Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-21

With the exception of the interior fur
deaf, dumb and blind, which has been
erected in the western part of the viii
lage of Brattleboro as the result of a
bequest by Col William Austine of this
town and a generous appropriation by
the state of Vermont, practically is COM
pleted. Some grading remains to be
done and there are some minor details
to be carried into effect before the struc-
ture is officially accepted from the con-
tractors, but the trustees are going
ahead with preparations for opening the
school next fall and have engaged
principal to take charge.
One who has not visited the spot
chosen for the site of the institution
scarcely can picture the imposing effect
which the building gives or the beauty
of the view which the location COM
mands. 1t is on an eminence overlook
ing the, Connecticut valley, facing Wan
tasti1Ret mountain on the east. Ball
mountain and the mountains beyond
West Dummerston may be seen on the
north and an unobstructed view of pic
turesque mountain scenery extending
from that point to beyond Mortified,
Mass, on the south is afforded. The
building itself gives one an impression
of rugged durability and feeling that
it is peculiarly well suited, both in con-
struction and location, for the purposes
for which it is designed. Eminently
fitting also is the material-rough brick
and granitet-of which the institution
has been built Pressed brick or ma
terial other than that which has been
used, would have been out of harmony
with the natural surroundings. The
effect is exactly what the architect de-
sired.
The president of the board of trustees
Is DR.. Henry d. Holton, and while the
entire board has rendered efficient SER
vice in every way possible, DR.. Holton
has given his personal attention to every
detail in connection with the establish
ment of the institution, and the result Is
an edifice which is a distinct credit to
the trustees, to Brattleboro and to Ver-
mont. The board consists of DR.. Hol-
ton, Selectman ]. G. Stafford, George c.
Averill, Dr. George r. Anderson, DR..
w. H. Lane and Herbert B. Chamber
lain.
Miss Helen G. Throckmorton has been
engaged as principal. Miss Throck-
morton was for ten years associated
with Miss Yale, principal of the Clark
Institute at Northampton, Mass. Sub
sequently she went to West Virginia to
aid in the establishment of similar
school in that state. Since then she
has been with the Mount Airy Institute
in Philadelphia. DR.. Holton has asked
Gov. John A. Mead to send him the
names. ages and other particulars re-
garding the individuals who are to be
transferred from other schools to the
Austine Institution. In his letter to
Governor Mead DIR. Holton wrote: ut Is
the intent of the trustees of the Austine
Institution to make this a first class up
to-date school for the wards OF this
state, who are now in institutions in
IL
cared for in the past. AS this state has
established this school for the care of
those unfortunate children. we shall be
pleased to receive them
bequest of $4,000 was made by Col.
William Austine. retired army officer
who died in the Brooks House Sept A.,
1904, to the town of Brattleboro sin trust
toward the establishment of a hospital
in said town for the temporary treatment
of strangers and local invalids peculiarly
situated" By legisla tive enactment
THE Austine Sanitarium" was chartered.
In 1908 the name was changed to 1.-The
Austine Institution" The trustees be-
came satisfied of the imprac ticability of
investing and administering the fund for
the specific purposes named by the tes-
tator, and the court of chancery, ny
agreement with Howard NJ Eustis of
Mobile, Ala, nephew and residuary lega-
tee, empowered the trustees to use the
fund for carrying on here an institution
such as has now been established
The trustees bought the Thayer farm
on Maple street, consisting of 200 acres,
with view to erecting thereon a sub
stantial structure for the purposes oe-
cided upon The farm was paid for out
of the income of the fund, without dis
turbing the principal. The legislature of
1910 appropriated $4,000 for erecting the
building, upon condition that the institu-
ton contract to the satisfaction of the
governor that 1t will at all times receive
take, instruct and care for, at actual cost
SUI b. deaf and dumb children as the
governor may designate under chapter
1863 of the Public Statutes, to be received
by said corporation provided also that
the income of the $4,000 held by the
trustees be used according to the decree
in chancery.
The contract for erecting the building
was awarded to Kennedy & Peterson OF
Boston August 9. 1911. The first shovel
full of excavation was taken ont nv Dr