The Day Dignitaries Came to Town

Old Home Day

August 25, 1948

A traditional Old Home Day (OHD) event was being planned for August 25, 1948. It would include sports contests, a horse show, square dancing exhibition, a village chicken pot pie supper, with the evening set aside for dancing. However, the US Postmaster General threw in a curve by announcing that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone Commemorative Stamp would be issued on that day. This transformed the event from a simple OHD to a day full of 50 dignitaries and a crowd of 4,000 people.

Originally, the Postal Service Department (now USPS) had rejected the stamp, sighting it had already issued a “glut” of 28 commemorative stamps. But President Truman intervened "for his friend" and authorized it. So, the Postal Service crowded its production of the stamps into the 5-weeks before the scheduled OHD events. In doing so, it avoided having to conduct its own ceremony.

For the two weeks before the event, the third floor of Brattleboro’s Post Office was busy with a small army (mostly women), sorting out complicated collectors' demand from all over the world for various types of first day covers, sheets, and blocks. Their work included making sure the money was received in the correct amount and form (no personal checks allowed) and that directions for placement of the stamps, sometimes in intricate designs, were followed. All this was packed up to be sent to Chesterfield for First Day cancellation. Afterward, the cancelled stamps would be returned to Brattleboro for mailing.

On August 25^th, Chesterfield handled 362,170 first day covers. A steady stream of vehicles between the two post offices kept up with the demand. Three types of canceling devices were used: two machines; four large rubber hand stamps; and one small rubber hand stamp with short, wavy bars and no text. It took two pairs of men alternately operating the canceling machines and three men using hand cancellation to complete the over 12-hour task. Postmaster Paul M. Penning later wrote it was “a tough spot to put a little office in.”

To add to the occasion, the town decided to pay tribute to Justice Stone by unveiling a bronze plaque mounted on a granite boulder outside his birthplace on Horseshoe Road. To help defray the cost, the Chesterfield Historical Committee created its first and only cachet. It was touted as the only official cachet for the stamp. The envelope sold for $.25 throughout the first day sales.

The dedication drew in dignitaries from numerous branches of the government and armed services, including several New England governors, senators, representatives, Supreme Court Justices from several states, and members of the Bar Associations. President Truman sent a letter to the town expressing his delight with the dedication service. A letter was read from General Eisenhower, who wasn't able to attend because he was on a western tour. NH Governor Dale presided over the ceremony. Associate Justices of the US Supreme Court Felix Frankfurter, Harold Burton and Stanley Reed attended, with Reed giving one of the two principal addresses. NH Senator Bridges gave the other. Included in the diplomatic seats were Stone’s Chesterfield born widow, Agnes (Harvey) Stone and ten members of his family.

The day was bright with temperatures reaching into the 90s. Fortunately traffic didn’t snarl even though cars filled a 4-acre field. The Press arrived from all over the country, firmly putting Chesterfield in front of the eyes of the nation. In town, writer Charles Tazwell manned the gas pumps while his actress wife Louise, dispensed soda. Supreme Court Justice Reed sold cachets outside the post office (right). Halfway through the OHD sports events, the public address system atop an old jeep conked out, but Kenneth Wiggin’s strong voice kept everyone informed. Before and after the dedication, noted dignitaries were treated to small town entertainment and dined with short-sleeved farmers. It was a monumental day in Chesterfield