The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-21
Citizens Generally Hope to
See Hooker Corner
Preserved
ONE MAN PROMISES
TO GIVE $1,000
statements by Owners of the Property
and by Carl S. Hopkins, Who Made
First Public Proposal ~ Interviews
with Well-Known Persons.

Carl S, Hopkins's communication in
| Inc Reformer Saturday relative to a
pubic movement to acquire the real
estate at the corner of Main and High
streets, known as the Hooker property.
for a public park and possibly site
for a community building, meets with
the general approval of the public.
The proposition has not taken definite
shape, as the time has been brief. but
the sentiments expressed by Mr.. Hop
klns coincide so generally with those
held by the townspeople that if some
body takes the initiative and presents
some positive plan to work on there is
no question but that the movement will
quickly acquire momentum
As is well known, the property was
bought by John B. Manlev, who want
ed to erect garage on the rear part.
and who sold the part on the corner.
approximately 125 feet on High street
and 90 feet on Main street. to Hough
ton Simonds. Mr.. Manley still owns
the section between the corner lot and
| the Baptist church, which includes the
Hooker residence.
Since Mr.. Hopkins made the sugges
ton that the property be acquired bv
public subscription and perhaps turned
over to the village or town some have
wondered if Houghton & Simonds
wished to dispose of their land and
knew that Mr.. Hopkins IS was to issue
letter to the press
Mr.. Hopkins says very emphaticaIIv
THAT not living person except him
| self and stenographer had any knowledge
or idea that he was to make such a sug-
gestlon. He SAYS he was prompted to
make it by his own personal sentiment
IN the matter and the sentiment which
he had heard many others express.
Houghton & Simonds state that they
had not the slightest intimation that
Mr.. Hopkins or anyone else was to issue
any suggestion for publication, although
they had heard many persons say that
the corner ought not to be build up.
they state that they bought it for the
purpose or erecting building thereon
for their drygoods business and still in
tend to do so, although they have de-
layed building this year on account of
the very high cost of building materials
of every kind.
When asked if they would sell the
land for public use they replied that
they had not had time to consider the
question.
Mr.. Manley SAYS the idea of saving
the property for public use is a good
one and that while he has set a price
| on what he does not intend to use and
knows that persons are considering TAX
ing It off his hands he would rather see
1t turned into a park than used for
commercial purposes and would make
more favorable price on it for that pur-
pose, besides taking some stock in the
enterprise if stock were to be offered
for sale.
In the first mail after the letter of
Mr.. Hopkins was published Saturday
Mr.. Hopkins received a letter from a
publicspirIted Brattleboro citizen of
fering to contribute $1,000 toward the
movement, with no strings attached.
Several wellknown citizens were in
terviewed today with reference to the
matter, and it is planned to print more
interviews tomorrow. Those already
seen stated as follows:
State 5 Attorney o. B. Hughes:
think It is pretty good idea. | hope
it goes through.
Charles A. Boyden, treasurer of the
Brattleboro Trust Co.: 1t is a mighty
(COntinued nm paua gN