Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-13
A pUBL1O LIBRARY BUILDING

FOR BRATTLEBoRo THE PLEASANT ANNOUNCE
MENT WHICH MIR. GEORGE BROOKS MADE TO
HIS FRIENDS YESTERDAY.
1t is rarely that Brattleboro has heard 10
good piece of news az that which began TO
be talked OF upon the street last evening.
We refer to the announcement which Mr..
George j. Brooks made yesterday afternoon
to a few personal friends of his Intention TO
erect a substantial and handsome public IL
brary building on portion OF the Goodhue
estate on Main street, which he recently
bought, and present 1t TO the town. While
this purpose Is no new or sudden one with
Mr.. Brooks its details have not yet taken
definite shape ia his mind. For the present
he is only prepared TO say that It is his in
tention 10 erect on suitable portion Of the
north side Of the lot library building, finish
and furnish it In every way ready 10 receive
the books, and then make II over ~ free
gift to the people Of Brattleboro. As to the
design Of the building he can only say that it
will be OF ample size, aud that he means to
have its style Of architecture such rs TO mark
1t unmistakably as library building. Its ma.
terial will undoubtedly be pressed brick The
library proper will probably be only one
story high, reached by a flight Of granite
steps, but underneath will be a high base
ment containing in the rear the heating ap-
paratus with storage for fuel, ETC. in front
| will be eommodious committee rooms. The
library itself will occupy the rear portion Of
the main floor and fronting on the street
will be a handsome, and well lighted read
| ing room. In short, Mr.. Brooks'a contem-
plated gift is that Of public library building,
with all that the term implies.
After visiting several modern structures Of
this kind, Mr.. Brooks will put the whole mat
ter in the hands Of competent architect. So
| much ha honaq IN do hefOya laarin1 for Cali
fornia for the winter During the winter ell
plans and details will be completed under in
structions left by him, and il is his purpose
TO have work on the building begin as soon
as the season opens next year, and to CON-
plete 1t within year from the present date.
II need hardly be said that Mr.. Brooks
expects bis gift to be the receptacle of the
present free library, with such additions 81
may from time 10 time be made to It.
plain statement of the facts in regard tC
Me-. Brooks's intention toward his BrattleborC
townsmen is it's own best commentary on hi
munifcent purpose. As we have already said
the purpose is no sudden one with him. II,
has for years bad it in view, waiting for thu
time to come when a suitable piece of grounC
should come into the market for his contem
plated use. He il fully conscious Of the ben
etits which such q gift will bestow on tn,
young people OF this and coming generations
no less than OF the influence and chAraote
which ii will reflect upon the town itself. Fo
many years Brattleboro has counted such
gift among the first Of its needs. Its recep
ton from Mr.. Brooks's hand will put upoi
our community the stamp and seal Of tina
cultivation aud refinement which it Justly en-
joys by reputation, and 10 its use and enjoy
ment our people will have a double pleasur
in counting Mr.. Brooks Rs the chief of th
towns benefactors