Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-01-05
MARRIAGE TOTAL 57s
BrattIeboro's Gretna Green Bust
ness Shows Large Increase
Large Majority from Other States
Come Here to Avoid Law Requiring
Five Days Notice of Intentions.

When the curtain was rung down ON
the year 1916 Il total of SO marriages
had been performed in Brattleboro for
the year. Like various other branches
of business the town s Gretna Green
business showed = substantial increase,
in fact nearly 80 per cent, as the record
for the previous year was but 3l2.
There is no question but that the large
increase reflects the efficacy of adj
Vertising, both in newspapers and by
the loving friends of the business (the
word loving being used adviscdly).
Out of this total of SO marriages
there were 81 in which one or both of
the parties were residents of Brattle-
boro. The other l92 couples came from
out of the state.
AS is well known, the reasons why
so many couples select Brattleboro as a
place in which to have their marriages
"solemnized are that in the states
from which they come the law requires
that they give five days notice of their
marriage intentions and that the train
service makes Brattleboro an easy
place to reach, especially from the cen
trail part of Massachusetts. Their OBJ
lection to the notice is not altogether
that they object to waiting that length
of time, but i'll part to the fact that
they wish to escape the annoyance of
friends.
A few Gretna Grecners came from
New Hampshire and a few from more
distant states, but the large majority
of them came from Massachusetts,
principally from Springfield, Green
field, Wcstfeld northampton, llolyokc,
Fitchburg and Boston. More Boston
couples 90 to Bellows Falls than come
TO Brattlcboro. the route to Bellows
Falls being more direct That fact
naturally has given Bellows Falls a
big dead over Brattleboro the past
wear, the number of marriages per-
formed there in the last j. months
reaching a total of l,064.
The following record by months
gives the number of marriages in Brat
tlcboro, the first number in each month
indicating those who came from OUT
town and the second indicating
marriages where one or both p
lived in town. January, 80, s.; +
airy. SO, s. March, "a, b; April
May, 81, II; June 80, II; July,
August, so, 6; September, Ga, S;
Der, 40, IL November, "A, 9; d
Der, 3S, 3. The largest month 5
was in September, the total bcin
July being a close second wit
March was the smallest with p.
Justice Carl $. Hopkins gets the
of the marriage business. Being
town clerk, who issues the licenses
having the authority to perform
ceremonies, most of the out-of
couples prefer to carry out their
tract on the spot That the inco
substantial may be figured out res
as many of the couples are well
piled with funds. Mr.. Hopkins say
that if persons think the out of-towl
couples whom he marries are as rule
n cheap class they are entitled tt
another guess.
Approximately five out Of every 81,
couples married here come from Mas
sachusetts, and since the exodus from
the Bay state Nermontward became
epidemic the Woman s club and tn,
Ministers association have passed res
olutions calling ON the Legislature II
provide a remedy for a condition whicl
they "view with alarm.