USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1907-1957 with family genealogies > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, St. Charles Council 753, received its charter April 19, 1903 and the first organi- zational meeting was held in I.O.O.F. Hall, now the top floor of the Fenton & Hennessey store. Later meetings were held in the G.A.R. Hall on the third floor of the old Town Hall. It moved to the third floor of the Rockinham Street Fire Sta- tion in 1904 where it remained until 1949 when it removed to
143
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
the renovated Suter block which it had purchased in 1945. Among its other services, this Council started the first fund for the first hospital in Bellows Falls by sponsoring a ball, raising several hundred dollars. It also started the first action in the State Legislature to make Columbus Day a legal holiday, re- taining Judge Allbee to lobby in Montpelier for the necessary legislation. It is sworn to fight communism. The 40th State Convention was held in Bellows Falls in 1938 and again in 1946 with J. Emerson Kennedy, State Deputy.
OFFICERS
1903 1952-1953
Chaplain
Father Reynolds
Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. J. Burke
Grand Knight
Dr. J. T. Rudden
W. A. Bugbee
Deputy Grand Knight
Edward Lawlor
J. F. Henry
Recording Secretary
P. J. Keane
J. E. Menard
Financial Secretary
J. E. Byrnes
W. E. Hennessey
Treasurer
J. J. Fenton
J. C. Hennessey
Advocate
Edward Barrett
John Malley
Chancellor
Dr. Frank O'Connor
Joseph Dionne
Warden
E. J. Howard
Guy Merrifield
Inside Guard
M. J. Walsh
R. H. Kemp
Outside Guard
S. F. Cray
Wilfred Reardon
The MASONS. The early history of Masonry in Bellows Falls is given in the History of Rockingham by L. S. Hayes. At the annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Vermont in 1903, the Lodge of King Solomon and the Lodge of the Temple were consolidated and a new charter presented to the present King Solomon's Lodge No. 45 in June of that year. Permis- sion was given to keep the old charters of the two consolidated lodges after cancellation by the Grand Secretary and they are now on display in the lobby of the Masonic Temple. Of the present roster, four have been in membership for over fifty years and George R. Wales, at his death, had been a member for 70 years.
For many years meetings were held in various rooms in the Square also used by other fraternal organizations. In 1909 the Masons purchased the residence of the late Wyman Flint at 61 Westminster Street which was renovated and the ell behind it moved across Temple Place for a private home. In its place a larger wing was built onto the main building with a basement adapted to social events and kitchen facilities which was remodeled within the last few years into an attractive recreation center, the work being done entirely by members On the first floor a banquet hall was built and above it a large lodge room. The chairman of the building committee was F. H. Babbitt.
Dedication of the new Temple was held in April, 1910 with 500 people looking over the new building from noon to three o'clock in the afternoon when the reception to the Grand Master of the Lodge of Vermont, Lee S. Tillotson of St. Albans, took place. Gov. Prouty was a guest of honor with Rev. H. L. Ballou of Chester. Among local men who took a prominent
144
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
part in the ceremonies were George L. Provost, Worshipful Master; E. S. Leonard, Past Senior Deacon; E. S. Weston, Grand Senior Deacon; G. S. Buxton, George L. Whitney, C. A. Moore, C. A. Calderwood and Rev. A. C. Wilson, Chaplain,
In addition to the Blue Lodge, the Temple is occupied by Abenaqui Chapter No. 19, Royal Arch Masons; Holy Cross Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar; Alpha Chapter No. 53, Order of the Eastern Star and the Craftsman's Club. In 1919, three Knights' Templar degrees were conferred on 17 candi- dates, the largest class in the history of the Order in Vermont at that time. In June, 1955, Paul Glynn was installed as Right Eminent Grand Commander of Knights Templar in Vermont.
The ROTARY CLUB. International Rotary started in 1905 of which Bellows Falls was Club No. 1551, formed in November, 1923 with 23 members. Dana Lowd was the first President of the new club which was sponsored by the club of Claremont, N. H. Charter members were Dana Lowd, William Jewett, Clayton L. Erwin, E. S. Whitcomb, Albert Chandler, George Bowen, George Cressanthis, George F. Kent, Dana Pierce, Edward Zeno, Louis J. Robertson, John O. Dennison, Rodney F. Johonnot, Frederick H. Babbitt, C. C. Collins, Raymond S. Elmer, Paul Belknap, Lowell G. Masterson, John Hennessey, Sr. and Jay Graves. The club had the reputation of a "sing club" because of Lowell Masterson, Paul Belknap and George Thompson who had charge of the music in the early days. It is interesting to note that Paul Harris, founder of Rotary, came from Wallingford, Vt. and attended Vermont Academy and the University of Vermont. Rotary is a service organization and carries on may worthwhile projects in the community. At an auction which they held in the Armory in 1949, $4,500 was netted for the hospital. The 50th anni- versary of Rotary was celebrated in May, 1955 with 150 mem- bers and their ladies, called Rotary Anns, at dinner with dancing and entertainment in the Elks' Ballroom. Reminiscences in- cluded stories by three charter members, Mr. Jewett, Mr. Hennessey and Mr. Whitcomb. Mr. Jewett was the second President and did much to establish Rotary firmly in Bellows Falls. Mr. Whitcomb was the third President and Mr. Hennes- sey was President, Vice President and a Director of the club. W. Russell Sargent is today's President and Mrs. Bertha Swift has been pianist for the luncheon meetings for many years. In 1937, 1938 and 1939 Rotary gave a Hallowe'en party and parade for children, in an effort to provide a safe and sane evening.
The COLUMBIAN SQUIRES, the Father B. McMahon Circle No. 323 and the first Circle in Vermont, is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and was instituted January 13, 1946 when 26 boys were invested as charter members by Monsignor
1
EARLY BELLOWS FALLS SQUARE
HOTEL
INOHAV
RECENT BELLOWS FALLS SQUARE
(
(
THE ARMORY
-
LIQUIDOMETER PLANT
THE SHUTE AT BARBER PARK
THE PAVILION AT BARBER PARK
-
THE THEATRE AT BARBER PARK
BARBER PARK RESTAURANT
145
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
Foley Circle of Holyoke, Mass. The aim is to supplement the training of the Church, home and school with activities which will make the boys better citizens including spiritual, cultural, civic, social and physical lines. The first Chief Squire was Francis E. Dionne, followed by Daniel Crowley, William O'Con- nor, Lawrence Sullivan, William Kinsley, James Carpon John Aylward, John Parks and today, Frederick Janciewicz.
The ROD AND GUN CLUB was organized January 10, 1926 in the old courtrooms over the Fire Station on Rockingham Street with Fred Jewett as President; George Tracy, Vice Presi- dent; John Lawrence, Treasurer and L. G. Proctor, Secretary. On the motion of Leverett C. Lovell, it was named the Abenaqui Club after the Indian tribe which once camped and fished in this locality. The objects of the club were to preserve game in surrounding communities and promote clean sportsmanship. While George Ryder was president, trout were planted in the vicinity and in 1934 brooks were stocked with 12,000 brown and speckled beauties. The by-laws read "to procure and en- force effective laws for protection of all fish and game including birds and fur-bearing animals; to promote fish culture and game propagation; to co-operate with the Fish and Game De- partment of the State of Vermont in all and singular duties and purposes of that department." Anyone over 16 was eligible to join and 5,000 4-or5-inch trout in nearby streams were prom- ised by the state that first autumn. In 1929 500 catfish or horned pout were put into the Connecticut River. The club investigated dogs chasing deer and set up a warden for this part of the county. Officers in 1955, President, George Capron: Vice President, Dana Halladay; Treasurer, Myron Ingalls; Secretary, Dana Halladay. The biggest event attempted by the club was the Sportsman's Show which was held each spring for ten years in the Armory, probably the largest sponsored show ever held in the town. Besides exhibits by local merchants, there was a display of wild animals attracting wide attention and in 1940 the show broke the record with an attendance of 4,000 people but the last show, five years ago, resulted in such heavy losses that it has not been held since. But today an annual Field Day is held each fall and a Fish Derby for children each May and pheasant are stocked in local woods. It is due to the Rod and Gun Club that deer are hunted in Vermont on Sundays. Today's membership is more than 200 men.
The ODD FELLOWS. Bellows Falls Lodge No. 23 was first instituted October 15, 1851 and chartered February 11, 1852. Among outstanding officers were J. H. Blakely, Grand Master of the State Lodge in 1892 and H. A. Morse who held the same office in 1921-1922. Gerry F. Walker served as Grand Patriarch in 1912-1913 and was also Grand Scribe of the Grand Encampment of Vermont in 1938. The late Percy A. Dean was Grand Patriarch in 1924-1925. The Bellows Falls Lodge
146
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
reached a membership of 317 in 1913 when it was 'the third largest lodge in the state. In 1914 it dropped. to 4th place with St. Johnsbury in the lead. In 1922 the lodge voted to buy the Frost property with a frontage of 189 feet on Rocking- ham' Street which was deeded to it January 3, 1923 by Charles C. Frost, Administrator. It included the Frost Livery Stable, the Central House, Duquette's Blacksmith shop, a three-story wooden building and a one-story building north of the Central House occupied by the Hiram King Monument Works and the B. & P. Express. But not until 1937 did the lodge decide to build on this property at which time the Bellows Falls Odd Fellows Building Corporation was formed with W. E. Thomas, G. F. Walker, D. E. Yates, E. H. Kent and R. S. Breslend elected incorporators to build and maintain said structure. The Cummings Construction Company of Ware, Mass. was awarded the building contract and work was completed so that the lodge moved into its new quarters October 1, 1938. The same month, October 28, dedication of the new block took place with an impressive ceremony and large attendance including I.O.O.F. officers from all over Vermont. Following the cere- monial dedication, Walter E. Thomas, President of the In- corporators, presented the keys of the building to Donald E. Yates, Noble Grand. Many people visited the lodge room and inspected the building during the week-long dedication. The local lodge has assisted in instituting several lodges in adja- cent towns including that in White River Junction, Saxtons River, Chester, Charlestown, N. H., Windsor, Alstead, N. H. and Walpole, N. H.
The SONS OF VETERANS, Col. F. G. Butterfield Camp No. 91, Saxtons River Department of Vermont, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was founded July 10, 1916 with 31 members. On June 14, 1955, the Camp voted to move to Bellows Falls and now meets in the American Legion rooms in the Town Hall building. Present officers are Commander, Edward Bosworth; Senior Vice Commander, George L. Taylor; Junior Vice Commander, Lyle Oaks; Secretary, Thomas A. Chadwick and Patriotic Instructor, Alaric Nichols.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, Post No. 10037 was formed in Bellows Falls October 14, 1952 at the State Armory with 15 overseas veterans present. The post was named for Robert and Bertrand Roby of North Westminster who died in W. W. II. Money is raised regularly for various worthy projects including the Veterans' Hospital at White River Junc- tion and a Patriotic Center has been opened in their rooms over the Trust Co. in a nationwide move to educate young people on the etiquette and history of the flag. There are 25 members at present, with Arthur Morse as Commander.
LEGION OF GUARDSMEN, Great Falls Post No. 3 was formed in November, 1946. Anyone is eligible to join
147
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
who has served in the Armed Forces, State Guard or National Guard; who has an honorable discharge or separation or any- one with 30 days or more of service. The Guardsmen were called "The Minute Men of America," the volunteers who have served their country in peace and war. Present Commander is Glen Fairbanks.
AMERICAN LEGION. Pierce-Lawton Post No. 37, American Legion of Bellows Falls, Vermont Unit No. 37 of the Legion, was organized in August, 1919 with the aid of Thomas J. Brickley, State Organizer and local member. The Post has always taken an active part of community affairs and contri- buted much to county, district and state organizations of the Legion. Col. H. Nelson Jackson of Burlington was founder of the Vermont Legion and the local unit was named in honor of three Bellows Falls men who gave their lives for their country during W.W. I; William G. Pierce and the Lawton brothers, Paul R. and Fred I. From 1919 to 1923 the Post held its meetings in the State Armory and from 1924 to 1926 it occupied rooms over the Times office in the Square. In 1927 it moved to the top floor of the Opera House. In 1945 while still using the Opera House for special meetings and large gatherings, it leased the top floor of the Nelson Faught block on Canal St., opening the Legion Club. In 1955 the old Dreamland Theater on Rockingham St. was remodeled into a new clubhouse while the club still retained the rooms in the Opera House or Town Hall building, with the clubhouse as the center of Legion and Auxiliary social affairs. The Post created, in 1947, the Gordon Graham Scholarship Fund in honor of Gordon Graham, first man to die in W.W. II. This is a monetary award of $400, to the senior boy or girl selected by the Post Committee. Over two-thirds of the present 500 members of the Post are veterans of W.W. II and the Korean conflict. In 1948 a state order removed all slot machines from all clubs everywhere.8
Commanders of Pierce-Lawton Post are as follows: 1919- 1920, Thomas J. Brickley; 1921, Byron A. Robinson; 1922, William C. Carney; 1923, Gerald J. Cray; 1924, Dr. Leroy Knight; 1925, Gardell Mandigo; 1926, John Dunlop; 1927, William C. Carney; 1928, John H. Strong; 1928-1929, Philias A. Grignon; 1929-1930, George E. Wylie; 1930-1931, N. Roger Hammond; 1931-1932, Byron A. Robinson; 1932-1933, D. P. Thompson; 1933-1934, Raymond D. Kiniry; 1934-1935, William Dean; 1935-1936, Elton S. Porter; 1936-1937, Frederick Stone; 1937-1938, Charles Wilson; 1938-1939, Ralph E. Edwards; 1939-1940, George E. Wylie (deceased), John C. Lindstrom and Donald E. Yates; 1940-1941, Howard Tidd; 1941-1942, Harry McArdle; 1942-1943, Edward Shattuck; 1943-1944, Wilfred Bodine; 1944-1945, Edward Fabian; 1945-1946, Edward O'Connor; 1946-1947, John Dougherty and Leon Bugbee; 1947- 1948, Richard Stowell, John Flood and Bernard Clark; 1948- 8 See Addendum
148
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
1949, Natt Divoll, Jr .; 1949-1950, Raymond H. Moore; 1950- 1951, Richard J. Welch; 1951-1952, E. Walter Isham; 1952- 1953, Henry E. Bussey.9
The SONS OF LEGION SQUADRON, with 50 charter members, was formed in October, 1940, the largest charter group in Vermont. The JUNIOR GROUP of the Legion was organized in 1954 with Chairman, Pauline Yates; Secretary- Treasurer, Patricia O'Hearne; Chaplain, Sharron Chapdelaine; Sergeant-at-arms, Irene Kimball and Color Bearers, Margaret Cray and Mary Fair. This group belongs to the Legion Aux- iliary and its major project is Americanism and consists of two groups, Tiny Tots and Juniors.
THE FORTY AND EIGHT. When nearly two million American fighting men returned from France after W.W. I, there was one thing in common about which they could talk and laugh, the queer little box cars marked "40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux" (forty men and eight horses) in which they had been shipped all over France-with the horses getting priority. The French box car became the symbol of good-natured com- radeship among the returned veterans. The American Legion was not born until 1919 in Paris; during that first war there was no one to fight for the rights of the fighting men, no G.I. Bill, no job guarantees, no terminal pay leave, nothing, in fact, to help the fighting men. So the men, needing a place similar to their close brotherhood in the box cars, a place in which to talk and "blow off steam," decided to organize a secret organization within the Legion and pattern it after the French railroad system and the 40 & 8 box cars. It was organ- ized in Philadelphia in 1920 under the leadership of Joseph W. Breen, the Voiture No. 1, La Society des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (Box Car No. 1, The Society of 40 Men and 8 Horses). In Vermont this "Shock Troop of the Legion" was organized early in 1923 and held its first Grande Promenade in Brattleboro that year. Voiture No. 960, now quartered in Bellows Falls, was organized in Brattleboro. Following the death of its first leader or Voyageur, Pearl T. Clapp who was Grand Chef de Gare in 1928-1929, membership dwindled until it was obliged to give up its charter but it was revived under Gardell Mandigo in 1949 with 65 members. Windham County now has two active Voitures of La Societe, Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. Among its various projects, Voiture raised a fund of $2,000 which purchased 75 uniforms for the Kurn Hattin Band and also created the Reuben Miller Nurses' Scholar- ship to honor the first man killed in Korea from Rockingham, part of a national Voiture program for nurses' training. Mem- bership is limited to selected Legionnaires in recognition of their services in the work of the Legion and out of 3 million veterans enrolled in the Legion in 1952, only 104,870 belonged to the Forty and Eight. Of Vermont's 14,000 Legionnaires, 9 See Addendum
149
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
only 421 belong to this selected group, the men often seen in their light blue smocks and chapeaux designed after French railway workers as they put a class of Poor Goofs or candidates in comic attire, through their paces in the streets, preparatory to being initiated (Wrecked) into the box car brotherhood. The new candidates need not have served in France at all but honor- ably in any war in any part of the world. In almost every parade in Bellows Falls, they may be seen riding in their loco- motive and box car, similar to those in France in which some of them rode almost forty years ago. Officers have been, 1948-1949, Gardell Mandigo; 1949-1950, Saul Miller; 1950-1951, Raymond H. Moore; 1951-1952, Richard Stevens; 1952-1953, John R. O'Hearne; 1953-1954, Walter Isham; 1954-1955, Thomas Moore.
The POLISH AMERICAN CLUB is of many years stand- ing in the community. The National Organization was formed in 1874, incorporated in 1887 and licensed as a fraternal and beneficiary organization in 1898 under the laws of Illinois. The local club was chartered in 1938 and revived in 1947 when it met in the rumpus room in the basement of Antoni Karpin- ski's home. In May, 1949 rooms were opened over Taylor's Garage with Frank Waryas as President and Antoni Karpinski, Secretary. Today's officers are President, Edward Zielinski; Vice President, Joseph Zielinski and Secretary, John Aylward.
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS had its inception in the friendship of Damon and Pythias, the famous Greeks and was founded in Washington, D. C. on February 19, 1864. An application was made to Congress for a Charter on the sug- gestion of President Lincoln who felt that it upheld the. Chris- tian virtues of decent living during the unrest and bitterness of the Civil War. When this was granted, it made the Knights of Pythias the first American order ever chartered by an Act of Congress. Bellows Falls Order No. 11 was granted on November 21, 1894 and charter members were C. W. Black, F. W. Coxe, J. H. Cross, J. A. Goodspeed, M. D. Ingham, D. T. Lawrence, F. L. Lovell, L. C. Lovell, J. L. Simonds, L. P. Sprague, F. W. Stevens, A. M. Thatcher, F. L. Wilbur. New rooms were dedicated in 1923 on the third floor of the Brown block which they had purchased. Before that, meet- ings were held on the top floor of Centennial block. However, depression came along, the property passed out of their hands and the Charter and books were returned to the Grand Lodge on June 30, 1947. The lodge continued to be inactive until April 24, 1955 when it was reorganized and the original Charter and books returned. This order which embraces more than 3,000 subordinate lodges in the United States, was founded, like the ideals of the Knights of olden times, on the higher attributes of man's nature including Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. The order provides opportunities for manifold
150
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
service and a proud heritage leading men to higher ideals in life. Officers for 1956 are Walter Morse, C.C .; Lewis Bemis, V.C .; Wesley Nies, Prelate; Harry Blanchard, M.ofW .; Frank Woodbury, Secretary; Ray Brown, Financial Secretary; Alfred Pennock, Treasurer; Howard Rhoades, M.ofA .; Herman Cow- ing, L.G. and John McIntire, O.G.
EASTERN STAR, Alpha Chapter No. 53 has been active since 1902 when, on May 27, it was instituted. The first meet- ings were held in the old Masonic Hall in the northeast corner of the third story in the Union block. After the Masons bought the Flint property, the Star held its first meeting there March 4, 1910. Of the many projects carried on by this organization, the largest is the Eastern Star Home in Randolph, Vt., sup- ported entirely by the chapters in the state. It contributes to an International Religious Training Fund and during the W.W. II, the Banquet Hall at the Temple was used for Red Cross work where local women met to roll bandages and per- form similar duties under the leadership of Mrs. E. S. Whit- comb. Present officers are Mrs. Ruth Jones, Worthy Matron; Herbert Burchstead, Worthy Patron; Mrs. Frances Galatis, Assistant Matron; Mrs. Edythe Sanborn, Secretary; Mrs. Victoria Story, Treasurer; Mrs. Zoay Buxton, Conductress; Miss Ruth Bartlett, Assistant Conductress; Mrs. Ida Rousseau, Chaplain; Mrs. Ada Jeffrey, Marshal; Mrs. Bertha Swift, Organist.
WOMEN OF THE MOOSE. Started in 1949 with 40 charter members and Cora Patton as Senior Regent and Elaine Dexter, Junior Regent, the present membership is 130. Myrtle Capron of the Bellows Falls Chapter is Deputy Grand Regent of Vermont. Officers for the present year are Dorothy Doyle, Junior Graduate Regent; Anna Thomas, Senior Regent; Cora Patton, Junior Regent; Doris Lamb, Chaplain; Helen Kawaky, Treasurer; Harriet Kilbourn, Recorder; Stella Golec, Pianist; Jane Donzello, Guide; Bertha Murray, Assistant Guide; Anna Morse, Argus; Rita Sakevich, Sentinel.
The VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS AUXILIARY No. 10,037 to the Bertrand and Robert Roby Post, was organ- ized March 29, 1953 with 30 charter members. First officers were President, Mrs. Stella Golec; Senior Vice President, Mrs. Edna Robbins; Junior Vice President, Mrs. Annette Klick; Secretary, Mrs. Lydia Herrick; Treasurer, Mrs. Ellen Aumand; Chaplain, Mrs. Belle Taylor. Present officers are President, Mrs. Stella Golec; Senior Vice President, Mrs. Blanche Keefe; Junior Vice President, Mrs. Mary Nichols; Treasurer Mrs. Marguerite Tidd; Secretary, Mrs. Ada Searle; Chaplain, Mrs. Anne Tidd. The Auxiliary helps with Voluntary work at the White River Hospital for Veterans and conducts Civil Defense courses in town and organizes various youth activities including the Patriotic Information Center in the V.F.W. room
151
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
The WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS aids veterans of all wars and is the oldest allied women's patriotic order in existence being auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. The Charter of E. H. Stoughton Post, W.R.C. No. 8 was granted March 24, 1885 with 46 members which grew rapidly. Mrs. E. W. Chapin was the first President and in 1936 there was a membership of 69 which met twice a month. As the Grand Army of the Republic dwindled over the years, so did member- ship in the W.R.C. In February, 1926, only 8 of a former 150 members of the G.A.R. were living in town and finally there were only two, W. L. Mandigo and W. H. Pierce. Mr. Mandigo died in 1932. The Auxiliary was founded to assist Grand Army veterans, nurses and their dependents. The only surviving G.A.R. member today is Senior Vice Commander- in-Chief, Albert Woolson, of Duluth, Minn. who was 108 years old in 1955. The last living charter member of the local W.R.C. was Mrs. Mary Kemp. The order has always been active, contributing to the Soldiers' Home in Bennington, presenting flags to all schools each year and it gave the American Legion its first flag and fights narcotics. It assists the Veterans' Hos- pital at White River, presents scholarships and it was instru- mental in having the Soldiers Monument placed in Oak Hill Cemetery. The G.A.R. and the Corps were the first societies in the north to celebrate Memorial Day with decoration of soldiers' graves. Today there are 47 members who still meet twice a month in a room over the Opera House which, by an ancient edict, they may occupy, rent-free, forever. Present officers are President, Virginia Furgat; Secretary, Ann Morse; Treasurer, Inez Illingworth.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.