The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-07-05
WARDSBORO'S EVENT.
Continued from First Page.)

the people OF this country to civilize,
Christianize and raise 10 the true slahu'
ard OF enlightened manhood the people
of Porto Rico aud the Philippine Islands,
aud that we should succeed IN dong TINS
there was no question, This country has
never, failed in the performance oil any
duty ever undertaken or imposed upon IL
| in the great march OF events that have
marked the progress OF the world.
Congressman Haskins spoke OF the
lsthman canal as a dream OF the past
soon TO be realized, a great and important
waterway to be constructed ana CON
trolled by the United States alone. lie
briefly alluded TO some Of the more I'M
portant questions of our national lie as
affecting the industrial interests OF the
peopleSthe railroad, telegraph and ex'
press companies which have become so
vast that in their sweep they wipe out
the boundaries of states, together with
combinations of capital which control pro
duction, distribution and sale OF commod'
tiles, that must be regulated and CON
trolled by the federal authorities IN the
interests of all the people.
In closing Congressman llaskins said
THAT we shall be fully equal TO our OPP
pOrtunities in the future as in the past,
no candid man can well doubt. For my
self | have an unwavering faith in the
intelligence, patriotism and loyalty oil the
people of our grand imperial republic. Inn
perial, only. In that il is the greatest,
the noblest and the best, having a form
of government the most beneiicient the
sun ever shone upon, and under which
the people are the masters-all kings and
queens. That the blessings of peace,
civilization, education, Christian evangel-
cation, liberty, and all that pertains TO
the happiness of mankind, will continue
to oyershadow us and walk hand in hand
with all over whom our flag may wave,
cannot question. Oh, my country How
great and glorious thou art, and de-
stined, under the providence OF God, to
become still greater" When
"Barbarous nations will at our gates at
tend,
Walk in our light and in our temples
bend;
See our bright affairs thronged with pros
trate kings,
While every land its joyous tribute
brings"
The exercises were brought to a close
With another solo by Mr. Miller and the
singing of the Star Spangled Banner.
The evening was devoted to band con-
cert from until s o'clock, a display of
fireworks from 8 until and a dedication
ball from until o'clock this morning.
Music. for this event was furnished by
leitsingers orchestra and at midnight
supper was served by Fred Underwood,
caterer.
The ball game played between Bonsville
and combination of Greenfield and
Wardsboro players resulted as follows:
. 3 A 5 6 50
Wardsboro, 0 0 ! 0 0 ! 0 3 IL
Bondyille, . 0 % 0 0 o.
The officers and committees of the oc.
cason were as follows; President, John
T.. Gleason; vice-presidents, NJ. l.. John
son, S. c. Esterbrooks, +, b. Kidder
and j. c. Tibbetts; secretary, \. b. Jop-
son; treasurer, George Briggs committee
ON parade, I. w. Plimpton, George Allen,
\. Il. Robinson, Harry Bemls, f. B. Kid
der and j. G. Tibbitts; committee, on
sports. DR.. o. V. Hefilon, +. l.. Adams
and Leon Stocker; committee on music,
Miss Carrie Ware, \. B. Jopson and A,
II. Robinson; committee on decorations,
Miss Hanna Halonen; committee on fire
works, 5. G. Esterbrooks. j. c. Tibbetts
and George Allen; marshal, Dexter
Waite.
UG Ildll llStIl'
The new hall which was dedicated yes
terday is Il worthy monument to Mr. |
parents in whose memory it |
was erected and given to the town. 1t is |
a frame structure 80 by 81 feet on
foundation of cement blocks and is a
splendid piece of architecture. The lower |
floor is arranged for a banquet hall, IL |
brary and kitchen with cloak rooms for
- 4,
voted to an assembly hall with a
capacious gallery and is furnished with |
stage and dressing rooms. The seating !
capacity of the hall is about 300. The in !
terror of the entire building is finished |
in southern pine, A clock with bell has |
been placed in the front gable of the |
hall and Mr. Gleason has furnished the |
building with chairs, dining tables, kitch- |
IN utensils and all necessary furnishings. |
The new hall really had its inception in
the fire which destroyed the old hall in !
1904 and deprived the town of a suitable !
place in which to hold public gatherings. |
The subject of a new hall was discussed /
and subscriptions solicited for the pur-
pose of building, a considerable sum hav
ing been raised in this way when the pa
per reached Mr.. Gleason. He at once
conceived the idea of building a suitable
nall and dedicating it as memorial to
his parents. Various societies holding
and where the old hall stood and ada
2ent property gave deeds to Mr.. Gleason,
lmong them being Vermont grange, the
society and the Methodist
church. This gave the new building an
ample site.
A bronze memorial tablet has been
placed near the entrance of the hall sig
lifying the object of its construction
That it has given Mr.. Gleason pleasure
% bestow this magnificent gift is evident
rom what he said in a recent interview: I
I'VE all live in a circle and the broader
hat circle the greater the influence over
,ur fellow men. / will do what / can
low for | shall pass this way but once"
A Sketch of the Giver.
James NJ. Gleason was born in Wards
'oro in 1888 and was one of four sons
If Josiah and Susan X. Gleason. His
arly life was spent on the old homestead
n his native town and his love of Wards
,oro has never failed. He was educated
n the Wardsboro public schools and at
Springfield Wesleyan seminary and for
hree years taught school in Wardsboro.
n January, 1856, he went to Boston to
omplete his education, entering French's
college from which he grad {
lated. After several years service as I
ookkeeper he became cashier of the
ohm Hancock Mutual Life Insurance
ompany and was later made its treas
rer position which he has held con- /
inuously for 10 years. In politics Mr. t
fleason has always been a stalwart re- I
ublican yet he has never had any desire /
r taste for public office. He is a promi- {
ent Mason, having received the 33d de- !
rec and being past grand lecturer of the g.,
rand chapter of Massachusetts, He is
lso member of the Ancient and Hon '
rable Artillery company of Boston. |
L