Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-01-27
THE NATIONAL WHITE RIVER BANK,
BETHEL, VERMONT.
NOTI get the most eff
L w ficient service in
this bank, and a business
prestige that is valuable.
E>Keep your check account here.
Flndlay CROSSING Abolished.


rendered a decision this week in regard
to the Findlay bridge crossing matter.
The order is practically in conformance
with the request OF the selectmen OF
+ Bethel. The two crossings are to be
abolished and an underpass built opposite
Hamlin Barnes premises.
The work to be done is divided into
three sections. First, the ledge road,
connecting from near f. j. Colton's
premises over the lodges to point opposite
the underpass on the east eide otthe river,
distance OF $500 feet, no grade to ex-
coed II per cent. Second, the underpass
division which follows the present road
over Findlay bridge and is 1000 feet long
and no grade to be over per cent. Third
division, starting from the east side OF
the town pound and passing southerly
over lands of Pearl Savage and Frank
Chamberlin to the present highway at the
culyert near the dwelling OF Mr.. Cham
berlin, some 5000 feet in all, and no
grade to exceed per cent. In addition
to the above a short ''y" is to be con-
structed 260 feet long on the westerly side
Of the town pound. The work is to be
done by the railroad and completed by
Nov. 1, 1910, to the satisfaction of the
public service commission.
The railroad is TO pay $50, the state
25E and the town 1917 OF the expense.
Bascom House Sold.
Papers were signed Monday conveying
the Bascom House from Rollin ellison to
Harry Emery. Mr. Emery has been in
the hotel business one might say from
early childhood and is iavorite among
the travelling men and will be sure to get
a liberal share Of their patronage. Mr..
ellison retires from many years connec-
ton with the Bascom House-nearly thir-
ty years. In 1880 J. ]. Wilson and the
estate OF John Robinson conveyed the
to r. II. Bascom, brother-in-la
of Rollin ellison. Mr.. Bascom never had
much to do with the actual running OF
the hotel qnd two years later sold the
premises to George ellison, father OF Roll
lin. At that time the property included
the stable property. In 1900 the property
was divided, f. d. Gibson taking the sta
bic part and Rollin Gibson the hotel.
This Is by far the oldest building used
for exclusively hotel purposes in Bet bel.
Simeon Babbitt came to Bethel from
Barnard in 1916 and bought OF James b,
Ralston an old barn that stood where the
new bank building now is and out OF it
built what was called in earlier days the
Bethel House. He kept 1t as hotel I'M
til his death in lS45. His son, Augustus
Babbitt, then owned, aud then Alvin
kenstry and for short time ii was
closed as hotel. About 1s4s Mr.. Kens-
try died, leaving to the town of Bethel as
a poor fund this hotel and other property.
The town owned it and leased il for nine
teen years and then became involved in
litigation over the terms of the bequest
and in 1869 by vote OF the town the hotel
Was sold to James j. Wilson.
He sold half interest in 1872 to John !
Robinson. In all these years there has
been continuous growth in the build /
ngs known fret as the Bethel House and |
hen as the Bascom House, a growth that
Is probably commensurate with that OF |
he village. Much the larger additions
have teen made since the property was
bought by the Gilsons. The names OF \
hose who have run the hotel are too
many to mention and a record OF all OF 4
hem has not been kept, but one recalls 4
he names OF Ruel Wright, and then his
widow, Charles Nash, the Hatch Bros,
Ase Gaines, Curtis Abbott, William Max
lam grandfather OF Frank Markham OF
}ethel). William Adams, the Hibhard
Joys, William Ii. Gilmore NOV living in
3etheD, Hazard Bosworth aud Carlow
Newton. Samuel Archer, father OF Mrs.
j. A. Moody. was manager from 1872
mill 1850. la later years Il has been run
" 2. l. Pippin, ). NJ. Townsend and c.
:. Church and for the past season by Mr..
iilson aud Harry Emery.