The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-01
MARRIAGE TOTAL
PAST YEAR 579
BrattlebOrO's Gretna Green
Business Shows Large
Increase
LARGE MAJORITY
FROM OTHER STATES
Five Days Notice Of Intentions ~
Bulk of Marriage Business Goes to
Justice Carl S. Hopkins

When the curtain was rung down on
the year 1916 total of $40 marriages
had been performed in Brattleboro for
the year Like various other branches
of business the town s Gretna Green
business showed q substantial increase, ),
IN fact nearly % per cent, as the record
for the previous year was but 312.
There is no question but that the large
increase reflects the efficacy of ad-
vertising, both in newspapers and by
| the loving friends Of the business (the
word loving being used advisedly).
Out of this total of $40 marriages
| there were 81 in which one or both of
the parties were residents of Brattle-
boro. The other 492 couples came from
out of the state.
As is we'll known, the reasons why
50 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 theE object to waiting that length
of time, but in part to the fact that
they wish 70 escape the annoyance OF
friends.
\ few Gretna Greeners 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. Westfial Northampton, Holyoke
Fitchburg ana Boston. More Boston
| couples 90 to Bellows Falls than COM
TO Brattleboro, the route to BELOW
r Falls being more direct. That fac
naturally has given Bellows Falls
: big lead over Brattleboro the pas
year. the number of marriages per
formed there in the last l. month
reaching total of l,064.
The following record by month
gives the number of marriages in Brat
; tleboro, the first number III each mont
indicating those who came from out o
town and the second Indicating th
: marriages where one or both partie
lived in town: January. SO, s.; Febrl
ary, 81, s; March, "a, s.; April 25,
May, Il, Il; June 80, II; July, 65,
August, so, 6; September. Ga, s; Octt
!. ber 40. II; November, Al, 2; Decen
= Der, 3S, ;. The largest month s recor
% was in September, the total being q
= July being a close second with q
i March was the smallest with 2T.
d Justice Carl $. Hopkins gets the bul
II. of the marriage business. Being tt
+ town clerk, who issues the licenses, an
a. having the authority to perform til
in ceremonies, most of the ut-of tow
n couples prefer to carry out their co
IN tract on the spot. That the income
n substantial may be figured out readil
le as many of the couples are we'll su
ie piled with funds. Mr. Hopkins sa,
that if persons think the out-of-tov
couples whom he marries are sas ru
cheap class they are entitled
another guess.
Approximately five out of every S
OF couples married here come from Ma
sachusetts, and since the exodus fro
the Bay state Nermontward beear
no epidemic the Woman 5 club and {
Ministers association have passed re
olutions calling on the legislature
NJ provide 4 remedy for 4 condition viii
| they ''view with alarm.