The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-20
COL. COOLIDGE
ISBURIED WITH
SOLEMN RITES
All Ordinary Activities in the
Little Vermont Village
Cease Today
COMMUNITY MOURNS 5
President Starts Return to
Washington Immediately
After Funeral

plymouth. VT. March 20. .(APo
INC little green mountain village in
which Colonel John c. Coolidge lived
and died set aside its ordinary activi-
ties today to bury its first citizen. In
the adjoining town Of Woodstock the
president Of tho United States. II son
grieving for his father, waited to pay
final tribute Of love.
The president. making winter visit
to his native town for the first time
IN score of years. left Washington in
thc hope that his presence might COM
fort his fathers last moments. Los
ing the grim race with death, he re-
manned to perform the final filal du-
ties. Tic came yesterday from Wood
stock to spend an hour by Colonel
Coolidge's bier. and today planned to
pass several hours at his childhood
home before the time set for the fu-
neral. Mrs. Coolidge and their son
John. student at Amherst college
accompanied the president and COM
pletcd the immediate family circle.
While soldiers walked post outside
the white farm house throughout yes
terday and last night. the ncighbors
passed in to look for the last time on
the features Of ''Thc Squire" He lay
in state in the parlor Of his home, the
room IN which six years ago the fu-
neral Of his wife was held.
Episcopal Burial Service
Folding doors had been thrown
open and the little sitting room. where
the colonel in 1928 administered
to his son the oath Of office as prcsi-
dent. had been made q part of the
chamber. Here was to be held at 2
o'clock simple funeral service. with
the Rev John White Of Sherburnc
reading the Episcopal office Of burial.
The Plymouth neighbOrs and as many
others as space allowed were to be ad-
mitted.
There were to be peither hymns nor
culogy.
Few Of the neighbors we're able yet
ia. 80 about their usual tasks. The
passing Of Colonel Coolidge had been
a heavy shock to the community which
he dominated for four score years.
and the Plymouth folk gathered in
groups all day to discuss the tragic
event.
Road ShOveled Through Drifts
But there were some duties which
could not be neglected. A force Of
men labored until dark clearing il,
road through great snow drifts to
the little cemetery on "a hillside where
many COOlidges are buried. The first
spring thaw had softencd the snow
and added to the difficulty Of the task.
A heavy tractor and snow plow drove
through the drifts and shovelers fol-
lowed behind, making lane. with
walls on either side higher than il 4
mans head.
There will be no pail bearers at the
funeral. but six body bearers chosen
from among national guardsmcn now
on duty here will carry the casket to
its fNal resting place in the ancient ,
cemetery. Immediately afterwards
the presidential party will start on
it's way to Woods stock where the
special train which brought it from
Washington is waiting on a siding to
begin the journey back.
The presidents property holdings in
his ancestral town have now been in |
creased. Three weeks ago the colonel
transferred to the president the an
cestral farm with its 225 acres Of land |
and the old white house which was the
bOyhoOd home.
Ostensibly the colonel died penni- |
less, and there is no will. President |
Coolidge now owns in addition to the |
farm a nearby tract which he inher
tied directly from his grandfather.
Calvin G. Coolidge. 1t is the Coolidge |
sugar orchard.