The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-07-10
West BrattLebOrO
CELEBRATION AT HARRIS FARM.
over 100 People Attended Successful
July 4th Picnic,

Maple Grove farm. the home of Wal
lace A. Harris in West Brattleboro, was
the scene OF one OF the most successful
celebrations of the Fourth Of July in this
vicinity. More than 100 men, women
and children assembled there to celebrate
the day and a full program of pleasure
| made the occasion memorable one.
Many of those present were from out OF
town and nearly everyone came during
| the forenoon and remained until after
the fireworks were displayed in the even
ing. A dinner under the trees in the
pleasant grove, athletic contests, singing
and dancing made the time pass all too
| rapidly for everyone and not even the
rain during the late afternoon dampened
one spark of the enthusiasm of the mer-
ny party.
Fourth of July gatherings at Maple
Grove farm have been held for several
| years and more ideal spot for such an
affair cannot be found Tables were set
for dinner in the maple grove beside the
house. Three croquet grounds surround
the house and in the rear a field was
used for holding the athletic contests.
These sports occupied large part of the
afternoon and baseball game on a fine
diamond short distance from the house
completed the sports for the day. 1t
was planned TO have the fireworks on a
nearby hill after dark but the shower
spoiled this plan and the pyrotechnics
were set off on the lawn in front of the
house. During the evening dancing in
the barn was enjoyed by large number
of those who like that sort of amuse-
ment.
The success Of this occasion was due
largely to the work of W. A. and w. r.
Harris and Hugh Dunklee. Mr. Harris
gave the use of his well cared-for grounds
and worked hard to make everyone feel
at home while Mr.. Dunklee acted as
manager of the athletic contests and de-
voted much time to organizing the party. |
Long before noon those who had been
invited to the celebration began to ar
rive at the farm Most of those who
came travelled by team and the horses
were stabbed in the roomy barn, which
is large enough to shelter 100 animals.
BY o'clock the two long tables had
been loaded with good things to eat, pro-
vided by the women, and with keen APP
petites the party sat down to bounti-
full repast Although there were more
than could be accommodated at one SIT
ting, there was food enough for all and
to spare.
When the dinner was finished, the ath-
etic contests were in order. Three cash
prizes for each event added interest to
the friendly rivalry, but w. III. French
proved himself the best all-around ath-
ete, winning several first prizes. The
summary of the sports follows:
Mems sack race-Won by w. H.
French; j. b. Bushnell, ID; Walter Bart
EFT, 3d.
Youths sack race--Won by Ralph
rhayer; H. Jakway, ID; S. E. Keneston,
3D.
Philips nHEs Pau Paul Richardson, a. W e At
iinson. 3d. ,
Ladies' potato race-Won by Maude E.
Phillips; Katherine Morrison of Spring
eld, Mass, I'd Irene G; Mather; Sd.
hugh Thayer, I'd; A. G. ,Dunklee, 3d.
Pole vault-Won by J. E. Bushnell; w.
l. French, I'd; A. G. Dunklee and Hugh
Thayer tied for third place.
Three-legged race-Won by Thayer and t
Franch and Werdon, ID; !
'arteltt and H. Dunklee, Sd,
'rench; A. W. Verdon, I'd; j. E. Bush a
ell, 3d.
Tug of war-Won by Frank LeRay's
cam against William Burt's team.
Ducking for orange-Won by w. r.
Iarris.
Doughnut race-Won by H. Jakway; G
I. Dodge, 3D. r. Murphy, Sd. b
Next on the program was the baseball
anne so all the party went to the base h
all field. Many of the most enthusiast al
C fans were the women who cheered
very star play loudly. Two. opposing r
,ams were quickly organized, Hugh a,
hayer being the captain of one team q
nd Robert Murphy OF the other. At the
I'd of the fourth inning a shower put an a
i'd to the game, the score being ID to ell
in favor of Captain Thayer's team
artery for Thayer's team, Fl. Thayer :;
I'd R. Thayer; for Murphy's team, N
cath and A. Dunklee; umpire, T. FL. y. ~
arker. w
When the party had taken shelter un,
# the spacious, verandas of the Harris he
'me the rain was forgotten in the sing er