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Thetford Academy, Seventy-Fifth Anniversary and Reunion, 1894

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Thetford Academy, Seventy-Fifth Anniversary and Reunion, 1894 V^xV^^V.xH^^^v^t o THETFORD ACADEMY. 1819 1894 THETFORD ACADEMY, THETFORD, VERMONT. SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AND REUNION. Thursday, June 28, 1894. EDITED BY GEN. JOHN EATON. CONCORD, N. H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1895. — COMMITTEE OF ALUMNI ON REUNION. Vermont— Hon. J. S. Morrill, George S. Worcester, Esq., Miss Margaret Fletcher, Miss Kate L. Dodge. New Hampshire— Hon. Ira Colby, Prof. T. W. D. Worthen, Mrs. S. A. Cobb, Mrs. H. S. Currier. Massachusetts—Hon. H. J. Boardman, Miss Eliza P. Hood, Mrs. I. B. Swift, Mrs. A. M. Clough. Rhode Island—Hon. T. W. Bicknell. Connecticut—Rev. William S. Palmer, D. D. New York Wilson Palmer, Esq. Washington, D. C.—Gen. John Eaton. COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES. Thomas W. Bicknell, 145 William Street, Providence, R. I. Prof. Thomas W. D. Worthen, Hanover, N. H. George S. Worcester, Thetford, Vt. 1501 It is natural that both those who were present at the Thetford Academy seventy-fifth anniversary and those who were not, should desire what is reported as nearly as possible as it occurred—a plain, unvarnished tale—therefore the day's pro- ceedings are given in their order. The first price named for the pamphlet would not, on the orders given, cover the cost of printing, and would not war- rant the publication. The price now named will barely do this, postage to be added. Fortunately the lowest prices have been secured for engraving and printing of illustration and text. ^ There has been no fund to draw upon. All the work of prepar- er ing for the anniversary and that of preparing the record has -^ been performed without compensation. The extended corre- spondence by different ones has been no little expense. The ^. reward must be the pleasure afforded those interested, and the ^Sl aid which it is hoped may accrue to the renewal of interest in "^ the Academy and its enlargement for the future. The fullness of "Notes of Doings " varies with the data furnished either by g. the persons themselves or by some friendly acquaintance, always ^ remembering that the whole has been subject to severe reduc- ".^ tion on account of the limited space allowed. The illustrations ^ may be said to be an afterthought. One and another expressed 6 a desire for Dr. Orcutt's picture, those wanted Mr. Hood's, and then others were asked for, when, after consideration, it was M decided to start a Thetford gallery and include all whose pict- ' ures would be furnished and the printing paid for either by ^ themselves or their friends. This entailed delay and a great Q amount of correspondence. No one can regret so much as the editor that dozens and dozens of others addressed by him, ,,j. have not responded favorably, or that space and expense have '^ so limited the notes attempted. How abundant and rich the 420840 material for a history ! The result is before you. In all this gathering of personalia there has been the feeling of special regret that so little can be given at this time to those loved ones who have left the school of life before us. May be, if the Academy rises in the future as we hope, there will be those personal records and aids which will render this possible. This publication can only attempt to be a report of the anniversary and of the personal doings furnished by those who have taken a greater or less degree of interest in it. Without this aid, the roll of the fourteen hundred students still alive would be im- possible. Brief and imperfect as it is, how many memories it will revive ! how many friendships renew ! May it all bring fruit in the renewed and prolonged vigor of the Academy. The Editor. : HOW IT CAME ABOUT. The survival of Thetford Academy, substantially without an endowment, through all depressions and vicissitudes, is under God a triumph of wisdom, devotion, and sacrifice. The story of the efforts of those who have stood by it can never be told. In their prayers and efforts they turned to the multitudes of former students. Several years ago George S. Worcester, Esq., consulted with Dr. S. C. Bartlett, president of Dartmouth col- lege, and later, at his own expense, went to Boston to confer with Hon. Messrs. Hood and Boardman, Drs. Orcutt and Bick- nell, and others. They encouraged his efforts and the result was Dr. Bicknell accepted the invitation to deliver an address at the closing exercises of the Academy in 1893. Friends began to look up lists of former students and solicit their attendance. A class of seven graduated. Some old friends gathered and letters came from others. All agreed something could and must be done. Messrs. Hood, Bicknell, Worthen, Churchill, Farr, and others made stirring speeches. Dr. Bicknell threw himself into the effort with his usual enthusiasm and read a poem at the banquet under the title of " The Old Mill," whose lessons were heartily appreciated. Its first and last stanzas were "'Twas only a day or so ago, I came by the old stone mill Where in boyhood's days I carried my grist. But the mill was grinding still. Thank God, I said, with all that's changed The old stones are grinding still. And memory blesses the golden day When I carried my grist to mill." It was unanimously voted to hold a reunion of former teachers and students in 1894. It was noted that Dr. Orcutt and all but 6 three of his successors were living, and it was hoped they would be present. Mr. Hood, who had been eight years connected with the academy as student and teacher, by his presence and en- couraging words added much to the strength of the movement. Immediately Mr. Worcester and his family began to secure the addresses of former students, and the committee led by Dr. Bicknell stirred up the enthusiasm by letters and circulars. THE DAY. Thursday, the 28th of June, 1894, the day appointed for the reunion, opened auspiciously. Those who had arrived the night before began their personal greetings at dawn. Old buildings and places of interest were visited. The arrival of extra coaches and private carriages constantly added to the happy multitude. Rev. Mr. Slade, a native of the hill, describes the scene. "As the hour of 11 a. m. arrived, the time appointed for the reception to former teachers in the old Academy Hall, the greetings of teachers and pupils was made the freest and heartiest gathering of that full day. The recognitions and hand-shakings began in front of the Academy and continued on the worn steps and up the crooked stairways. When the company finally reached the familiar hall and saw the old table and the well known black- boards and bell rope, and many of the old seats where their backs had ached in unison, it seemed as if the years had fled and they were back again at school. Yet old memories came so fast, dear faces were there that they loved when they were young, and had never ceased to love, and others as dear were invisible, whether to laugh or cry they hardly knew. On mo- tion of Dr. Bicknell, General Eaton was called to preside, and Rev. Wm. S. Palmer, D. D., offered prayer. General Eaton guided the introductions and greetings so that the whole occa- sion was kept on the glad side of the scales. And all knew each other very quickly, though perhaps separated by many terms in the life of the school. The old teachers, so far as present, each recalled some pleasant memory and gave a word of good cheer. Among those present we recall, Mr. F. W. Newell, the present principal, J. N. Mallary, Mr. French, Wm. S. Hazen, Mr. Hood, and Mr. Cummings, who brought his greeting in the evening. When " King Hiram," as the com- pany persisted in calling him, though he has many an honorable title attached to his name, arose there was such a hubbub as he never allowed within those walls. This welcome he returned with words so vigorous and full of friendship and good will that his old friends were confident he had sometime drunk of the fabled fountain of immortal youth. A few of the assistant teachers were present. Rev. Charles Caverno, Mrs. Carleton Frost, Miss Eliza P. Hood, Prof. Woodworth, Miss Etta F. Morse, with the present assistants. Miss Margaret Fletcher and Mrs. F. W. Newell. These and many other friends of the academy were present whom the genial General compelled at least to face the laughing company, while he gave their names and a pleasant word of introduction. No shorthand notes were taken of the speeches of the day. As an illustration of the brief responses in the hall, we are able to give the following substance of the remarks by Prof. Wood- worth of the University of North Dakota, and of Dr. Caverno of Colorado : Rev. Charles Caverno, LL. D., of Boulder, Colorado, spoke of the delight it gave him, after forty years of absence, to return to Thetford, and look once more on the familiar academy build- ings and the beautiful hill country round about. It was a joy beyond measure to meet some of the pupils with whom he had toiled in No. 3, over the rudiments of Latin, Greek, and the higher mathematics. It was here that he met her who after- wards became his wife, Abbie H. Smith of Waitsfield, who was also an assistant teacher during the year Mr. Caverno taught. She has gone to the reward of all faithful work here, but not till she had seen her children far advanced in their educational career.
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