Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-08-16
CHURCH REDEDICATED
Exercises Yesterday atthe Famous
Landmark in Rockingham
Historical Address by Congressman Has
kins and Other Speakers Heard on Va
rious Subjects.

rious Subjects.
A perfect summer day with bracing air
tended to increase the numbers who at
tended the services of the re-dedicaton
If the old town meeting house at the
village of Rockingham yesterday to even
"a larger throng than had been antici-
rated. 1t having been advertised as to
take the features of an Old Home day,
the first of its kind to be held in town,
many old residents and their descendants
from a distance were present, gathering
during the forenoon until the grounds
surrounding the old building were COW
cred with picnickers at noon and pre-
scented a pretty sight They came by all
means of conveyance. on foot teams,
few horseback, by trains, bicycles and
automobiles. The family of l.. o. Davis
Of Middletown, Conn, came two days
earlier with their touring car. Mr..
Davis is a grandson of Nathaniel
Davis, jr., one of the early attendants
of the church, and has been enthusiastic
in the movement to restore the old build
ing, He sent a liberal check to aid the
enterprise. Many others from other
points of the compass came longer dis
tances and the day was one long to be
remembered by them and the citizens of
the town.
The lunch at noon, basket picnic with
coffee furnished by the residents of the
number present seated upon the grounds
about the old meeting house and in the
adjoining old burying ground About 2
o'clock the Bellows Falls band arrived
and the exercises in the church were be-
gun. 1t is stated that the building will
hold 1900 people and every corner was
closely packed, while as many more were
outside unable to gain admittance
Nat L. Divoll presided during the day
ia an admirable manner. The program
included prayer by Rev. d. l.. Sanford
Of Bellows Falls; music by the band; an
historical address, relating chiefly to the
building and the people of the town of a
century ago, was delivered by Congress
man Kittredge Haskns of Brattleboro
an original poem by Mary o. Divoll; a
sketch of the life of Rev. John Williams,
who preached the first sermon In town
by Rev II. II. Shaw OF Marlboro,
VT, a descendant of Rev. Samuel
Whiting the first settled town minister
remarks by Revs L. o. Sherburne OF
Bellows Falls and r. w. Roundy OF
Hartford Conn; w. c. Belknap OF the
Bellows Falls Times spoke upon the
changes in the theology in the past cen
fury; L. o. Davis of Middletown, Conn.
spoke of the burying yard, meeting house
and village as he knew 1t over % years
as a Rockingham boy; Foster b. Locke
of Saxtons River spoke of the old asso
Citations connected with the day; Dr. I'D
ward r. Campbell spoke in humorous
vein, telling some stories, and introduced
resolution warmly thanking Mrs
Horace W. Thompson for her labors II
raising the funds for the restoration o
the building, and they were unanimousl!
adopted Deacon c. w. Osgood spoke II
reminiscent vein taking as his topic TN
two dates so prominently displayed In IN
decorations, '17S7-19O7," contrasting tn
conditions of the span of years. an
holding in his hand two small nails, on
from the church made by hand and tn
other a modern one, drew an effectiv
contrast between the buildings of IL
years ago and now, and called to min
a number of modern buildings costin
millions each which would not stand tn
test OF time as the old building in whic