Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-09-29
CORNER STONE LAID
Ceremonies at Foundation Of
Austine Institution
Nephew of Founder Oticiated with
Trowel-Remarks by President HoIton
and Selectman Calvin.

Nephew OF Founuer OUlCidteu WI
Trowel-Remarks by President HoIton
and seIectman Calvin.
With about 200 persons in attendance
and under skies as delightful as could
be desired, the postponed exercises of
laying the corner stone of the Austine
Institution took place Saturday after
noon, beginning at $3.50 o'clock. The eX-
ercises were to have been held on Mon
day of last week, but a serious accident
to Howard NJ. Eustis of Mobile, Ala,
whereby he lost the sight of an eye,
made 1t seem best to delay them until
such time as Mr.. Eustis was able to
perform the ceremony of laying the cor
ner stone, he being a nephew of the late
Col. William Austine of this town,
through whose bequest of $4,000 the in
stitution was made possible. The pro-
gram. including remarks, prayer and
music, consumed less than an hour and
at it's close there came over each one
present a sense of pride and satisfac-
ton because of the certainty of the ad-
dition of another institution, as worthy
as the rest, to Brattleboro's list of build
ings dedicated to the amelioration of
various Affections of humanity.
The site chosen for the institution is
on one of the hills on the Thayer farm,
recently sold to the trustees, west of
Maple street and south of the farm
buildings. The corner stone is on the
northeast corner. The building, which
was described fully in The Phoenix of
Sept. Is, will face east and will afford a
beautiful view of Wantastiquet noun
tain and the Connecticut river valley.
The foundation has been laid and good
progress has been made on the brick
walls. 1t is expected that the exterior
construction practically will be completed
by the time severe cold weather comes.
DR.. Henry d. Holton, who has worked
hard and given freely of his time in the
interest of the institution, presided as
president of the trustees. The first num-
Der was the singing OF Holy Ghost,
with Light Divine by a quartet con-
sisting of Walter A. Gilbert, Miss En-
ma j. Gregg, Miss Florence H. Hildreth
and Arthur l.. Clapp. The words were
by Andrew Reed and the tune, Last
Hope was arranged from Gottschalk.
John Calvin, a member of the board of
trustees by virtue of his office as chair
man of the board of selectmen of Brat
tleboro, made brief remarks with refer
snce to the institution and its founder,
to whom he referred as being a unique
character and possessed of a noble
spirit, one whom all remembered with
reverence, love and consideration, and
he mentioned the fact that in the COM
petition of architects in submitting
plans, a Brattleboro boy, Paul Revere
Henkel of New York, secured the prize.
DR.. Holton then made a short address,
stating that the object of the building was
to bring joy and happiness to the lives
of persons deaf, dumb or blind VINO
should come there for education and
training and said that the state of Yer
mont, which had contributed $50, 900 for
the building, previously had provided
for the education of persons thus afflict-
cd httf that fhn no rnntC of tho hnHyc q n.1
girls had not awaited themselves ex-
tensively of the provision because it
could not be done without sending them
out of the state. The trustees, he said,
bought the farm, consisting of 22 acres
without disturbing the principal sum
He said the institution would teach the
boys farming, woodworking, blacksmith.
ing, harness making, steam fitting anG
other things, and that among the things
taught the girls would be sewing, do
nestle work, dressmaking, millinery anG
basketry, attention being given to an eff.
fort to make them all good citizens with
well developed Christian characters
Special recognition was made of the
benefactor, Colonel Austine. DR.. Hol.
ton expressed the nope that at some
future time a similar building might be
erected on another part of the farm fol
the care of mentally deficient persons
but said that it would not in any way
be connected with the building now un-
der construction. He closed by intro
ducing Howard NJ. Eustis, to whom he
presented a silver plated trowel.
Mr.. Eustis expressed his appreciation
of the courtesy and honor bestowed upor
him by the trustees in asking him tc
lay the corner stone, and he said the
spectators would appreciate his embar
when he stated that never il
his life had he spoken in public. Nc
apology was necessary, however, for II
a plain and straightforward way Mr.
Eustis made well-formulated remarks
that greatly pleased his hearers, whc
expressed their pleasure in hearty APP
plause. He spoke of his early acquaint-
ance with Brattleboro and of its in
creasing attraction for him as he came
to visit his uncle. He referred to Col
onel Austine as a man of wal by pro-
f~ession, but a man of peace, actuated
by benevolent impulses, complimented
the trustees for the wisdom shown in
their acts relating to the institution and
bespoke a blessing upon the trustees, all
who have to do with the building and
upon the entire citizenship of Brattle-
boro.
An announcement of the contents of
a copper box to be placed within the
corner stone was made by DR.. Holton,
after which Mr.. Eustis spread some
'AO Np apO'A 'AAAS Voi ilc DldGtd Tit
granite block. DR.. Holton placed the
copper box within the stone, a section
OF which had been cut out to'receive it,
and Rev. DR.. John r. Cow, pastor of
the First Baptist church, offered prayer
giving thanks for the noble men of good
will who had stretched forth the hand
of help for their fellows, prayed for the
opening of hope for those who might
come to the institution and asked for a
blessing upon the community. The ex-
ercises closed with the singing of Come
to Our Hearts and Abide" words by
Carr II. Wight and music by ]. C. Macy,
by the quartet.
The inscription in sunken letters on
the east face of the corner stone is as
follows:
AUSTINE
INSTITUTION
1911
Erected Through tho Cauaro,e Dao,,oe,