Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-09-07
ORIGINATED IN WILMINGTON.
J. H. Flagg Writes Springfield Republican
About Home Week idea.

To the Editor OF The Republican,
In the last number OF your Weekly APP
peared the following
THE eighth annual Old Home week in
New Hampshire was opened Saturday night.
Founded by Gov Frank W. Rollins in 1899,
the idea was a success from the start, some
SO cities and towns inviting back their alb
sent sons and daughters for Old Home day
celebration that year. This number has
since been more than doubled, and this year
there will be Old Home week observances in
at least 1875 different places within the
state
1t is gratifying thus to witness the grow.
ing observance of this delightful Old Home
week festival throughout New England and
to feel as all must feel that the occasion has
not only come TO stay, but that its annual
observance is destined to extend to all the
leading cities and townships as the years go
by II therefore becomes interesting to
know when, where and by whom Old Home
week was founded, TO the end that due honor
and distinction may be accorded to those
Justly entitled thereto instead of to those
who have no claim whatever that will stand
the test of unbiased examination.
Therefore will you permit me to say that
Old Home week did not originate in New
Hampshire, nor was it founded by Gov.
Frank w. Rollins in 1s99.' as stated in the
above quotation, but that, on the contrary
il did originate and was first observed by the
town of Wilmington, Windham county, W.,
population, 1920, nine years previous TO
1899, under the name Of the Reunion OF the
sons and daughters Of Wilmington, July
SO. 1890. The ceremonies then held were
painstaking and elaborate, and were attend
ed by a return Of old residents and their fam
ri hal n
ion, estimated as equal in number to the
population Of the town. The ceremonies yir.
tually extended through an entire week. and
were enthusiastic throughout.
With no precedent existing as to plan and
scope it is noteworthy that practically every
feature since adopted by more populous and
pretentious communities was embraced IN the
earlier program, beginning with appropriate
religious services in the churches, followed
during the week by parades, professions, ad'
dresses speeches, bsnquets, toasts, poems,
music. fireworks, bonfres, etc. while the vii
lage was profusely decorated with flags and
bunting, triumphal arches and other appro'
pirate devices.
But better than any other, perhaps, was
one unique and singularly appropriate Tea
ture, which, so far as / know. has never
been adopted elsewhere-that OF presenting
n
49,. hrrdrod nv two in number
., =. -. .;.a rnor canvas
l.,shaS .ha tror, % tho town hall and
..,..oI ~ .;aht - .ba do,;sbt ~ an en-.
.ta;os.;a s.has;nn that crowded the streets
's,.. IA .nronos ~ This lot me
" az, at. ,rorross;va Ht,Ia town.
within the last two or three years, has pro-
ouieu III r,.ai,s nn;formIv sized
. s.aa =, son,o 1so ~ ;ts monument
nv ,na. s;t;.a aacca that Ia constant. !
-. 80 ltd -, ;rcroosino numbers crate. |
~ Dens ri, ,,r;S;,aoo The in. |
~ ~. ~ aI,cr, wh;,o n NAV have
ausufae'on u ,''s a. :,,,aoor ovhih;i;on ~
az az" rI oa,, ohoro roferred 70 il chiefly |
o,u I'M az. ,o,s.h,o and untir;r. efforts NJ
uuo " w $50. uas;aant ava n il nre. |
d W. ~, t,a III, ao,,action ~ ito kind in |
81 sulnao! 'ne o. ~ III, IL New Encland At
~ -, na Il soor,s rocp,;ar,v ct. |
tne p,esen, 'fne' aDI ~. az tIo,,,o ,,ooL |
..ns WA. .n' .I"a ho ,ho r;oneor in creating