Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-14
WILMINGTON.
Wilmington Favored by Many Memorials
From Former Residents.

No ether town In windham county has
been favored in the past few years as has
wilmington in the way Of public memorials
from former residents says the Brattleboro
correspondent Of the Springfield Republican
Among the memorials may be mentioned the
Chids memorial hall, the soldiers monument
drinking and watering fountain and tue
Pettee memorial library The last mention
ed has Just been completed, and il will be
dedicated with formal ceremonies IN due
time. The library was the gift of Lyman
+ Pettee OF New York city, a native Of
Wilmington, and formerly a student in the
old Burnside military academy IN Bratle'
boro 1t was built to perpetuate the mem
ory of the parents Of the giyer, Dr. Arson
L. and Lucy tBartlett) Pettee, whose lives
we're spent in Wilmington and who died
and were buried there, and it is convenient
ly located on the site Of the old high school
building. The library is substantial in con
struetion and harmonious throughout. It's
character is as near the classic as 1t was
possible to make 1t and yet suit local CON
ditions II has an imposing appearance,
with its Grecian porch and Ionic columns
and pilasters, and yet II makes restin! I'M
preston on the observer The brick work
is red, and this and the native granite col
umns and window trimmings and the green
slate roof produces a delightful effect the
corujce is Of heavy copper
Entering the lobby one stands on pref
tily designed tile floor. The woodwork
throughout is of cherry, dull finished. In
the rear of the main building is an ell IN
which is located the book room, which is
being supplied with books as rapidly as pos
sible 1t is 20 feet square and is SO
located that il may be enlarged readily when
ever necessity arises. Its present capacity
IA 5000 volumes The main corridor is
between two readngrooms, and from each
reading-room is doorway leading to the
book room. The building is well supplied
with windows, and every attention has been
given to the matter of plumbing, heating
and ventiating. Much has been added to
the general attractiveness Of the locality by
the erection in front Of the library OF
handsome granite fountain by Buell. Bros. OF
Wilmington for Miss Maudie l.. Stone OF
Brooklyn in memory of her father, Lewis
Porter Stone, who was a native Of Whining
ton. The gift Of the library was made by
Mr.. Pettee without suggestion or solicitation
from any source and without condition save
that il be known as the Pettee memorial H.
brary.
LYMAN F. Pettee was born in Wilmington
August a. 1s49. His father was one OF the
most prominent physicians in Windham
county. The son attended the wilmington
schools and the old Burnside school in TINS
town, and at the age of Is years he left
Wilmington Practically all Of the time
since then he has spent in New York, i'm
porting and dealing on a large scale in bak'
ers' and confectioners' supplies. He is
president and active head of the Crandall
Godfrey company the largest importers. OF
these supplies in the world. He is also
president of the New York yacht and launch
building company, and he is president Of the
Geysers natural gas company of Saratoga.
He has wife, who was Mary E. Thresher
of New York, and FIVE children.