Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-04-06
DEDICATION OF ARMORY
AND MILITARY BALL
ArmOry Crowded With People at
Dedication and Elaborate
Social Function

The grand opening and dedication
of Company LIS Armory March 20
ever witnessed in Newport. For sew
was one of the most successful affairs
eral weeks the members of Company
l., 1st Inf. V. N. G., have been very
active in making preparations for the
event which took place in the after
noon, also elaborate preparations were
made for the second annual military
ball which was held in the evening.
On both occasions the spacious ar
mory was crowded to the limit, every
seat being taken and standing space
was at a premium. Every nook and
corner of the ball room was occupied
and the corridors all through the
building as we'll. 1t has been estimat-
ed that there were from twelve to
fifteen hundred people present at
each event.
The hall and rooms occupied by COM
pany L, were made attractive for
the occasion by the committee on dec
grafton who has spent much time in
the work of decorating. Each room
of the company's quarters was graced
with Towering plants as we'll as bas-
kets of cut flowers. The ball room
was deliberately decorated with flags,
potted plants and festoons Of the
national colors. Around the front of
the balcony decorated crepe paper
bearing the eagle was draped. Over
each of the electric lights on the cell
ing and under the balcony was SuS-
pended streamers Of red, white ano
blue. Around the sides of the stage
white and red paper decorations ap
peared, while the platform contained
many pots of palms, Towering plants
and baskets of cut flowers. The enc
wall of the armory, back of the stage
was nearly hidden from view drap-
ed with old glory. Upon the platform
were the two company L flags. In the
upper corridor were two mamoth bay
trees All of which added much to
the beautiful scene. At 100 in the
afternoon the great double doors of
the armory were thrown open and
for nearly an hour the spacious cor
ridors were filled with people seeking
seats to listen to the opening exercises
and dedication ceremonies.
Seated upon the platform were
those who took part in the ceremonies
also several honored guests, among
the list was mayor e.. w. Savage, who
in very able manner presided over
the exercises; Rev. H. B. Rankin, who
offered prayer; Rev. l.. A. Edwards,
who had charge of the community sing
ing; Adjutant General Herbert T.
Johnson; ex-mayors G. S. Emery and
James T. Gardner; Ex-Governor
Josiah Grout, Captain Reginald Buz-
zell; A. G. Sleeper, representative of
the G.. A. r.; contractor, II. o. Smith;
Rev. Norbert LaChance of the ST.
Mary's church; Carroll Davis, CJar-
ence Richmond, A. w. Farman and
J. F. Lambert former captains of
Company L; Major Richard T. Corey;
A. H. Grout; J. G. Turnbull, M.
M. Taplin and Hon. J. G. Gross of
Orleans.
The Newport concert band opened
the excuses playing medley of
patriotic airs. Following prayer, Rev.
Edwards led the audience in singing
the National anthem. A very pretty
ceremony of turning over the keys
to the proper officials then took place.
Contractor, H. o. Smith, in handing
the keys of the armory over to Ad-
jutant General Johnson, said that he
had looked forward to this occasion
when he might have the pleasure Of
performing this duty, and that the
city of Newport would be the proud
possessor of a state armory that
would furnish Company L with
suitable home. He said that it was
in the early part of June the first
of the blue prints arrived from the
architect, Frank Lyman Austin.
These gave the complete details Of the
erection of the cement walls for the
foundation of the splendid brick
,sy,%c 10
follow, all along through the process
at the beginning of the work the
construction moved rather slowly ow-
ing to the lack of sufficient help, but
at the close of the schools and COL
leges many young men, home for the
summer vacation, sought work on the
building. This helped to relieve the
shortage and things moved more
rapidly. Mr.. Smith in his remarks
paid splendid tribute to these young
men who had disposition to work
and earn, rather than be idle. He
complimented the good service that
they rendered. Mr.. Smith also had
many words of praise for the architect
Frank Austin of Burlington.
Among other things he said that
in his Fl years of building experience
he never had plans that were so
perfect as the ones for this armory.
Mr.. Austin visited the building sew
eral times during it's construction and
interested himself in ascertaining if
the plans were being followed out and
gave many valuable suggestions.
Adjutant General Johnson in receiv-
ing the keys said that he wished to
congratulate Mr.. Smith for the good
work he had done in the construction
of the Newport armory. He wanted
to express the appreciation Of the
state for the hearty cooperation CIV
en- by the mayor and city council,
that it was great pleasure for him
to be associated with such a fine body
of men. He said that they had work
ed hard all of the time to give the
State and city the best that could
be had, and he wished t. congratulate
the city for having in their midst a
man like Mr.. Smith who had demon
strated his ability in having charge
of the building of this armory In
presenting the keys to Captain Buzz
eel, General Johnson said it was a
great pleasure to him 70 turn the
keys to this armory over to him as
Captain of Co. l., V. N. G. One
of the first things required in order
to oot an arnoorv was that connanv