Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-09-15
BRATTLEB0R0 LOCAL
JAMES n. STEARNS.
President of Pine Grove Springs Hotel
Company Died Saturday-Was Prom-
nent Business Man In Brooklyn.

James II. Stearns, GS, prominent
manufacturer of rubber goods in Brook
lyn, native of this town and president
of the Pine Grove Springs Hotel com
pany, died in his summer home at Spot
ford lake Saturday afternoon as the re-
suit of canCerous growth in the head.
He had not felt well since early last win
ter and before coming to his summer
home the past season he underwent an
operation. Later he came to the Brat
tleboro Memorial hospital and after re-
turning to the lake he went back to
Brooklyn and underwent another opera
ton, remaining there three weeks. He
came to his summer home the last time
just five weeks previous to his death.
Mr.. Stearns was born in West Brat
tleboro, on the Williams place now occu-
pied by w L. Sylvester, March 20, 1913,
and was one of 10 children of Emory and
Olive (Nfixer) Stearns. He remained on
the farm until after he was 81 years old
and then he and his brother, j. Foster
Stearns, went to New York, the latter
returning after a few days visit. James
H. Stearns began working for his cousin,
Frank Hoton, in the rubber goods bust
ness and later bought an interest in the
business, the firm becoming Parker,
Stearns e sutton, by whom it was con-
Quoted many years. Afterwards the firm
became Parker, Stearns and Company, of
which Mr.. Stearns was treasurer at the
Spofford lake about three years ago.
About two years ago the firm built an
extensive factory in Brooklyn and moved
the business there from New York city
Mr.. Stearns was connected with the
business as an owner about 80 years and
accumulated much property.
Some 20 years ago Mr.. Stearns bought
a small summer hotel at Spofford lake
known as Armstrong;, which he tore
down, building in its place a commodious
summer hotel which he later enlarged
materially. 1t is now called the Pine
Grove Springs hotel and is a widely
known summer resort being filled each
season with guests from the cities 1t is
now owned by a stock company, of which
Mr.. Stearns was president. He gave up
the active personal management after
the company was organized. Mr. Stearhs
was also the owner of a fine farm in
Spofford.
On the occasion of Mr.. Stearnss first
visit to the lake he camped in a tent a
few weeks. He built summer home on
the spot and subsequently tore it down
and built another, which is finely ap-
pointed in every detail.
His wife, whose maiden name was An
ME Harper, of New York, survives. He al
so leaves a son, e Ward Stearns, who
has been associated with him in bust
ness and a daughter, Miss Edna Stearns
who lives at home, 5S5 st. Marks ave-
nue., Brooklyn, one brother and four sis
ters. The brother is j. Foster Stearns of
Pearl street, Brattleboro, and the sisters
are Miss Margaret Stearns, Miss Julia
Stearns and Mrs. Esther Gale of TIins-
dale, n. H., and Mrs. Ellen Hawks of
Deerfed, Mass.
Mr. Stearns was a man of ambition
and enterprise, whose life was charac-
terized by good judgment and business
integrity, and he was held in high re-
gard wherever known. He was a mem
Der of the Lefferts council. Royal Arcan-
UNI, veteran of the 23d regiment Ma
tional Guard of New York, a member of
the Union League club of Brooklyn and
of the Empire State society, Sons of the
American Revolution.
Funeral services We're held in his sum-
mer home Tuesday at $50 o'colck and
the burial took place in the Spofford viii
lage cemetery a short distance from the
lake