Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1921-06-17

county and from many beyond the
county borders, more than 1000 persons
assembling in the village. The four
sides of the village common were packed
with automobiles. The morning program
was given in the new hall, which was
seen for the first time by hundreds of
visitors, who expressed their admiration
of its handsome lines and substantial
construction. The afternoon exercises
were held on the common.
The Brattleboro Military band of 30
pieces, Alison j. Dugan, leader, began
delightful concert on the town hall bal
cony at 10 o'clock, and a few minutes
later a flag was swung from the build
ing by G. III. Willard of the dedication
committee, and Rev. G. Walter Bishop
of the Townshend Baptist church spoke
briefly of the flag as glowing symbol
of the lives of men and women who have
been builders, of those who are builders,
and those who will be builders of the
nation. The band then played The Star
Spangled Banner.
John ii. Ware, chairman of the build
ing committee and chairman of the dedi-
cation committee, presided at the dedi-
catory exercises and welcomed the WIS.,
itors. The deed of the hall from Mrs
button to the town was read by Chair
man G. S. mills of the finance commit
tee, who gave a financial statement
showing the totad cost to be S35, o93.32
lie DreStHltu luS uttu W tuc Stl'tth'h
Il. II. Allbee, f. w. Watson and ID. IL.
Sprague. and it was received by Chair
nam Allbec, who made brief appreciative
remarks expressing the hope that the de-
structive element of fire which lost to
rownshend several town halls, would
pass this one by.
Rev. w. f. Bissell of the West Town
shend Baptist church read resolutions
drawn up by the resolutions committee,
expressing the towns deep sense of ap-
probation. Chairman Ware then read
Il letter from Mrs. button in which she
expressed the hope that the people would
receive as much pleasure from the use
of the building as she had experienced in
presenting it. Rev. r. II. Bosworth of
the Townshcnd Congregational church
then offered the prayer of dedication.
At this point Chairman Ware pre-
scented Miss Esther Dale, Townshend' S
widely known and much loved soprano
soloist, who is living and singing in New
York on a two years leave of absence
from Smith college, where she is assist
ant professor of music. She has spent
the past year in concert work, giving re-
ctals in New York Boston, and 16 New
England cities, and has appeared as. So
loist with the Boston symphony orches-
ira Miss Dale received a hearty vel
come and rendered in her usual superb
style an aria, Hear, Ye Israel, from The
Elijah. Miss Dale was accompanied on
the piano by Miss Jessie l.. IIawley of
BrattlebOrO.
The first speaker of the day, Judge Il.
l.. Waterman of Brattleboro, was then
presented and gave "reminiscences OF
Col. and Mrs. Button.
Judge Waterman, so far as the commit
tee could learn, is the only person living
in this part of the country who knew Col.
button in the days when he first came to
Townshend from Ludlow. Judge Water
man at that time lived in Jamaica and
attended Leland and Gray seminary in
Townshend. He told Of Col. Dutton
coming as assistant principal about the
year 1859, when the principal was George
Il. Lane, afterwards DIR. Lane.
Within two years the Civil war broke
out and Col Dutton, then young, vigor-
Gus and active man, was appointed to
superintend the recruiting of Company
III, Sth Vermont Volunteers, at Town
Shend. He was assisted by Alvin b
Franklin, now in California, who after
wards became lieutenant colonel of the
regiment; w. III. III. HoltOn of Jamaica
who after being wounded was breveted
major; S. Il. Howard of Jamaica, who
became captain in the regiment; and w
ii. Smith of Wilmington. The only sur
vivor is Mr.. Franklin.
They held rallies, with singing, in differ
ent towns, and the company was organ
lied Jan. II, 1862, with Henry +. Dutton
as captain, Mr.. Franklin as first leuten-
ant, Ny. Holton as second lieutenant and
Mr., Howard as first sergeant. The com
pany and regiment went out under Col
Stephen Thomas and had wonderful
10, 1864, one of Lieut. Col. buttons arms