Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-12-23
ARE NOT DISCOURAGED
Vermont Academy Trustees Will
Wage Campaign for Funds
Loan Of 900 viii Be Paid and New
Dormitory viii Be Built


academy, by fire Friday morning, first
news OF which was published in The
Phoenix, was a serious loss to the insti-
tuition, it is in no way regarded as a dis
enlargement by the trustees or friends
of old V. A. Plans already are under way
to put the academy on a firmer basis
than ever and new building will be
erected which will be more modern and
in every way superior to FarnswoTth
hall. a meeting of the trustees will be
held in Bellows Falls this afternoon to
arrange for paying the Indebtedness of
the academy to the Baptist state con-
Vention. The first subscriptions for pay
ing the debt have been received, and
from now on the trustees and friends of
the school will wage a vigorous cam
paign.
The calling of a mortgage loan by the
Baptist state convention came shortly be-
fore the fire, and the two burdens make
it necessary for all interested in the
academy to rally to its support Ten
years ago the convention loaned the
academy $4,000 for period of 10 years
without interest. The sentiment at that
time was that the loan would be renewed
on the same basis and that the money
would become in effect a part of the per-
manent funds of the institution. Re
Gently the convention has asked for the
money, and the academy will pay the
loan as soon as possible.
After the fire Principal George b. Law
son sent to Baptist churches a letter in
which he said: MY heart aches for the
teachers and boys who have lost every
thing. OF the thirty odd boys in Farms
worth hall ten are boys working their
way through and we must try to make
good to them, If not to others, part If
not all of their loss The First Baptist
church of this town acted. upon the sug-
gestion and received at the morning SER
vice an Offering of nearly $50, and the
amount since has been made up to 800
All the students who were burned out
will be accommodated at the beginning
of the next term. There were no recita-
ton rooms in Farnsworth hall, and the
work of classes will in no way be re-
tarded. Nothing essential to the run
ming of the academy has been lost, and
school will open as usual Jan. >.
The fire was first noticed by Mr.. Will
liams, visiting at the home Of John b.
Minard in the village He watched it
from his window for a time thinking 1t
was a light in the front corner Of the dor
mitory He finally remarked to his wife
that it seemed strange that a light should
be burning so late, and started out to
investigate. When he arrived the entire
front of the building was a mass of
flames on the inside. Thinking that the
boys We're still in the dormitory, he began
to shout at the top of his voice to awaken
them Much valuable time was lost in
his cries awoke the people in the Stur-
tevant house, which is the principals
residence. and Charles c. Tnlinghast, an
instructor who lives in the RouX cottage,
a little distance from FArnsworth
He rushed to Proctor hall, the dining
room, and, breaking the door, turned in
In the alarm by ringing the large bell.
Then an attempt was made to save
little of the property in the burning
building. Windows were broken in on
the western side farthest away from the
fire, and a few trunks, articles of furni-
ture, clothing and bedding was thrown
out. This work was carried on with
great difficulty. owing to the almost i'm
penetrable smoke which filled every crew
Ice of the building. The arrangement of
Farnsworth was such to render II a
veritable fire box when once the fire
gained Roadway
There were three long corridors, one
above the other running the entire
length of the building. The fire, starting
in the offices of the associate principal,
worked its way along these corridors.
turning them into alleys of fire. All of
the room doors were shut, thus shutting
off the rooms for a time from the fire
Itself, but allowing them to fill with dead
ly smoke. Just as soon as a door burned
through, the room was filled with fire on
the instant. Had there been boys in the
building their escape would have been
little short of miraculous.
A large number of townspeople an
swered the alarm, but all were helpless.
There was no water. because of the pres
ent shortage of water; and had there
been it We're useless to try to save the
building itself All attention was turned
to Fuller hall, and every attempt made to
insure its safety \ large number OF
people were set to work carrying the rec
ords of the academy and the valuable
papers from the school offices to a place
of safety. Men armed with fire extin-
guishers We're placed all over the build
ing, as all feared that the windows would
never stand the strain of the intense
heat. 1t was so hot that the woodwork
on the inside of Fuller hall was smoking
badly, but fortunately the windows held
and no draft could get through to fan
these hot places into flames The fact
that Fuller hall is slate shingled also
saved it from catching fire The articles
that had been saved from the burning
building We're at once moved into Proctor
hall.
The fierce wind carried sparks far and
wide over the village, and but for a
blanket of snow which covered the roofs.
many houses there doubtless would have
caught fire. AS it was, one dwelling
house caught fire on the roof, to be put
out with little difficulty, and other minor
fires were started. The volunteers We're
thus kept busy going back and forth be-
tween the hall and the village in an
attempt to keep the fire confined to its
starting place.
The loss is heavy. The building it.
self was worth 100000, partially insured
In 1t We're furnishings aggregating from
$4,000 to $4,000. In the basement were
many school supplies. stored there for
safe keeping. All of these are a loss
The heavy losers among the occupants of
the building were the teachers who lived
there, Associate Principle James p Taylor
lost valuable library, in addition TO
many valuable documents and papers
HIS loss Will amount to more than $1,000. |
Clarence B. Hill, of the science depart
ment also lost very valuable library.
His loss will approximate $1,000. Luther |
l. smith lost many books and valuable |
papers, as well as other effects His lost |
Will be several hundred dollars.
The boys who roomed in Farnsworth |
hall were John V. Piper, Hiland L. |
Squire, Hervey Triboet, the only boy to |
nave anything of value saved Herbert |
Lowe, Kenneth Lord, John Trott, s. GIL |
more Blankinship, George e. Ober, who |
lost the least of any one as he had |
taken many of the furnishings of his |
room home with him for vacation, Perry |
ana Hubert Aldrich, Allan White Rich |
ara Parker, Wardner Hayward, Everett |
Angus, Merrill Whitney, r. Donald Glib
son, John Dunlap, Ray Boardman, AL
word Nichols, John Shonion Marvin
Bowman, Avoids Miridjanan, John Fiery.
John Currier.
Farnsworth hall, originally the bows
dormitory when the academy was a CO.
educational hall, was built in 1880 by
private subscription. Among the large