Putnam patriot., 1918-08-30
THOMPSON TOWN TOPICS

be purchased in the store, as it is all down to the foundation and much of the material has been sold and taken away.
 Arthur Elliott and David Peterson from Camp Devens were visitors with their parents over the weekend. The visit of Mir. Peterson was very fortu- nate in connection with the fire as it was he who discovered the fire and hastened to give the alarm. becoming nearly exhausted by the effort. which was really the most helpful thing in keeping back the fire by quickly sounding the alarm summoning aid.
 4 benefit for the Overseas Hospital was given at Miss Sherman's lawn on Tuesday afternoon and $40 was clear ed. The Hon. Charles F. Searls gave an interesting and patriotic address Miss Johnson, of England, spoke on Woman's War Work Professor Clapp of Boston played several fine piano selections. Prudence Paine. Faith Decker and Virginia Elliott did fancy dancing on the lawn Miss Dorothy Beebe read an original poem, and received great applause.
 
 Mf. Parks of Taunton, Mass. who IS now eighty-seven years old with daughter and children, were diners at the Vernon Stiles hotel recently. Mr Parks was a very interesting person to meet and converse with about wis it's he had made to Thompson in the days of long ago when Vernon Stiles kept the hotel, and upon being shown nh nf of yl la alxl l.. f the hotel which bears his name. he readily recognized it, remarking it looked just like him. Mir. Parks is one of the few living that can person ally say they met and can remember our hotels first landlord.
 Several citizens and friends of Mrs. k. t. Thompson from this section of the town visited her at her home, No. Grosvenordale, on Monday afternoon. 1t being her eightieth birthday Be tween thirty and forty were present. Mrs. Thompson was born in the house still now her home, and is the only representative in her generation liv- ing, of the family of Robert and Han nah (Phipps) Prince, and except for her hearing and the injury to one of her limbs caused by fall nearly two years ago, enjoys good health Her pastor, Revs Mir. Ward of the Metho- dist church, made prayer, supple menting it by few remarks and the reading of a poem composed for the occasion. A collation. of ice cream and cake was served A social hour followed until about five o'clock, when as each departed for their home, wishing Mrs Thompson many more happy birthdays.
 By way of correction in the report of the picnic it would be we'll in do- ing so to add to that report few items of interest. The correction i there were over two hundred pres ent instead of as stated one hundred The supplement to the report is # was a nice day, a nice place. a nice picnic dinner The most expert pitch CTS at quoit, Mr Maitland, Carol h. graham, pr. Paine, MT Both and Mr Cunning, at the bat and bail. Dr. Paine, Mir Backus and Robert John son. among the batters. Miss Pru- dence Paine was the best swimmer for the girls and E. & Backus may be said to be quite at the head of the men as such, although others evidenc- ed they could do a pretty good stunt at swimming. One of the best points to mention was the harmonious spirit which prevailed, and not anything happened to rupture the full enjoy ment of the day by all
 The fire that occurred in one of the group of cottages used as a dormitory near the entrance to the grounds to the premises of the Marot school last Saturday about Il o'clock at night, was one that threatened to be very disastrous, but for several things which combined prevented it. The early discovery and sounding of the alarm by the ringing of the church bell, the quick arrival of the fire com pany on the scene and the quick re sponse and arrival of the fire depart ment from Putnam with their chemi- cal engine, and the work with will by all on the scene where they could be helpful in any way, were the things that prevented one of the most dam aging fires that has ever occurred in our community. Great credit is due to leach and all, and all to each" who endeavored in any way to put out the fire under what at first seemed very unfavorable conditions. It was about l o'clock when the truck departed for Putnam, but several of our local fire men remained to guard against any further outbreak that might occur.
 In the death of John Cunningham there passes away one of our oldest and very respected citizens. NIT. Gun ningham died Friday afternoon at his home near West Thompson station. from the infrmities of old age. being confined to the house but few days He had spent about all of his life in Mechanicsville district, where in his early manhood he taught the school in that district short time His father rras nna nf h. E,-a .rna..h ni.s tkat