The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-07-03
JOHNR. AKIN
TELLSOF new
WINCHESTER PLAN
Newport Merchant Attends
Convention at New
Haven

John X. Akin of the firm of True
& Blanchard has returned from a
very interesting and Instructive trip
to New Haven, Ct, Where he attend
ed the first convention of the VIM
chester Club, compo 3ed Ct raplesen-
tatives who handle the Winchester
+, Arms goods through The country.
MI. Akin has written the following
interesting account of his trip for the
/ Called ,nian-Record:
1t was the great privilege of the
writer TO attend the first annual
Winchester Club Convention held in
! New Haven, Conn, June 20 to July
: l.
! The wonderful Wn,heste.' spirit in
evidence among the many delegates
was splcl did to see and every man
and woman present are proud of
the fact that they were selected to
I represent their community as " in
chester members, the cornial welcome
we received and splendid service ac-
corded u Throughout the CONVEX
ton speaks louder than words of
tiiN Cil'N'' III anu ~ -NullNC .tDlIly
arrangement OF the Winchester Co.
Nale University w1'rh is WORKING in
.plendiG harmony with the Winchec-
ter Plan allowed the usa of Wors-
ley Hall as headuar+et, for the con
vontion and also opened several dor
.nitories for the lccomodation CT
the many delegate. Those of us
who he | lot been privileged to visit
this wonderful institution uf Team
ing We're profoundly impressed with
its magnitude. Woolsev Hall with its
lcautiiul marble rotuAla and dining
lall sad to be one of the largest in
Tie world is only one of scores Of
beautiful buildings and .'.sre is now
under way a Memorial DorMitory
costing many millions of dollars and
covering a Elock, n connection with
which i: tower 10 stories high Is be-
ing erected which wei be used as q
part Of the dormito"y.
While the program was very full
and required our closest attention
both forenoon and afternoon, Ill was
not all work Monday night E boat
ride on the Sound; Tuesday night
splendid play staged by over 30 ON
ployeS of the Winchester Co. and
many first class artists are found
among its 1000 employees. During
the play which was immensely en-
joved by packed house in the Shu-
bert Theatre, an old fashioned coun- |
trv store was transferred into a
Modern Winchester store to the
great satisfaction and evident profit
of the proprietor.
Wednesday afternoon was given up
to sports, contests, and great
clam bake at Lighthouse Pond on |
Long Island Sound. Tran shooting |
by amateurs, ball game, aquatic
sports and wonderful exhibition of
fancy shooting by Mr.. and Mrs.
of Texas. All specta-
tors were thrilled bv II cir almost un-
believable skill in the use of pistol,
rifle and shot gun.
The delegates were divided into
about 80 groups, each under a cap
tain and the work consisted of
group lectures of about - minutes
each, the lecturers ~ong from room
20 room. The tours of the factory
Dv these grouns were each in CHARGE
Of two competent "uides inasmuch
rs the factory floor space amounts
10 about 80 acres, two half days were
required to give the delegates even
, look in at the many different pro-
lucts there produced.
Attending the convention were del
sgates from almost every state in the
lnion nearly all from western states
being represented, the longest one
way distance travelled was 3191 miles.
The oldest delegate was John r.
Packard of Greenville, Pa, who went
nto the hardware business at the
ICE of II and has been on the job
Y years and says he is planning to
)e on deck when the 10th annual oc-
urs.
Among the many prominent men
with the Winchester Co.,
he dominant figure is John e. Otter
on, having the appearance of a
,outh, tho 81 years old, he is admit
eddy one of the foremost organizers
nd executives in America.
The four days session was fitting
y brought to a close Friday night
When about 1900 guests sat down to
great banquet in Woolsey hail. The
was followed by a musical