Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-12-24
DEDICATION OF SAMSON ME-
MORTAL.
Cornwall Celebrates Opening Of
New D. A. r. Hall and Library.

urday afternoon in the new Samson
Memorial, Cornwall, to dedicate the
building. The Mary Baker Allen chap
ter, to whom the building is presented,
was present in force, and there
was large delegation from the Ethan
Allen chapter of Middlebury. The
presence of the donor, Mrs. Martha
Elizabeth Samson Porter was graft
flying to all, and there was special in
terest in the unveiing of tablet con-
tanning the roster of Cornwall's S revolu-
tionary soldiers by Master Sanford
Henry Lane, Jr., descendant in the
eighth generation from William Samson,
of whom the building is memorial.
Located on the main road in Cornwall,
on the west side of the highway and on
the opposite corner from the Congrega-
tional parsonage, the Samson Mem
orial is an attractive building, well
planned for its uses as hall for the
d. A. :. and town library. The Ionic
classical lyle has been followed by the
architect, Mr.. Frank l.. Austin of Bur-
lington. The exterior is of selected red
brick trimmed with Vermont Marble
and the exterior wood work is painted
a grey white carrying out the color
scheme. Samson Memorial" is carved
on the marble arch over the fan light.
The front porch has turned columns and
recessed steps.
The chapter room is 25 by so feet.
Large windows in the south and west
command one of the most beautiful
views to be had from Cornwall street.
The room has large fireplace.
The library room, connected with the
chapter room by sliding doors. is large
enough to accommodate the local library
for many years. There is also serving
room, pronounced convenient for its
purpose, and kitchen in the basement,
with dumb waiter.
The entire first story is finished in
Southern pine, stained dark The floors
are birch In the basement is hot air
heating plant, large cstern, and the
water supply and electric plant. A gas
engine pumps the water into high
pressure tank, from which it is dis
tributed through the building. The
same engine runs the generator and
furnishes electric current for lighting.
All rooms are well lighted, the chapter
room by the indirect method. A. N.
Brown was the builder and A. Calhoun
and Son had the plumbing and heating
contract.
All who inspected the building Satur-
day were delighted with its appearance.
When the grading and landscape garden
ing are completed, it will be great ad-
dition to the town. 1t is the first build
ing of its kind in the State.
The dedication exercises Saturday
were of great interest and were
thoroughly enjoyed. The presiding Of
ficer was Mrs. Charles H. Lane,
Regent of the chapter. After music by
Vittum's orchestra, prayer was offered
by Rev. d. H. Corkran. For the donor,
her son, Mr.. William H. Porter of New
York, made an appropriate AMI grace
full address of presentation. handing the
key of the building to the Regent, who
made fitting response of gratitude and
appreciation in behalf of Mary Baker
Allen chapter.
An historical sketch of the Cornwall
Library by Mr.. Lyman w. Peet fol-
lowed. In carefully prepared address
Mr.. Peet traced the interesting history
of library efforts in Cornwall and showed
the great benefit the library had con-
ferred upon the town. This was fol-
lowed by an original poem by Miss
Katharine Griswold, Historian of the
chapter, which will be found elsewhere in
this issue. Later in the exercises came
the presentation of the Revolutionary
Soldiers Memorial Tablet by Mrs. w.
H. Bingham, chairman of the Commit
tee, and its unveiing by Master Lane.
The address in dedication of the tablet
was made by Mrs. Thomas E. Boyce of
Ethan Allen chapter, for Mrs. John H.
Stewart.
The historical address was delivered
by President Thomas, who spoke as
follows:-
find myself embarrassed by the wide
range of subjects suggested by the pre-
sentation of this Memorial to the Mary
Baker Allen Chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. A gra-
cious act of filial piety blended with patri-
otto loyalty to early home and associa-
tions, the gift invites commemoration
of those strong men and noble women
who laid the foundations of this COM
munity and gave it name second to
none in the Green Mountain common
wealth for the enterprise and independ-
ence of mind of its inhabitants. A