The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-20
FATHER OF CHIEF Ex-
EcUTIvE OF NATION
TO BE BURIED IN
VILLAGE TOWN
tBy Associated Isres.l

This little known Green Noun
tain village in which Col. John
C. Coolidge lived and died, set
aside its ordinary activities today
to bury its first citizen. In the
adjoining town of Woodstock the
President of the United States, O.
son grieving for his father, waited
to pay a final tribute of love.
The President, making winter
visit to his native town for the
first time in score of years, left
Washington in hope that his pres.
ence might comfort his father.
last moments. Losing his grim
race with death, he remained tc
perform his final filial duties. He
came yesterday to spend an hour
by Col. Coplidge's bier, and today
planned to pass several hours al
his childhood home before the time
set for the funeral. Mrs. Cool
idge and their son, John, student
at Amherst College, accompanied
the President and completed the
immediate family circle.
While soldiers walked post out
side the white farm house through
out yesterday and last night, the
neighbors passed In to look for the
last time on the features Of .sthe1
SQUIRE. He lay in state In the.
parlor of his home. Folding doors
had been thrown open and the
little sitting rooIn where the col
onel in 1923 administered to bis
son the oath of Office as President
had been made a part Of the cham.
Der. Here was to be held Mt 2 D. m.
a s:mp.e funeral service, with the
Rev. John White, of Sherburn
reading the Episcopal Office Of
burial.
There were to be neither hymns
or eulogy.
Few of the neighbors were able
yet to 60 about their usual tasks.
The passage of Col Coolidge had
been heavy shock to the com.
Inunity which he dominated fol
four-score years, and the Plymouth
folk gathered in groups all day &c
discuss the tragic event.
Clear Road
But there were some duties
which could not be neglected. Al
force of men laborcd under dark
couds clearing a road through
great snow drifts to the little
cemetery on hillside where many
Coolidges are buried. The first
spring thaw had softened the snow
and added to the difficulty of the
task. A heavy tractor and snow
plow drove through the drifts and
shovelers followed behind. making
a lane, with walls on either side
higher than a mans head.
Selectman AFRO Johnson had the
task OF preparing the grave In
plot adjoining that in which tho
Presidents mother, sister and son
Gavin are buried. The deep snow
was shoveled away from the plot
and the seiectman and his assist
ants cut through the frozen soil
fulfilling q task given them By the
colonel himself several months
ago.
There viii be no pail bearers
at the funeral. but SIX body bearers
win be chosen from among na-
tionaI guardsmen now on duty
here win carry the easket to its /
final resting place In the ancient /
cemetery.
Immediately afterwards the
presidential party win start on IL
way 10 Woodstock. where the
special train which brought il from
Washington ia waiting on > siding
70 begin the journey back.
The Presidents property hold.
iBws IN his ancestral town have
now been increased. Three weeks
ago the colonel tSansferred % the
President the ancestral farm with
ifs rs acres Of land and the old
whste honse which Was the exeeu-
tivrsz boyheod home
0stensibly the eoioneI died
pennies. and there Il 80 win.
President Coolidge nDw owns In
addition 70 the farm > nearby
tract which he inherited directly
from rs grandfather. Calvin G.
Coolidge. L i the Cooiidgs sagar
orchard