Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-08
THE NEW TOWN HALL
Plans which Are Contemplated

to he Carried Out---See what S3"'OOO
would DO.
Brattleboro needs remOdeled town hall
more than any other single improvement 10
level up to the eminence which in most
things is hers. The change is demanded
i'm the interest of good business principles,
public pride, and the educating and elevat-
ing effect upon the people who compose
this community
The situation is as if an individual had
a piece of property, formerly remunerauVe,
but now gradually falling into disrepute
because not equal TO the demands made
upon it under the changed condition of the
times. In order to increase or even to
maintain its revenue it must be brought up
to date This, in addition to the pride
that Brattleboro usually has in leading,
rather than trailing at the end of the pro-
cession, and of other considerations.
Our present hall is said to be the poorest
possessed by any New England town of
the size of Brattleboro. 1t is bare and
dingy, dstasteful to the eye; its stage is
low and inadequate for the proper present
alton of the attractions whicl naturally
come here its seating capacity is limited /;
its acoustic properties defective, il is poorly
heated, lily ventilated. In short, 1t is big
barn, relic of a by-gone generation, and
nothing more. Nobody will pretend that
improvement is not needed. This being
the case, the only question is the extent
and manner of the improvement.
Fortunately the site is the best possible.
The walls and foundations were built to
stay and are equal to any superstructure
that may be placed upon them. Plans are
proposed which contemplate changes that
would cost $1,000 to $4,000. We believe
such an expenditure would be unwise, and
in the end would prove to be money
thrown away, Better put up with our
present quarters for a few years and then
build Alright. Greenfield tried such an eX-
pertinent ten years ago, expended $4,000
and today kicks at the action of the past,
and kicks still harder at what it has for a
hall. Keene, too, is under similar expe-
rience.
Public spirited citizens, after studying
the subject carefully, consulted the New
York architectural firm of McElfatrick d
Son who designed nearly all the theatres
of that city, the fremont, the Keith and
others in Boston, the new Court Square at
Springfield, and many Others in all parts of
the country. This firm makes a specially
of theatrical designing, in which it stands
at the head. The best plan drawn by Nc
Elfatrick Il Son contempates an addition
of 30 feet to the rear and II to the front of
the present hall. This would give an at
tractive front out even with the other
buildings on Main street. The building
would be entered 10y single step and the
entrance to the hall would be from this
floor. This hall would be of regular opera
house style, with seating capacity of $50
vi of hn I,I,l ia
made to accommodate about 1900. 1t would
be the finest opera house in Vermont,
equal to others which have cost as high as
SO 900, and would be complete in all its
appointments. 1t would have main floor.
orchestra chairs, boxes, balcony and gal
lery.
The height from the ceiling to the floor
would be II feet The stage opening would
be Is feet, instead of IL as at present. 1t
would have depth of 30 feet and the
height from the stage floor to the rigging
loft would be - feet. From the lobby,
stairs would run up each side to the gal
leries. There would be waiting rooms.
toilet rooms, etc, and in fact, all conven-
fences found in buildings of the latest de-
sign. From the stairways leading to the
gallery one could also pass into a second
hall, in front of the building. This would
be square in shape, only three feet shorter
and OF the same width as the present town
hall. 1t would be- used for town and viii
10 tba min ian ti,rl - u"uces' t,c
instead of ono as ,,,,. "oe''u oe HIue eAits'
IOOO neorle couII ,l,'.' "i!'' IA as Oh Hre
in three minutes.
is onIv go 7rbiiF =; VI li'e present nan
IN I'd h,, cror,ii,,, - Increased
fort and nosi,ira j.,' 'rg pom; ,i, VI ulSco'n-
would ocoi,,,,o'l,.s foGo te ne" HdH
coufo,t tha i'oo peoPe win more
The boiIer nn,, f, ,,.,,i =, "'ie Noe5 '2u'
nnsatisfactorv W t,,',.s. no 'He nan Is
tha frst door ,ha 'iDo''''S lil'9 DE 'd on
At present the snnnnr1s ~, .i' any case
of bricI lilo tbnsa -; - IN ~ JHg 'rlIar are
before the colIans, and ,'i, ''l o"IIdlhg
is in the hal tbo A l,iu "'.eii "I-e crowd
some of the doors o., 'V H. Sue e. SO lar that
be opened, The nran"- 'o moor cannot
,,i,io 80 40 ne proposed plans would pro-
repipino of tba hnilIjim,, s, Doi'eI' complete
and Gas liohfs e,n H. ~ n'siiss oI electric
would he f9IIv Ne laroo ~. nc .ooil LOT olhces
The cost TO- aiye Rr,, 81 a. present sent
vi al thIs would be 80, 900, according to
Horne. the bni,5nr r " ,nLa ana OF Mr.
Metronolitan Onara I'M WIZ ienIoueled the
He was here IN Iooi' oT o't ~ IL NV ork'
week. The soy 600 cn,iIS Tue I pnuiIulnS TINS
4 per cent for ~ yoors ''I o.. Ue borrowed at
than pay for itself We nnw o% %o.,.u niOre
night for the use of the hall AfSt Al
hans with ON - man AZ o. Al
what we would have the cboroa ~ i, .. 70