The first
question they asked themselves was what
shall we do to attract former residents and
how shall we entertain them? The Vermont
Old Home Week association attempted to
anticipate these questions by sending into
different towns circulars showing what
had been done in New Hampshire. where
the custom on it's present scale originated.
well in Maine; but somehow this
information was not satisfying. After
studying the programme carried out in
different towns in these neighboring com
monwealths there remained a feeling of
uncertainty as to what should be done.
During the week now ending our people
have come into intimate relations
with returning Vermonters on Il
large scale. They have learned by expert
ence what most stirs the memories
and the hearts of natives of the State
now located elsewhere. When our visitors
come here during Old Home Week, they
desire most Of all to get in as close touch
as possible with the Grand Old State and
its people. They desire to revive former
associations by visiting the scenes of
their youth. They want to breathe again
the invigorating air of our green hills and
to enjoy once more the grand and inspir-
ing scenery afforded by the States lakes
and mountains and valleys. They want to
see a much OF the State as possible, note
the changes and the progress of different
communities. They are eager to meet old
friends as well as to form new acQuaint-
ances; and they naturally want to enjoy
once more that genuine Vermont hospitali-
ty which has helped to make our State
famous.
1t follows that any community which
adopts means to facilitate the accomplish
ing of any one or all OF these objects has
entered into the spirit of Old Home Week.
The exercises that include addresses of
welcome and responses from our visitors;
the reception in the public building or the
reunion in the old meeting house; the eX-
est the old fashioned picnic dinner in the
woods on the shore of some familiar
stream or OF some picturesque lake; the
drives that will enable the visitors to sec
our cities and towns and their surround
inps; The concerts and other entertain
ments held in their honor-these are some
OF the things which are the essentials OF
a fitting Old Home Week observance. TIL r
there are the settings such as decorations
of our streets and public buildings ant
homes, the illuminations and fireworks
and parades and other features of thi:
character in honor of our visitors which
help to round out the week and mak'
the whole harmonious and fitting.
Rut all this will be incomplete for tn
returning Vermonter without one thin.
more; and that is the opportunity to visi
the old home, to trod wher
father and mother trod, to revv
the sweet and innocent memoric
of childhood and to catch something o
that spirit which rendered dear the OLE
frcside. This is what Old Home Wccl
means for Vermont's returning sons ant
daughters.