The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-14
Was on His Way from STRAIT.
ton Mountain Gather
ing to Keene~ 4
by L. S. IIAYES.)

/ L. -. 81
/ Eighty-one years ago last July Daniel
/ Webster spoke in Bellows Falls to an au-
dience which at that time was probably
| the largest gathering of people ever held
/ in this locality. He was on his way back
| from the memorable convention held on
! Stratton mountain which in July, 1915,
was cOmmemorated by the erection of a
marker on the mountain.
| He spoke from the upper piazza of the
Mansion House a hotel that from 1926
until it was burned in 1857, stood on the
| west side of the Square, the front piazza
| of which was where the front of the store
occupied by FentOn & Hennessey now is.
| The date of his speaking here was We'd
nesday, July s, 1910.
! Rockingham citizens had been very
active in making and carrying out the
! arrangements for the convention at STRAIT
arrangements for, and the carrying out of,
this monster gathering which numbered
several thousand people on the side of
the mountain between Windham and
Bennington counties the day before. Over
80 citizens of this town had signed the
call for the convention. Although at the
busiest time of the year, over 100 voters
had gathered June 6, at the Hotel of
Harvey Wood in Rockingham village,
elected seventeen delegates and formed
the Tippecanoe Club of Rockingham.
Samuel l.. Billings, the tanner, was presi-
dent, r. Walker was recording secretary,
Simon 5. Davis corresponding secretary,
and George Perry. Henry Walker. John
w. Moore, w. Fl. Allbee and Ithamar
Bolles executive committee.
1t was voted that the Wings en- masse
attend the district Log Cabin convention
to be holden on Stratton mountain, a
little east of the height of land, near the
turnpike road leading from Arlington to
Wardsboro, on Tuesday, the 9TH day of
July next, at u o'clock noon."
Also, voted that the first meeting of
the TippecanOe Club be holden at Cam
bridgeport next Saturday, June Is, at 4
o clock p. m Gates Perry, jr., J. W.
Moore and Samuel L. Billings were
chosen a committee to draft cOnshtu-
tiOn and bylaws. The records are signed
by r. Walker. chairman, with II. III. Bax
ter and \. Sargent. secretaries.
This club held its final meeting Satur-
day afternoon. July 4. at the Bellows
Falls Stage House. which then stood
where Hotel Windham now does, to COM
piete arrangements for the towns part
in the demonstration.
Monday morning. July 6. Rockingham
citizens from all parts of the town gath
cred by appointment at Cambridgeport at
10 o'clock in every variety of convey
TOwnshend where they, were Joined by
delegations from BrattlebOro, Putney,
Westminster, Chester. Springfield. Graf
ton and many other towns. making a mon
Ster cavalcade in which Rockingham 5
delegation was one of the largest. if not
the largest. With the BrattlebOro dele
CATION was the honored guest, speaker of
the occasion. Daniel Webster of the Uni
ted States. senate. in an open barOuche
drawn by four coal black horses. The
Rockingham delegation. like the Others
had provided themselves with tents and
three day rations. 1t was estimated that
at least go went from this town, some.
however, not going until Tuesday morn
ing. The main delegation from here was
one of the very first on the grounds.
headed by the Walpole band. This was
followed by a large wagon seating 80
persons. drawn by six powerful gray hor-
SEES. Upon the front of this was an ele-
giant United States flag, 1872 feet by 10
feet. which had been presented by the
patriotic ladies of Bellows Falls. Ex-
tending from the rear of the wagon was
q large banner. on one side of which We're
IA log cabin and appropriate scenery with
the motto, "A True Emblem of Our Fore
fathers On the reverse side it bore the
legend Vermont, Ever True to Wing
Principles" Numerous other banners
accompanied the Rockingham delegation,
One from the village of Cambridgeport
attracted as much attention as any, as it
read, we Were Once Blind, But Now
We See" and was carried by number
of gentlemen of that village who had
formerly been supporters of Van Buren,
The painting of the banners was princi-