Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-11-08
CHESHIRE COUNTY. N. II.
HINSDALE.


! The new town hall was dedicated Wednes-
day with appropriate ceremonies, well aHend-
ed. They consisted Of dedicltory PRAYER by
Rev W + White of the Congregational church
address by Principal d l. Fisher of the high
school: letter of regret from Gov Chester
Jordan who had been invited to deliver an
address address on "A free library in its rela.
ton to the community Oy DR. : Leonard OF
Hiusdae and an address on The public read
Ing room as Il means ofeducatiOn and culture
by A Cogher, chairman OF the board OF
control of the reading room. In behalf OF the
reading room he thanked Mr. George Z FISK
of Springfield Mass, \ VI Worden and the
thautauquan circle for valuable gifts for the
new room. In closing. he suggested the man
fest need of hereafter opening the public
/ library every evening in tue week, since the
two rooms were now virtually united. Mr.
/ Fisher. for the building committee. presented
the KEYS OF the building TO the chair
man Of the seecImen, Edward stebbins,
with appropriate words, and Mr. Stebbns
made brief but fitting response. The eXer-
/ cises closed with a benediction by Rev j
! Dean of the Methodist church. Bryants or
che,tra played appropriate selections during
! the afternoon.
! Many were present from keene. Bratte
boro, Northtield. Winchester and other
places and after the exercises large number
| inspected the hall. The ball in the evening
was a decided success Bryant's orchestra
gave concert from to 9, and furnished
music for the dan ing afterwards. supper
was served at the hotel Ashueot.
Hlnsdae's first town hall was built in 1874.
/ The second. which was destroyed Oy fire in
| January, 1900, was erected in ls,s. The
present ball was begun in September. 1900
| II is built of brick, has a foundation of Mon
son granite, with sandstone and terTa-cotta
trimmings; the ground size is % by 50 feet.
and its height to the top of the spire is ll6
feet. The auditorium is handsomely finished
with a circular gallery which includes three
sides. stage,20 feet in depth, rock maple floor
! and opera chairs, and will seat $50 comfort
ably, The stage has an asbestos iireproof car
tain and varied assortment of scenery, the
gift of John ID Hooker of Los Angeles, Cal.
At the rear of the stage is mezzanne story,
with four dressing rooms. The entire east
side of the lower story is occupied as a store
BY q Howe. On the west-sde front are
the public library and reading room, and be-
hind these the selectmen's room. with fire.
proof vault. A hallway extends tn ough the
center Of the building on this floor. There
are practically three methods of egress from
the hall In case of fire or accident, beside the
main entrance. In the basement on the east
side is the polling room, which, besides its
uses on election aud town meeting days, can
be converted into a supper-room to seat 100.
Back OF this the gas and boiler-room, with
two sectional boilers. Two springs of pure
water supply the hall, and there is likewise
large pipe that can be connected with the
steam-pump at Brightwood mills in case Of
fire. The ball is piped for either gas or cleo
| tricity.
The bell in the tower, former gift of the
| late William II Halle of Springfield, Mass,
was only damaged At the time of the conf1agrs-
ton and was recast by bis order and at his
expense, and bears his name as the girer.
The clock is the gift of the Robertson broth
ers, the illuminated dial and fixtures being
bought with the insurance obtained. The
| library and reading room have entire new
Furnishings from the library bureau of Bos-
ton. The reading room has four tables OF
quartered oak, 2s chairs and newspaper
rack.
| on the walls Of the reading room are an
oil painting, midst Bygone Days" presented
BY Mrs Geo Fiske; mounted deer
head. the gift ON NJ Worden, and bust OF
Washington from the local Chautauqus
circle. The expense of the new hall will not
be less than $4,000