TRIBUTE GARDEN

As reported by the Millbrook Roundtable and Mirror on Friday, October 29^th, 1920.

The formal opening of the Millbrook Tribute Garden and Benediction of the Tribute Trees took place last Saturday afternoon, October 23 at the Tribute Garden situated at the foot of Franklin Avenue. Through the gen[e]rosity of Mr. and Mrs. Thorne this part of their estate has been given to the Village of Millbrook as a Tribute Garden to the men who served in the World’s War.

The day was all that could be defined, and as the people wended their way toward the Garden some with spades in their hands, Millbrook took on a holiday appearance.

The planting of the trees, commenced at 2 o’clock precisely, each person wishing to plant a tree drew a number, which was registered – then a guide took them to the spot designated on his card and commenced to plant the tree given to him.

Everything was done in a thoroughly orderly manner. After the planting of the trees, Millbrook Post in uniform under Lt. Thos. Rae D. S. C. headed by a band marched from its headquarters to the Court of Honor in the Tribute Garden where the formal opening took place. Following was the Programme: Hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers; Reading: Declaration of Independence, Rev. J. E. Lyall; Psalm 1; Lesson, The Revelation of St. John the Divine Chap. XXII verses 1 to 5 inclusive; Prayer; The Blessing; closing with the National anthem Star Spangled Banner. The officiating clergymen were Rev. Mr. Wilson and Rev. Mr. Lyall.

The guides were Misses Mary Flagler, Margaret Davison, Alys McLane, Katharine Wodell, Mrs. Gault, Mrs. Carle, Mrs. Flint, Memorial Trees, Mrs. Morgan Wing, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Wodell.

Committee on Refreshments – Mrs. Downing, Mrs. Merritt, Mrs. Compton, Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Tower, Mrs. Chesebrough, Mrs. Maclay, Miss Smith, Miss Lamont. Refreshments furnished by Paulus of Washington Hollow.

The Village of Millbrook are thankful to Mrs. Thorne for the beautiful Garden, and the painstaking efforts which have been used, to bring it to its present state; and this paper, along with the village of Millbrook echo with fervor the cheers for Mrs. Oakleigh Thorne with which the American Legion closed the exercises last Saturday afternoon