The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-13
CARING FOR BARRE'S PARKS.
Part of Work Done BY Woman's Fed
Grafton Now Taken Over By City.

When Barre's new park commission
was created, the question was asked;
Where are the parks over which these
officers are to have supervsiong II
was learned that our park system con-
sisted of the common, Curricr park, the
triangle between the Presbyterian and
Catholic churches, Elmwood park, near
Highland and above Bolster avenues, and
jackson park which has not been easy
to locate, although it appeared to be
somewhere in the vicinity OF Aver street.
Now the fact comes to light that all
of these parks with the exception OF
Jackson park, which is merely a piece of
land wholly unimportant, have never
been in the care of the city.
In 1898 the common was q dreary
waste of bushes, weeds, untrmmed
trees, unknown patches of grass, hol-
lows and hummocks, bordered by line
of horse bitches" The women's civic
federation, feeling that the reputation
OF its city demanded that some atten-
tion be given to the beautifying of its
civic center, began vigorous campaign
of setting to rights. The following
year found well-graded and turted
plot of ground surrounded by granite
curb with fountain in the center, con
crete walks and neatly trimmed trees.
The following year the same organiza-
tion graded curbed and set with shrubs
the triangle of Seminary street, the two
nearby churches agreeing TO care for it.
In 1910, the civic federation turned
its attention to Currier park and many
hundreds of dollars were spent in grad
ing, curbng and building walks in this
very attractive spot, which has ever
since been cared for by the nearby resi-
dents. In 1912 the improvement of Elm
wood park was begun. This is only a
however, and it will probably
be several years before the place as
smnes the appearance which the ladies
have in mind, as the funds at their com-
mand are SO limited and care of parks
Is by no means the only work to which
they have set their hands.
During all the years since 1898 when
he common was improved by them. the
women of the civic federation have
JARED for il without help. spending sew
,ral thousands OF dollars there, until
luite recently, when the city council
,oted S25 from their treasury to assist
he work. Year before last this sum
was raised to $50 and last year the
anne with an additional $50 to help in
he work at Elmwood park.
This year the ladies', finding the funds |
Il their treasury were not going to be
for all the work of the sum-
ner, the playground needing so much, |
ecided to turn the care of the common |
,ver to the newly created park com
mission. They have been 10th to relinquish |
Is care heretofore for fear it would |
,e neglected, but have been gratified so
ar with the way in which 1t is being |
ooked after,
All of this work throughout the city |
as been done by little band OF women,
pss than one hundred in number. About |
wo months ago this organization, the
ivie federation. WAS merged into one
lrge club calling itself the Barre Wom-
MS club. This new club has civic /
apartment which will carry forward |
he work begun by the old organiza-
ion. and it hopes to receive the same
ind cooperation and sympathy with
i endeavors which have been so encour
ging in the past.
There is so much of value that can
e done in this way and we believe there
no way in which it can be done so
as by this civic depart
rent, since there are no salaries to
ay or expensive offices to be main
lined, but every dollar entrusted to
le ladies goes directly into the work
" which it is given.