The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-22
Luther M. Averill Found,
Fatally Stricken, on
Street Last Night
DIED IN FEW HOURS
AFTER TAKEN HOME
Mr.. Averill Started Mercan.
tile Life in Barre Over
Half Century Ago

Luther Martin Averill, one of the
most widely known citizens of Barre,
died shortly after o'clock this morn
| ing at bis home on Hill Top avenue.
Mr.. Ayerill was stricken with shock
ION French street at I o'clock last night
and did not recover consciousness. He
was found lying in the street by boy
who was passing The boy notified
people living in the vicinity and Mr..
Averill was carried into the home OF
Rev B. G. Lipsky. A physician was
called and after he arrived Mr.. Aver
/ i'll was transferred to his home in the
b. w. Hooker & Co. ambulance. he
failed rapidly until the end came this
morning.
Mr.. Averill was born in Barre on
March 10. 1876, and had lived here all
his life. He obtained his early educa-
tion at the old Barre academy and then
attended the Eastman Business col
legc in poughkeepsie, N. !.
When he returned from business
school he went to work for Stillman
Wood, who was druggist and also
postmaster. Mr.. Averill was employed
as clerk, remaining with the Wood
establishment two years. He was mar
ried to Miss Elizabeth Annie Beckley,
member of one Of the Oldest families
in Barre, on Dec. 25, 1857. Mr.. and
Mrs. Beckley would have observed the
saith anniversary Of the wedding Sun
day.
In 1870 he opened the first store in
Barre to be devoted solely TO the sale
Of groceries and be successful. This
store occupied portion of build
ing located near the present L. NJ.
Averill building. His business soon
grew TO such dimensions that he occu-
pied the entire building and as it con
tinued to grow the place became known
as "The Brown Ark" named such by
Mr.. AverilI himself After conducting
strictly grocery business for several
years, Mr.. Averill started adding other
lines to his wares until his rapidly in
ereasing business became too large for
ia quarters. Mr.. Averill, accordingly,
built the Averill block in 1855 and in
1886 and moved his store into it. be
sold the cold Brown Ark" to the Gran
lie Savings Bank 4 Trust Co. and they
demolished it and built their present
quarters. Mr.. Averill remained in
business in his block up to about IL
years ago when he felt himself enti-
tied to rest and so he retired How
ever sincr that time he has kept him
self continually busy with various
small enterprises and he was known
universally as one of the most active
men in Barre. In 1876 Mr.. Averill had
the distinction of receiving the FIRST
carload Of -four to come into Barre by
railroad. During the later part OF his
business career Mr.. Averill did a large
wholesale business in -four, grain and
groceries. He was held in high esteem.
Mr.. Averill is survived by his wife,
son, Harley l.. Averill Of New York;
a grandson, Stanley II. Ayerill OF
Louisville, Ky; a granddaughter, Dor
othy +. Averill. who made her home
with him; brother, Louis X Averill
Of Oregon. and several nieces and neph-
ews. including Mrs. Nicholas Veale OF
Barre.
Mr.. Averill's son, Harley, had noti-
fed his folks that he would be home
to pass the holidays with them and
that he would be here the 2lst. 22d or
23d. The funeral arrangements will
not be made. therefore, until his ar
rival. 1t is requested that flowers. be
omitted.