The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-09-17
Northfeld, Mass.
BELCHER FOUNTAIN DEDICATED.
Memorial to Old Residents Received by
Town with Formal Exercises.


Under the beautiful old elms that en-
close the public square OF this town the
Belcher Memorial fountain was dedicated
Tuesday afternoon at O'Clock. 1t is
built of solid granite, from the Aberdeen
Granite Works of Quincy. 1t stands at
the corner of Main street and Warwick
avenue. The drinking fountain and the
inscription "Belcher Memorial 1902 face
Main street and the large granite bowl for
animals faces Warwick avenue. The foun-
tain is the gift by will of Misses Mary
Ann and Eliza Belcher for which purpose
they left $1,000.
A large number of citizens gathered
around the fountain when Benjamin Field,
chairman of the occasion, announced that
the exercises of dedication would begin
by the school children singing The Old
Rev. n. Fay Smith followed by an intro
ductory address by DIR. n. p. Wood. In
the beginning he told "reminiscences of the
Belcher sisters in the score of years he
had gone in and out of their home as
their medical adviser. They were born in
Mortified and had spent their lives here,
one of them being a teacher in the public
schools for many years. They were con
spicuous in the social life, church life,
and charitable life of the town. They
gave to the church, the schools, the town
and the Franklin County hospital and in
giving this fountain they contributed not
only to humanity but to the dumb beasts.
They were typical Yankees, American
citizens.
The building committee then reported,
Mr. Leach speaking in their behalf. Rev.
.. M. Wilson then addressed the assem-
bly, He spoke of the three generations
of Belchers who had lived in Mortified
but not descendant is living in the town
now. He gave extracts from a daily
I. L. H. btnl how cd hnNN-
their lives were filled with the interests
of Mortified, They had great love for
the old elms and NAPLES, and they had
preserved in this book several cures to
destroy insects that might harm these
trees He said the fountain made of
granite was a symbol of their lives so
simple and so strong that it was now one
the Dickinson Memorial library and the
the town park. In closing he read
beautiful poem written for the occasion
the writer's name being withheld. The
Mt. Hermon Glee club sang My Native
Land. The chairman then introduced Mr..
Walker. the architect and builder of the
fountain. Then Prof. Mitchell Of Bow
doin college, a cousin of the Misses Bel
cher, delivered from manuscript an in
terestng address, giving much of the gene
alogy of the Belcher family. The family
immigrated to America in 1887 settling in
Braintree, Mass, and a descendant, Will
liam Belcher settled in Mortified in l775,
he being the great grandfather OF Prof
Mitchell. He had received a paper stating
that he was descendant OF Gov. Belcher
which gave him a feeling of some pride. lie
looked through the genealogical book at
Bowdoin college and spent day in look
ing up the subject in Boston and came to
the conclusion that he was not descended
from Gov. Belcher at all but from a line
of simple, sturdy farmers and mechanics,
none rising higher than a deacon or a
major. The information he found about
Gov. Belcher was so detrimental to ms
character. he said that he was glad he
was descended from simple sturdy farm
ers He paid the highest tributes to his
cousins calling them ladies of the old
school He said that undoubtedly the
granite from which the fountain was made
came from the pastures where Gregory
Belcher of Braintree kept his cows.
The exercises closed with the singing OF
America by the assembly. 1t is seldom
Mortified has listened to three such elo-
quent addresses and appreciation of them
as well as admiration of the fountain was
heard from all.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williams are away
on a vacation.
Mrs. Ella Lazelle goes tomorrow to visit |
her brother in East Dover, Vt.
Mrs. Arthur Philips is at the Pentecost |
homestead with her son Judson.
Mrs. Ada Marsh Flint of Boston is with |
her mother. Mrs. A f. Marsh.
Frank Fit goes to Williamstown this |
week to attend Williams college.
Mrs. Gillett has returned from several |
weeks spent in Boston with relatives.
Mr.. and Mrs Luke Thornton were
guests at Wright Arlen's over Sunday.
Mrs Julia Webster Briggs has been the
guest of Mrs. Charles Williams recently.
DIR. ID. J. Fuller has sold his bungalow
on Rustic Ridge to Rev. L. S. Chafer.
John Callaghan has bought the Dale
place and is making extensive repairs on 1t.
The regular meeting of the w. r. @. /
was held this afternoon to practice for I
inspection which occurs soon.
Lawrence Lazelle attended the auto
races in Lowell and from there went 10
Boston apd Springfield on business trip.
The regular meeting Of the w. G. T. U.
took place last Wednesday at the Parish
House.
DR.. Cook Of Yonkers, N Y, who has
been at Mrs A. f. Wright's for the sum
mer. returned last week to take up his