Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-10-12
A SEMl-CENTENNlAL.
Bridport Ladies' Celebrate the
Fiftieth Anniversary Of
their Society.

their Society.
The Ladies' society observed their 50th
anniversary Monday evening, October
8. Essays were read, fine music rem
dered, and an elaborate supper served.
By request the essay of Mrs. D. E. Rice
follows
The ladies' society of the Congrega-
tional church of Bridport was organized
October s, 1856.
Following is the preamble to the con-
stitution: 1--WE, the undersigned ladies
of Bridport. feeling desirous of promot-
ing sociability and friendly intercourse,
and at the same time of doing what we
can, by contributions of money, and
personal labor for social and charitable
purposes, under the following rules and
regulations, do form ourselves into an
association for these purposes"
There were 35 charter members-you
might call it an autograph list of men,
bers, as it is very evident each lady
wrote her own name, the handwriting of
each name being different from the
others.
The names are as follows: P. E., NJ.
Bennett, NJ. E., s. Fletcher, 81. Miner,
G. B. Searle, c. P. Ferre, s. E. Fackrell,
c. Oakley, E. K. Lee, N. w. Grovenor,
c. A. Wheelock, A. s. Miner, E. d.
Sollace, Jane Howe, G. w. Dunn, Eliza
Rice, Chloe lockwood, K. S. Doty,
c. N. Hayward, Mary Olmsted, Har-
riet Huntley, Ledema Jones, Lucina
Hill, Sarah lockwood, NJ. A. Hamilton,
s. w. Chapman. S. B. lockwood, Sarah
NJ. Fletcher, Sarah w. Merrill, P. B.
Wilcox, Hannah Cheney, Sarah NJ.
Speyer, Charlotte Fletcher, Della NJ.
Fletcher, H. B. Cook. E. W. Sollace.
We now number 3S. There are also
over 20 names Of gentlemen, who were
honorary members and who paid to join,
anywhere from 10 cents to 81, accord
ing to inclination, suppose.
There were no sociables held at that
time, and 1t seems to have been the GUS
tom to record the names of all members
and visitors present at every meeting.
Among those mentioned as being pres
ent at one meeting are Master D. Hermie
Bennett and Master Tommie Fletcher.
The ladies sewed at their meetings and
made articles for sale. Some of the
articles through the courtesy of Brid-
port merchants. were displayed for sale
at their stores. Among the articles
manufactured 1 find shirts. overalls,
socks, mittens, needle books, pin cush-
ions, black kittens. and rag babies.
Sociables were inaugurated in 1858, dur
ing the civil war. Each one attending
paid &c, the money, when sufficient
was collected, being forwarded to our
soldiers in hospitals. One of the votes
recorded is that they suspend the socie
ty meetings, while the ladies of Brid-
port are laboring for the soldiers" Fairs
have been held occasionally
The names of the different presidents
during the so years are as follows: Mrs.
F. w. Olmsted, Mrs. G. n. Hayward,
Mrs. Fred Miner, Mrs. Paris Fletcher,
Mrs. Nathan Bennett, Mrs. E. d. Will
cox Mrs. Charles Eldredge, Mrs. D. C.
Barbour, Miss Mariette Miner, Mrs. A.
A. Fletcher Mrs. E. l.. Miner, Miss Kate
Doty, Mrs. Alice Wilcox, Mrs. ]. T.
Fletcher, Mrs. E. &. Blaisdell, Mrs. d.
E. Rice, Mrs. w. NJ. Grandey, Mrs. c..
E. Holdredge, Mrs. G. r. Walker 10
different ones in 80 years think Mrs
d. G. Barbour leads in being president
for the greatest number of times.
'Tis not OF golden weddings that we sing;
'Tis not a golden present you must bring;
But we crave a friendship, wide,
AS we tell wit h honest pride
How we've labored side by side
Fifty years.
We do not claim perfection as our own;
We're human and to errors we are prone;
But as long as streams shall flow,
And the roses bud and blow,
To the honor OF our band
Wen be true.
We've mingled well our laughter and our
tears;
Censure and praise have fioated down the
years:
But through bitter, and through sweet
We have marched with willing feet.
Aid we never knew defeat
II II came.
The sons of this Old town upon the lake.
Have often faced discomfort for our sake
Ever generous, kind, and braye,
They have helped the day to save:
And Wen give them three times three
From our hearts.
o, sleighrides in the evening that were long
o. socials with their laughter and their song
o, the plans that we have laid,
o. the debts that we have paid,
o, the cakes that we have made
On our way
We ask no marble blazoning our fame;
Weask NOT that yOu 0lorffv our aim