Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-14

Ia one sense II was really a surprise to
Mr.. Tracy, for the first thing he knew
about the affair was when he read the in
vitation extended through his space in the
CHELSEA HERALD 10 meet him at his store
on this anniversary occasion. His wife
and son, o. ID. Tracy, who is associated
with his father in business, had arranged
the details and cent out the invitations
unbeknoxn to him. His second surprise
came Wednesday night, when his daugh-
ter, Miss Lyle Tracy, srrived from Boston,
and his third surprise came Thursday,
when among the first to greet him was
Albert NJ. Wiley, the head OF the firm OF
Fry, Phipps 4 Co., Boston, and who sold
MIR. Tracy goods for many years. Mr..
Wiley was spending two weeks vaca-
tIon in Woodstock and drove from there
to Chelsea just to greet his old friend and
customer on this occasion.
The guests were requested to sign the
visitors register and then were conducted
to one OF the counters, which, for the time
being, had been transformed into an in
viting luneL table, where refreshments
were served by Mrs. Tracy, assis' ed by her
daughter, in the hospitable manner she
knows so well how to extend. "Dick," "
who was bound not to be left out on the
refreshment issue, passed the cigars to all
who were not adverse to the weed.
Mr.. Tracy came to this same store,
which was then owned by Harvey Lin
eoln, Sept. 10, 1854, as an apprentice to
learn the tinsmith's trade, and served his
time of three years, receiving the first two
years $50 each, and the last year SO. On
Feb. Z, 1857, (tifty years ago. he and his
brother, Joseph p. Tracy. bought the bus
iness of Mr.. Lincoln and the firm became
j. p. Il T.. o. Tracy. At that time their
tinware was all made by themselves, and
they carried only such goods as went with
the tinshop business, while at the present
time there may be found all the to-
date goods carried in a first class hard
ware store, including paints and oils.
After the tin sap buckets came in use, the
Iraoys made over 100000 for their GUS
toners. They were the first to introduce
lamps and kerosene oll in this vicinity,
W hen il sold for II 80 per gallon.
After the death of J. p. Tracy in 1885, E.
o. Tracy bought his brothers interest in
the business and has since continued il.
He has seen many changes in town and
there are only eight or ten persons living
in the village today who were here when
he began business fifty years ago.
In the time Mr.. Tracy has been in busi-
ness he has held nearly all Of the town Of
fees of honor and trust, and for years was
director OF the old First National bank,
and is holding similar position ia the
National Bank of Orange County. May
he have many more years OF prosperous
and useful life, is the wish of his friends.
Mr.. Tracy received a great number OF
letters expressing regret that the writers
could not be present in person. Many OF
the contained touching tributes of es.
TEEN for him as business man and clti-
zen.
Among those who sent their congratu-
lations were: George F. Wilde, Boston,
Charles Miller & Sons Co., Utica, N. y.
n. 4 G. Taylor Co., Philadelphia, Pa,
The Peninsula Stove Co., Detroit, Mich,
II. l.. Dean, firm John 3. Varick Co.,
Manchester, N. a., Will H. Emerson Of J.
p. Abbott & Co., Wilton, N, H., Joseph r
Mann of Mann Edge Tool Co., Lewiston
Pa, Fitz, Dana q Co., Boston, The Iron
Age, New York, Fred N. Braley, Barre
Col. Curtis s. Emery, Newport, A. G,
Stone, Claremont, n. H., James p. Rob-
erts, Lowell, Mass, Hilas E. Roberts, Bos-
ton, Mrs. Marcia |. Dickinson, Aurora
H., Miss Julia Houghton, Montpelier
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. Il. Cheney, Washington
Mrs. Ada Hall Bacon, George Goodrich
and M. &. Allen, Chelsea.
The Boston Journal telephoned theii
congratulations to one who had been on
their subscription list for SO years OF sue
cessful business life.