Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-08-28
Old Home Day in 0ummerston.
The Successful Celebration Held Yes.
terday on the Old Common on the


terday on the Old Common on the
Hill.
Tn, people of Immersion repeated yes
t,rduy their success of year ago i'm the
celebration of old Home week Tho fact
that rain ON the 10Th, the day originally
set for the Observance. caused a post
uonpment for a week in no way lessened
the interest or the attendance. Some coo
or 7Nu people gathered on the common
uu the min during the day and found great
pleasure both in renewing old acquaint-
.uoe and i'm listening to the speaking
of the afternoon From 1870 in the morn
ing till noon the First Regiment band
of Bratueboro gave an open-air concert
from the band and speakers stand erect
cd there. The gathering was on the bas-
kct picnic plan and during the noon hour
collation. was served to guests of the
day. More band music followed and at
o'clock the speaking began Rev. w. Z.
Jackson, the president Of the day. said
a few words Of cordial welcome and then
introduced David l.. Mansfield. who gave
a short historical address on Samuel
Laughton. Corporal, soldier Of the
Revolution Samuel Laughton settled
in Dummerston i'm 176S on lot No. Go. which
is the farm now occupied by his great
grandson. Austin Laughton. After four
years Of service for the king as a citizen
soldier in the French and Indian war ne
followed for - years the peaceful occu-
patton of farmer. and then fought val
iantlY as a member of Ethan Aliens
company of Green Mountain boys. His
grave i'm the cemetery close by the scene
Of Yesterdays celebration has recently
been marked by a Revolutionary head
stone furnished by the United States
government. and by a bronze marker pro-
cured through the Massachusetts Sons Of
the American Revolution. The head
stone was secured through the good Of
fees of Miss Harriet Laughton Matthews.
assistant librarian of the Lynn. Mass.
public library. a descendant of Samuel
I.aughtou in the 4th generation it hay
ing been included in lot of 125 head
stones procured to he set on the graves
of Revolutionary soldiers in that city.
Following Mr.. Mansheld's address f.. II.
Miller gave selection, with accompani-
mcnt by the band, Home Sweet Home.
the words written for the occasion by
Rev. w. p. Jackson, and sung to the
music of Der Trompeter." from the
opera by Nessler
Hon J. l.. Martin. who was then in
troduCed the orator of the day gave
an inspiring address with the stirring
history Of Vermont in the days before.
during and Immediately following the
Revolution as his theme. followed by
rapid and comprehensive glance at the
marvellous commercial and Industrial de-
velopment of the United States in the
last half century. As Mr.. Martin closed
Mr.. Miller was again called out and sang
The Two Greuadiers" with band ac-
compartment. Then followed a brief off
hand speech by Congressman Haskins
and a few words each from w. d. Miller
of Easthampton, Mass. and NJ. J. Reed
of Vernon. Voicing the affection felt by
these two sons of Dummerston for the
home of their childhood.
The weather was ideal for such an
ltilnT. he no
roundings We're not less So and there
was an unmistakable feeling on every
bodY's part that it was a good thing to
have gathered for another Old Home
week celebration by the old churcn on the
hill.
Preparation for this celebration was be-
gun at meeting of citizens held early in
July. when Rev. Mr. Jackson. chairman
w. +. Walker otis Amidon, Arthur
Iaughton and F. H. Miller We're chosen a
committee of arrangements That the com
mittee's work was active and efficient
and that they had the cooperation of the
people of the town, the success of the
day showed.
From a register signed by many of
those present it appeared that. besides
large delegations from nearby towns
visitors were there from Baltimore. New
York. Brooklyn, Boston, from numerous
inland Massachusetts cities and towns
Bridgeport and New Haven. Conn. De-
troit Mich, Goldsboro, y. c.. South Da-
kota Nova Scotia, and long list of other
places