Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-12-04
SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY
AT THE HOME FOR AGED AND
DISABLED YESTERDAY.

Nearly 800 People Inspect the New
Structure and Contribute Generously
Toward Furnishing liable Address
by Or. H. D. HoIton.
Successful indeed was the informal
opening of the new Home for Aged and
Disabled which took place yesterday
afternoon and evening. over 300 peo-
pie took advantage of the opportunity
to inspect the recently finished struc-
ture which, with its hold outlines,
graces Western avenue. The addition
with its IL spacious rooms certainly
provides amply for the pleasure and
comfort of its occupants. 1t is built
of stone quarried from the Wantasti
quet mountain, a material not only at
tractive in appearance but possessing
great durability. and the front is adorned
with four massive columns. The new
home is the work of Pellett Brothers
of Worcester, Mass, to whom in a
large measure is the handsome ap-
pearance of the structure due.
The opening yesterday was abso-
lutely informal but doubly pleasant on
that account The hostesses were
Mrs. C. l.. Nash, Miss S. E. Clark,
Mrs. F. II. Holden, Mrs. j. NJ. Tyler,
Mrs. G. F. Barber and Mrs, III. d. Hol-
ton. Mrs. S. o. Miner assisted by
Misses Margaret Martin Ethel Rand
all, Edwina Whitney and Rose Putnam,
presided at the lunch table while Mrs.
II. +. Houghton poured coffee and CO.
Goa The guests were shown about
the home by Misses Florence Wellman.
Dorothy Mitchell Marguerite Tucker,
Rena Hall, Hortense Hall, Katherine
Ware Ellen Ware, Sarah Winslow,
Maverette Smith. Pauline Fiske Ruth
Childs and Alice Waterman.
At $50 a musical program was Civ
en- consisting of violin trios by Messrs
Kidder, Hawley and Hobart, vocal SOL
os by Miss Gertrude Matthews and A.
l.. Maynard, violin solos by Miss Kath
crime Ware and piano selections by
Misses Jessie Hawley and Ellen Hunt
Rev. r. X. Marvin offered prayer, and
DR.. III. ID. Holton then made a short
address.
In behalf of the trustees he gave the
institution to the public, preceding his
formal presentation with a brief his
tory of the project. The need of a
home for aged and infirm persons was
discussed at a meeting in 1892, and the
result was that a charter Incorporating
such an institution was procured from
the legislature of that year. The plan
interested many people and several
substantial gifts were received at diff
ferent times so that the trustees were
enabled to buy the Western avenue
property which is now the homes pres
ent site, The trustees did not have
money enough to do more at that time
and it was not until 1897 that sufficient
funds were secured to warrant open
ing. At that time the home was opened
with two inmates and In 1899 an addi- |
ton of four rooms was built. Demands
for admission began to be received
faster than they could be accommo- |
dated, and the trustees We're at loss
to know what to do until the late |
Charles Lamb of st. Louis expressed |
his desire to make a substantial gift /
With the $4,000 which was received |
from him and gift of $4,000 from the |
late Henry Newman the present hand
some addit on was built, In regard to |
the method by which persons are ad- |
mitted to the home Dr. Holton said /
that il had been a difficult matter to /
decide on account of there being no /
1t was finally decided to /
take the age of every applicant deter
mine the length of his prospective life /
by consulting the annuity company's !
table and then charge at a rate of 5000 /
a year. If a person lives longer than .
has been reckoned he is supported the +
remainder of his life by the home, and I
if he dies before that time the money I
goes to the support of other inmates. \
In closing DR.. Holton thanked all who
had contributed and predicted career
of great usefulness for the institution.
Rev. L, NJ. Keneston made a short I
speech of acceptance in behalf of the
public, thanking the trustees for their
share in the success and expressing
the hope that gifts would continue.
That it was harvest day as well
as opening day was not forgotten and
a large number of helpful gifts were
received including preserves, canned
fruits vegetables and about 500 in
money. Notable among the donations
was a handsome piano from the Estey
organ company.