The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-11-06
Local Postscript.
A sUMMERER's VIEW.

or srattleboro and its Attractions = It's
wonderful Drives-Its Public Spirit, Its
Musical Culture and Its Hotel.
[Prof. Frankenstelp In Turf, Field and
Farm.l
pubUc high school building, of which
even New York City might be proud. stands
on a knoll, with spacious lawn and play
ground surrounding It. Near by Is an ee.
CANT (crculating) library building containing
at the present time about 5000 volumes, with
a museum In the basement floor. II was en-
lowed ana donated to the uses OF Brattleboro
by the late Mr.. Brooks, the builder and for
mer proprietor of the Brooks house.
The village has arommon, or park, of seven
or eight acres within 1t, In the midst of which
stands soldiers monument, erected to the
memory of the defenders of the Union. The
CrOwel Park on the hill, forming the west
border of the village Is finely wooded forest,
mainly of stately pines, comprising an area OF
some 30 or 40 acres. Viewed as park that
should be owned and controlled by the au.
thorities of the community, II might be re.
garded as a treasure to be coveted. possessed
and forever devoted to public uses: and 1t
seems to me that BrattlebOro should take
early steps TO secure this inestimabe boon so
generously provided to Its hand by bountiful
Nature. 1t Is owned by Mr.. Crowell, who
bought IL a number of years ago with the
partial proceeds Of an extraordinarily sue
ceSsful news paper enterprise, which st,mu'
lated him to acquire this fine piece of proper
ty. maintain 1t and give Its use to Brattleboro
gratis. He has besides constructed resel-
voir for the collection of pure water conduct
ed from springs originating in still higher
eminences mile or two distant. lie has also
erected large castellated building Tor the
accommodation of "fresh air Children" a.
the phrase mas 1t. Here, for number OF
years past, little children, boys and girls. have
been brought from New York and other
cities during the hot months to get taste Of
fresh air, and having the liberty of roaming
through the woods and of having gladstone
picnics: all at the liberal.hearted proprietor's
expense. have been told that the fresh air
enterprise has been more especially conduct.
ed under the superintendent of Mrs. Crow
ell, who Is In happy accord with her hus-
bands phlanthropic inclinatiOns. | will not
attempt now to describe the family mansion.
which also stands on commanding slope OF
the hill. Mr.. Crowell has made many changes
In the construction and arrangement OF the
interior, and 1t Is now considered by some to
he the finest family residence In the state OF
Vermont.
Brattleboro has all the latest improvements,
inventions and appliances found In the great
est cities, such as electric lights electric belts,
electric buttons. fire alarms, telephone con-
nectiOns throughout the town, and to Boston,
Springfield and New York, Burlington. Ben.
nington, and other Vermont towns. 1t has
asphalt sidewalks, and facilities for the col
lection and de livery of mail matter unusually
admirable; the latter advantages attributable
las l was frequently informed by denlzens)
to the intelligence, energy and personal effort
of Postmaster F. w. Childs.
The Village Improvement society, volun-
tary organized body. headed by that public
spirited citizen, merchant N. |. Hawley, has
caused triangular flower beds to be made at
the intersections of streets. and the sidewalks
and streets to be bordered with sod. lendirga
ln1,a tn hi 1nuA lu nv n g
1t Is In its foliage Enforcement on the right
bank Of that most picturesque of streams the
Connecticut river. and interlaced as 1t were
by several mountain brooks and other water
courses, among the largest OF which Is west
ri, err, beautifed by cascades, waterfalls and
rapids, affording many of them as exquisite
subjects as have been ever been tempted to
delineate with pen or BRUSH Another very
provident fact l must here mention Is the
walks and drives that have been constructed
and maintained, not only through the agency
of the general laws Of stale and county, but
by private contributions and effort as well.
These walks and avenues are conducted over
bridges, and alongside the romantic streams
to which allusion has just been made.
In respect to the number and variety of Its
roads Brattleboro eXcels all the summer re.
sorts that have hitherto visited. TO enumer-
ate all the places OF interest In the vicinity OF
BrattlebOrO to which these avenues lead
would take more time and space than can at
present be devoted to them, and l will mem
ton but few. Ames' Hill, seven miles west,
and Wiccopee Hill, nine miles northwest,
both command extensive and magnificent
views. for the enjoyment of which am in.
debted to the discrimination and kindness of
Leroy Adams, one of the proprietors of the
Brooks House. Lying three miles north of
the town is the hill known by the name of
the Bliss Farm. A quarter of mile further.
and little to the east, Is the Balestter farm
and mansion, which latter contains a fine
private library and many rare books of art;
It's front piazza is a special point of vantage;
for, to the south the valley of the Connecticut
can be seen stretching away to The distant
Mortified mountains, hitherward of which
the noted Moody schools, church and other
buildings can be spied, nearer yet Wantas.
tiquet Mountain On. H. rising loftily and
luXurianty from the waters edge. left bank
of the Connecticut, while Immediately oppos.
lite, the church spires and houses OF Brattle-
boro mark the site of the village; meanwhile
the silver and azure CLEANS of the river come
sweetly and charmingly to the eye.
Where'er the fair pellucid stream
Is lighted by the solar beam.
The popularity of Brattleboro with tourists,
coaching parties and sojourners, has been
steadily increasing since Messrs. Crosby &
Adams purchased the Brooks House three |
years ago, and by tie intelligent expenditure
of some $4,000, raised 1t to the standard Of a
first class city hotel. They introduced an
elevator, gas and electric lights, an improved
system of plumbing, steam heat, thoroughly |
refurnished Qn the most comfortable and ele- |
CANT style) Its hundred and fifty lofty rooms, |
each of which is provided with an electric
bell and both electric and gas lights. The house
has a dining room capable of accommodating
from one hundred and fifty 10 two hundred
guests. 1t is supplied with pure water con- |
Quoted from ever.fowlng springs, the excly- |
slve property of the house. The summer |
just passed has been its most prosperous sea- |
ssh. 1t was filled until the twentieth of Oc-
tober, and on several occasions. for fort
night at time, the demand for rooms was SO
great as to compel the colonization of a score |
or more Of visitors night. Before left,
Oct. "a, was informed that a number of
rooms lad already been engaged for the next
regular season, commencing In June. The
house is kept open all the year round, how
ever, and there were still fifty to seventy-five
guests, many of whom are likely to remain
all winter. as am told the attractions of the
frozen season Tin their peculiar way, rival
those Of the seasons of bud and bloom. As
for the table, Messrs. Crosby e. Adams spare
neither pains nor expense to bring the bill of
fare Tin quantity, quality and Variety, up to
the demands of the most exacting and fastid-
ious tastes. And as to beverages, aside from
tea and coffee, Vermont Is prohibition state
but, happily, the town agency Is near at
hand In fact, just across the way. and agent
Richardson attentively and politely sees to
personal calls, supplying whatever fluid may
be required to restore tagging spirit to a
of beatifc sanity. The rest can
slake their raging thirst In purest water, with
which 1t Is well known Brattleboro abounds.
In the way of entertainments, public aud
private. such as church fairs and lawn par
ties, dramatic and musical and literary diver
sions, this village can take the champion bou-
luet and wreath. In musical intent and de-
sire. at least IL Is remark able and m zeal