Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-07-12
PARISH HOUSE ON
WELLS HALL SITE
Funds for Building Raised by
Unitarians
Dining Room and Audience Room VIII
Be Main Features-Structure viii Har-
monlze With Church.

Be Main Features-Structure VIII Har-
monlze With Church.
A parish house will be erected to meet
the needs of the Unitarian Congrega-
tlonal society of Brattleboro. This was
decided upon in meeting of the parish
in Wells hall Wednesday night. The
building. which will be the first strictly
parish house in town, will be erected
on the site of Wells hall, in the rear of
the church at the corner of Main and
Grove streets, and a gratifying fact in
connection with the project is that all
the funds needed for the building, not
including the equipment, have been
raised in cash subscriptions and pledges
by parish house committee elected
several weeks ago to secure plans. This
committee consists of Charles H. Pratt,
Mr.. and Mrs. e. B. Smith, Mrs. John D.
Barrows and Rev. E. O. s. Osgood.
The meeting Wednesday was called to
hear the report of the committee. Rev.
Mr.. Osgood was elected moderator and
Charles II. Pratt was elected clerk. The
report was given by Mr.. Pratt chair
man of the committee who stated that
plans had been prepared by Harry X.
T White of New York, formerly of this
town, a member of the architectural
firm of Wilder & White. and gave an
outline of what the plans provided. He
also stated what the approximate cost
would be and that Mr.. White was now
working on the specifications.
The report was accepted and adopted
and building committee was elected,
consisting of DIR. s. f. Lawton, chair
man, Charles H. Pratt, E. B. Smith,
Rev. f. Q. S. Osgood, Mrs. John d. Bar
rows and Mrs. Charles w. Durham. This
committee will go ahead with the work
at once, and it is their expectation to
have the new structure ready so that the
annual meeting of the parish may be
held within its walls next January. The
work of tearing down Wells hall will
be begun soon.
Mr.. Whites plans call for a building
so feet square and two stories high, be-
sides large basement in which a fur
mace will be located. The building will
harmonic with the church in appear
ance, the first story being built of
mountain stone. The second story will
be of wood, the exterior surface being
shingled A stone chimney will provide
a large open fireplace on both floors.
The entrance will be on Grove street.
The first story will be devoted mainly
to dining room purposes, the main room
having a seating capacity of 125 per-
sons. A Kitchen serving room, cloak and
toilet rooms will be provided The upper
story will consist of an audience room
with seating capacity of 275 persons,
also a small stage with a dressing room
on each side.
Material of first class quality and
workmanship of the best will be re-
quirej, and the house will be equipped
throughout with electric fixtures A
building of this kind will fill a need that
has been felt not only by the Unitarian
parish, but by organizations and inji-
viduals desiring a place for small gath
erings 1t is the expectation of the
parish to secure enough from rents to
pay the cost of maintenance
In raising funds the committee met
with a generous and willing response,
the contributions ranging from small
amounts to large sums and many for
mer members of the parish sending SUBJ
scriptions.