Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-04-08
STONE QUITS HOTEL
AFTER HALF CENTURY
Death Removes Veteran Porter
from Post OF 55 Years

After 55 years of uninterrupted ser.
vice as porter OF the Addison House,
Frank K. Stone died as he had wished,
in the harness Stricken with a severe
attack Of heart trouble while at work
Saturday afternoon, he was taken to
his home on Washington street and
died Monday night at 1920 o'clock.
He is survived by his wife, formerly
Miss Alma McMaster of this town.
Mr.. Stone had been in failing health
for several months. He had been warn
ed against the exertion of continuing
his daily work but would not omit his
regular trips to the station at train
time He had been i'll Friday night
but worked Saturday morning. In the
afternoon he suffered his last shock,
from which he died.
For length of service Mr.. Stone had
the distinction of being the oldest ho-
tel porter in the country. He was
known by majority of the travelling
men of the section and delighted in call
ing them by name as soon as they
stepped from the train Many pre-
ferred to ride on the wagon with him
instead Of making the trip in the hotel
by the auto bus.
Born in New York
Mr.. Stone was born in Crown Point,
N. Y, September Is, 1853 the young
est of family Of seven children. Four
of his brothers served in the Civil War
that broke out when Frank was but a
child, and Charles, his playmate, who
In 4
at the age OF L. When ten years old,
Frank began to work. In later years
he recalled with pride how he had
served as a ferryman on Lake Cham.
plain, plotting an antiquated scow
from Frosds Landing to the New
York shore.
Came to Middlebury
After three years of lake naviga-
ton Young Stone came to Middlebury,
at the age of l3. He obtained a posi-
ton in the Addison House as bell
boy and porter. a connection that was
to continue 50 years, until his death.
He had grown old with the hotel. Pro-
prietors might change but Frank
Stone remained. Travelling statesmen
and others had occasion to stop at
Middlebury more or less frequently
used to watch for "Stoney" on the
platform,-he was their sign of Mid
dlebury. And he seldom failed them.
Loved His Horses
Mr. Stones love for his horses was
such that he would welcome nothing
better than a query about them. He
never tired in discussing their good
qualities. And his Colts, as he called
them always even in their advanced
age, knew their master. If he happen
ed to be absent for one reason or an
other they tried to perform his duties
as well as they could Paul Jones"
in particular, one of his horses that
lived to be forty-one, would follow the
bus to the station back into the posi-
ton at the curb of his own accord and
then return to the hotel in the same
way. But Frank was almost always
there. Shortly before his death one of
his greatest concerns was the DISPOSE
ton of his horse in the event of an
accident to himself. When advised to
sell him, he refused absolutely to con-
slider vt for fear that some one treat
the animal harshly.
Prominent as Fireman
Mr. Stone early became interested
in the fire department He joined the
old Washington hand engine company
in 1878 and served with it for 10 years.
In 1888 he transferred to the Fair
mount steamer company The Volun-
teers of SS were organized by Mr..
Stone and equipped mainly through his
personal efforts. Five years later he
again transferred, to the Battell hose
His experience earned for
him in 1897 the office of assistant en-
gineer of the department. For the
two years following he held the high
est position in the organization, that
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