Athenaeum Hall, 2010

A dropped ceiling, installed for energy conservation and "because it was the fashion," hid the painted ceiling of Athenaeum Hall for decades in the 20th century. Here it is today; wish we had a photo of it from 1872!

Fairbanks History Specific to Athenaeum Hall Lectures

The Athenaeum Hall was intended to be auxiliary to the educative use of the library. Series of popular lectures of special  interest were provided : Dr. John Lord gave ten which are now  included in his Beacon Lights of History ; Prof. John Fiske gave a  course on American History; Prof. W. D. Gunning a series on the  Life History of our Planet. Lectures and concerts have been  given under auspices of our home institutions. The Hall was designed to serve the public benefit only, and no entertainment for  personal profit has ever been admitted. (p. 323)

President Harrison Visits St Johnsbury

President Benjamin Harrison arrived on the train, Aug. 26, 1891, accompanied by Sen. Redfield Proctor and party; "was escorted by 800 citizens with banners and musci to Underclyffe, wehre entertainment was given by Col. Franklin Fairbanks. In the evening, which was brilliant with flags and swinging lanterns, the President adddressed 15,000 people from the front balcony of the Athenaeum." (Fairbanks St J history p. 385)

Right after this, there's a portion of Harrison's speech, which I think might do quite nicely as a handout  -- would appreciate your opinions on it:

"I am most happy to witness in this prosperous New England town so many evidences that your community is intelligent, industrious, enterprising,  and your people lovers of home and of order. You have here manufacturing  establishments whose fame and products have spread throughout the world.  You have here public-spirited citizens who have established institutions that  will be ministering to the good of generations to come. You have here an  intelligent and educated class of skilled workmen; nothing pleased me more  as I passed through your streets today than to be told that here and there were the homes of the working people of St. Johnsbury, homes where every  evidence of comfort was apparent, homes where taste has been brought to  make attractive the abodes in which tired men sought rest, homes that must  have been made sweet for the children and comfortable for the wives whose  place of toil and responsibility is there. This is what binds men to good  order, to good citizenship, to the flag of the constitution; and I venture to  say that all our public policy, all our legislation, may wisely keep in view  the end of perpetuating an independent, contented, prosperous and hopeful  working-class in America."   

Any possibility of a picture of the (now gone) balcony??

Text of Speeches

We found some good lecture descriptions in the Caledonian today, including a nice set of notes on a presentation given by Thomas Nast, illustrator.

I've just received a book called The World's Great Speeches that includes speeches by the following members of the Fairbanks St J history p. 320 list: Henry M. Stanley (his Dark Continent speech), Henry Ward Beecher, Booker T. Washington. I also have Russell Conwell's speech "Acres of Diamonds" (he gave others as well). Any thoughts about how much of a given speech we might want typed up? Two or three paragraphs maybe?

Note that Bob has the Fairbanks speech from the opening of the Athenaeum.

How can we think about speeches in a way that fits with what the docents like to do? QUESTION: Should we invite the docent chairperson to our May 28 session, to help us think about this?

Work Meeting, May 14: Hand survey of 4 bound volumes of Caledonian Record

This worked out really well, with each of us taking a volume. Important discovery in terms of logistics: These early years (1872-1874?) always have the local news on p. 3. Also, we figured out that the Lecture Committee planned speakers for the town's YMCA hall (Colonial building at this time) and that there was a Town Hall with an auditorium.

Recapping decisions: (1) We think we'll spread our view over lectures/guests at the vanished YMCA and Town Hall buildings as well, to incorporate the interesting names -- and with the belief that for many of these, there may have been an Athenaeum Hall reception. (2) I'll start gathering images online, and will send them to Bob for future printing. Anyone else who spots a good image (like Shara's geography lecturer's book image), send them to Bob also. (3) We'll incorporate Edward Fairbanks's list of lecturers from p. 320 in the St J history as a baseline list of noted people who spoke here in town.


Next work session in person, Friday May 28, 8:30 a.m., at the Athenaeum.

H M Stanley NYC lecture

Found and ordered a copy of a book containing one of Stanley's speeches. BK

Commodore Peary's Arctic Trip 1908-1909

Considering the dates, I suspect Commodore Peary's visit was AFTER the period we're working on. BK

Henry M. Stanley: Part of Major Pond's Lecture Bureau

Confirmed through NYTimes article of Dec 13, 1886, that Stanley's US tour at that time was by contract with Major Pond (see earlier post about Pond's lecture bureau). BK

"Mrs. General Custer" - Biographer

I've just e-mailed a note to Mrs. Custer's biographer, Professor Leckie, asking for help finding one of the lecture texts (or any other material related to Libbie's visit to Vermont).

Reminder: We are meeting at the Athenaeum on Friday 5/14 at 8:30 a.m. to look though bound copies of the Caledonian-Record from our period.