Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-01-02

week in Wilmington has been the formal
opening Of Childs memorial hall aud the
presentation of king JollitN' for three
evenings The weather Monday even
ing was very clustering, rendering it
impossible for people 40 come in from a
distance. About POO We're present, how
ever. and the exercises passed off very
pleasantly. Hon. .. +. Butterlield pre-
sided in his usual happy manner and
made an appropriate address in opening.
introducing Rev Mr.. Wells pastor Of
the Methodist church who pronounced
the invocation. Mr.. and Mrs \. p.
Childs of Bennington sang 1.-THE Old
Home"
Rev II. X Riegel spoke acceptably
and presented to Mr.. Chllds in behalf
of subscribing citizens, two elegant
streamers to be attached to the flag
staffs on either building. one lettered
Memorial Hair and one "Childs TaV-
ern."
Short speeches were made by y. 1.
Hawley of Brattleboro. Fred \. Flags
of Troy. y Y. Clark Chandler of Will
mineton. c. II. Parmelee Rev. Mr.. Fo-
shay. Rev Mr.. Wells and others.
Musical selections were rendered by
Mrs w. NJ. Kidder of Amherst. Mass.
Miss Petersen Miss Leone Russell and
Miss Faith w. Kidder. each being excel
lent and receiving hearty applause.
Nearly $50 stereoptcon portraits of old
citizens were presented by c. NJ. Russell
and as the features of some old-time
resident were recognized the applause
was hearty. Home. Sweet Home was
rendered by a quartet. consisting Of Mr..
and Mrs Chids Fred \. Flag and \.
W Childs.
A. p. Childs made a very appropriate
address as did r. s. Childs ana Major
Childs the one who has seen fit thus to
I'D h., If
mington in this act of generosity and
hial sentiment. Excellent poems written
by Mrs Forbes one of the oldest per
sons in town-read by Mr.. Butterffeld
and poem possessing great merit.
read by Miss Mabel Fitch Mr.. Fitch
himself being unable to be present,
pleased everybody. We must not for
get the violin music by S. z. Chamber
lin which was one Of the hest features
# the program.
Taken together the exercises were
most appropriate and everything was
finely carried out
king Jollity" has held the boards for
three succeeding evenings and has been
a great success. audiences being large
each evening and everyone being highly
pleased in the the work that Mr.. Wales
has accomplished i'm drilling the Young
people in their several parts.
Letters We're read by G. NJ. Russell
from the following persons: Hon. James
NJ Tyler. Brattleboro. Hon Frederick
ITolbrOok Of Brattleboro. Lewis P.
stone Of Chicago. Byron \. stone Of
Mohawk-wrtten from Pinehurst. y. c"
Dexter L. Stone of New York. James
Rassett Of Remington Charles F. Boyd
of Fulton. n Y. George W. Davenport
Of Greenfield, John II. Flagg Of New
York. Austin IT, Watson Of New York
Charles D. Spencer Of Shelburnc Fails
Mass Gov. Aycock Of North Carolina,
Mr.. and Mrs o. A. Alvord Of Brattle-
horo, Z. d Moore Of Bennington Judge
James w. Locke Of Jacksonville
Florida Hosea Mann of Torrington
Conn. DR.. Holton of Brattleboro.
Letters were received from many per-
sons but owing to the lateness Of the
hour We're not read at length.
The town has the benefit Of the two
beautiful and appropriate buildings
through the generosity of Maj. Fred
erick w. Chlds of Brattleboro. Mai
ChildS is a native of Wilmington, and the
Childs family has been particularly loyal
to the little town. The soldiers monu-
ment was a gift from Asa =. Childs OF
Bennington, and other members of the
family have shown their appreciation in
many ways.
The Childs tavern is located on the
south side of West Main street on the
site of the once famous stage house kept
by the late Robert Riddell. and also on
the site of the first building erected in
Wilmington village by the late Mai. A.
II. Childs. The building is of Dutch
colonial exterior, three stories and base
ment, with low, Overhanging gambrel
roof and broad veranda on three sides
The whole exterior of the building is
covered with cypress shingles broken
10y the trimmings of n cream tint and
dark green blinds on the 90 or more
windows, the sashes of which are di-
vided into small lights. the lower with
single pane From flagstaff above the
gabled entrance floats a lettered bur
gee the gift of Wilmington citizens,
while a quaint old signboard. carried by
wrought iron brackets. which marked
the old Guilford Centre tavern genera
tons ago, on the background of which
is the name, THE Childs Tavern" swings
over the door. the sign the gift of Walter
II. Childs of Brattleboro
The tavern is complete in every way.
Both the tavern and the memorial hail
We're designed by Harry *. White of
McNim, Mead x Whites office i'm New
York Mr. White is a son of Mrs T. X
White of Brattleboro and is a graduate
OF the Brattleboro High school and of
the architectural department of the Mas
CAV "HH't'9 institute OF TECHNOLOGY.
Memorial hall is 10 or 80 feet west of
the tavern and is like it in design al
though trihe more simple i'm its ex-
terror finish. feature of the exterior
Is the main entrance doorway which is
faithful reproduction of the old colo
MAI doorway in the Curtis house in Sa-
lem Mass. The hall is one story and
basement and is covered with cypress
shinsle The roof above the stage is
carried sufficiently high to permit of the
use or modern stage equipment
From the entrance lobby one enters
the hall proper, two coatrooms. the gal
lery ana the office for tickets being on
either side and above the lobby The
audience room of the hall is 40 by Co
feet with a gallery 40 by 20 feet hav-
ing a combined seating capacity of about
900 The hall is lighted by 10 large
circular headed windows on either side
The interior presents a handsome an
pearance with its side walls divided in
to bays, separated by pilasters, extend
ing the height of the room and surmount-
ed by neat nodded and carved brackets
ON the line with the window stills n
Wainscot cap is carried between the nil
asters around the room, the walls he
tween this cap and the base being COW
ered with soft, rose-colored buckram.
the walls above being tinted with water