Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-05-17
BRICK CHURCH SITE
Selected by Architect z. N. .6oyden for
Lecture Hall and Parish House.

Lecture Hall and Parish House.
/ Col. A. B. Chandler, whose offer OF al
least 10000 for an auditorium to be built
+ in connection with q parish house for
Bethany church met with a cordial
acceptance by the church society two
weeks ago, had his architect, Ernest \,
+ Boyden OF Boston, here Friday ana Saiur-
day to decide which OF the two church
Z buildings should be replaced by the new
structure II had been a unanimous vote
OF the society 10 leave the settlement OF
this question to the architect, who would
be aole to deal with IL from an un-
prejudieed and purely professional point
OF view. The result OF Mr.. BOy0en's
comparison of the two sites WAS made
known 20 the congregation Sunday morn-
I ing in this letter.
Randolph, VI. May l2, 1906.
To the trustees ofthe Bethany church
society.
GENTLEMEN
In response to a request OF Col.
Albert b. Chandler TO give my opinion
as to the disposition OF the two church
properties belonging 10 the said society,
respectfully submit the following
Have measured both lots and flnd Il
impracticable to place the proposed
Lecture hall and parish building on the
White church lot ON account OF the con-
tracted area.
On the contrary, there is ample room on
the Brick church lot 10 carry out the ideas
/ OF both Mr.. Chandler and the trustees,
which can readily be seen by reference TO
the scale plans showing dimensions and
/ shapes Of the two lots.
Yours very truly,
ERNEST n. BoYDEN.
! The measurements OF Mr.. Boyden show
/ that the White church lot, from a 'front.'
1 age of 81 feet on Main street, tapers back
to 81 feet at the rear, and. allowing II 10
/ extend within Is feet OF the White church
parsonage, has depth OF i49 2 feet.
/ The Brick church lot, from the founda-
+ tion Of the present edifice to the north
\ line, has a frontage Of i2l feet and a
depth Of 113 feet, that can be increas ed to
+ 119 feet by putting IN wall. It's long
I front extension and even outline make il
I by far the more desirable site for such q
/ building as the one proposed.
The architect could see no choiee for
purposes Of worship between the two
| houses as they at present stand, and so
| based his decision on the location that
would better accommodate the parish
houseand auditorium.
I While the destruction OF the old Brick
| church must OF Necessity sorely grieFe
those who have worshipped within its
walls and their fathers before them, yet
this sacrifice OF personal feeling would uns
doubtedly have been required sometime OF
I those attached to one or the other OF the
I two church homes and might have been
demanded when solution OF the question
so advantageous to the whole community
could not be found. Furthermore, the
I household Of faith sheltered under one
roof viii exemplify to the world a closer
fellowship and a more stable uniss,
The present plan is to have the new
4 building IS feel across the front and 100
feet deep. The lecture hail, 81 feet front
aud 100 feet deep, viii be al on the groui 4
floor and finished up to the roof. 4 foyer,
ars Had -. aud rFH
/ capable OF seating 700 people. $50 on the
floor OF the house and $50 m the gallery.
a stage with wings win occupy one end
and will be 20 feet deep. on from the
4 foyer will be toilet aud dressing rooms
On the other side Of a fire-proof WALL
/ will be the parish house divided into two
/ stories and a basement. This part OF tho
structure will set back about five feet for
architectural effect, making its dimensions
24x95 feet. The large basement, after fur-
mace and bin room has been taken out,
will be reserved for some future use. The
( first floor. 1t is thought, will be made into
parlors, dining room and kitchen, and the
upper part into three large rooms sepe-
rated by movable doors, that viii enable
the apartments TO be thrown into one big
assembly room, when desired. Closed
from each other by the doors, one Of them
can be used by the ladies' society, another
for the young peoples meetings and
third as place for the men OF the church
to come together. The interior arrange-
ments OF the parish house, however, ara
not definitely settled and may vary widriy
from the plan outlined above.
The building will set as near The north
line as possible, leaving only space Tor an
IS. foot driveway, perhaps, on that side.
The voting mem bers of Bethany church
are warned 20 assemble in Ia business meet
ing in the auditorium Of the Brick church
Monday evening, the 2Sth, to hear and act
upon the report OF the trustees in regard
to the erection of parish house, and To
see IL the church will authorize the truss
tees to sell the White church parsonage
with the land properly appurtenant there's
to in order to use the proceeds OF the sale
for the erection OF such parish house.