The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-25
OLD MILESTONE
DEDICATED AT
EAST VILLAGE
Exercises Preceded by An
nual Observance of Old
Home Day

mere nave DcCIl lidily uculCd-
tions of memorials of various
kinds in Vermont, but it was left
t. the good people of East st.
Johnsbury to be the first to dedi-
cate a milestone in memory of the
family that in the community's
early years owned the old mill that
ground all the grain in the neigh
borhood. This interesting cere-
mony was preceded by the eighth
annual observance of old home day
and all the townspeople as well
as many from other places far and
near attended both gatherings.
The festivities of the day began
with a bounteous dinner served in
the church vestry by the Ladies
Aid society. There were so many
present that it was necessary to
set up the tables the second time
but the ladies had provided plenty
of food for all comers.
The old home day exercises
were held in the church auditori-
um which was we'll filled and W.
E. Cushman, president of the as
sociation, presided. After singing
a hymn Rev. E. Z. Grant offered
prayer and the scriptures were
read by the pastor of the church,
Rev. ]. n. Perrin. The audience
all Joined in "Auld Lang Syne",
after which President Cushman
welcomed the audience and spoke
of the pleasure it gave those who
still lived in this community to
Vhave the former residents and
their descendants come back to
such an occasion as this. Tabor
Gates of Woodsville was next on
the program for a song and his
two appearances were one of the
most enjoyable features of the
whole occasion. His songs were
practically appropriate to the spirit
Of the gathering and at each ap-
pearance he received a hearty and
deserved encore.
Letters were read at this time
from three absent former resi-
dents, c. Eugene Harrington, Mrs.
Ida M McCurdy and Rev. A. V.
Fisher. The nominating commit
tee, consisting of Charles Ross,
Miss Bertha Lee and Mrs. J. n.
Perrin, decided to name the pres
ent board Of officers as their own
successors and the following or
= ganization for the coming year
was perfected; President, w. E.
Cushman; vice pres, Ralph Chase;
treas, Miss Abbie f. Smith ;secy.,
Miss Mertie NJ Hovey. After dll
had joined in singing "My Old
Kentucky Home, the address Of
the occasion was given by Arthur
+. Stone, editor of the Caledonian-
Record.
Mr.. Stones address was largely
devoted to the pcrpetuation of the
home as the great stabilizer of
our nations very existence, cit
ing the case of the one nation in
the world, China, maintaining its
national existence through thou5-
ands of years largely because of
the devotion of the Chinese people
t. the home and vencration of
their ancestors. Reading extracts
from the "Letters of an American
Farmer, written by Hector st.
John de Crevocoeur when he was
opening up Pennsylvania fam
$50 years ago, he contracted the
cOntentment and happiness of this
man with the feverish and topsy-
turvy conditions of the present
day. AS a solution of the present
day problems the speaker offered
the following which he had receiv-
ed only the day before in a letter
from John Spargo of Bennington,
the noted publicist and writer.
"The task of today and the next
few years is to stabilize the badly
shaken institutions of society, de-
velop and extend production and
industrial organization, and
ameliorate the evils that must at
tend the pursuit of such a pro-
gram. That is the essence of the
matter as l see it, and badges and
labels don't matter at all"
The speaker said he believed in
the ultimate solution of the worlds
problems because he belived in the
Divine order of things and that
loose thinking and careless talk
only hindered the progress of the
world. Friendship, such as this
occasion typifies, mutual under
standings and brotherly love
must prevail the world around be-
fore the contentment that was de
Crevocoeur's will lbe ours.
Mr.. Gates then favored the au-
dience with two more songs after
which Mr. Cushman called for
volunteers and got ready re-
sponse from half dozen former
residents.
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Chapman of
st. Johnsbury said she felt like
thanking the people of the village
who stayed here the year round
and also wished to thank all who
had taken part in the excellent
program. She said she felt espec-
tally grateful to the faithful people
that had kept up the church
through all the years, supporting