The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-22
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
BEAUTIFYING BARRE.
Improvements About Elmwood Cemetery
Are Suggested.

hle SuSReSlSu.
Editor, Times: a few years ago the
question Of securing Gospel Village conn
mon and Transforming it into park
was agitated. At that time it was
classed as mo Mans land" The same
meaning can be applied to its name to-
day.
When the city of Barre was declared
as meeting place for the National
Cemetery association. it reminded the
writer of the plans that were commenced
to improve the condition about Elmwood
cemetery If this work had been accom-
plished, the land around Elmwood Gene
terry and Lincoln schoolhouse you'd not
be disgrace to the city to-day
A little matter OF history concerning
this project will not come amiss at this
time. The plan to improve Gospel Viii
lage common was a matter of discussion
before the city council. The land at that
time could be secured by quit claim deed
OF a lease for 80 years or by the right of
eminent domain. But the opposing party
claimed that the Congregational church
must give warranty deed which the
church declared it could not give on ac-
count of Others who might have gained
some rights to the land by possession. It
was argued long and loud before the
council by many citizens for and against
the proposition. The council was divided
as to their opinion how to secure the
land and as consequence the plan to
improve Gospel Village common became a
complete failure.
IL. A. -. L. Il
plans which were commenced and were /
to be carried out in the minds of the
originators of this proposition for inn |
First, the ladies, on the |
northerly side of the cemetery. have ae- |
good work laying out walks |
and setting out shrubbery which in itself |
is a credit TO their society. The work I
done on Washington street by doing
away with the stone wall and the UNI
slightly hedge and the grading Of the land
is an Improvement that received the ad
of everyone; and then we stop
as TO the furtherance of this project. We
must picture the rest from our magma
lion.
Let us outline the picture to you. The
and on Hill street next to the cemetery
,round is graded; trees are growing here
ind there; settees are placed for the
weary traveller as he comes along; and
he cemetery itself with this addition of
and thus improved, as a whole presents
view which is worthy of our highest
dmiration. Let us 90 a little further.
n our picture, Lincoln school arises be-
ore us with a well.kept lawn on the
ront, with a cement walk in place of a
inder walk which we have at this time.
The land in back of the school becomes
playground for the children; and the
choolhouse itself. with these surround
ngs. is change of scene for the better
that it's to-day. In addition to this,
road should be built from Camp street
o Currier street which would aceommo-
ate the land owned by the Averill syn
icate. the Richardson estates and the
eneral public Edgewood. which was
nee referred 60 as out in the wilderness,
'ould become higher civilization. On
he west side OF this road next to the
,metery is a plot OF land which could
e made into a park. In back Of the Lin
,ln school a short distance, on a small
yulet that runs through this land, is a
ltural basin which could be filled with
alter by building a dam at small eX-
snse. and be made into a swimming !
,ol In winter il could be made a skRt- !
z rink Some Of this land could be 4
sed for an addition to Elmwood Gene i
nv and lots sold for burial purposes. !
hen next June the National Cemetery i
ISOLATION meets here it will be duty \
our genial superintendent, Mr.. Hanton. i
show the visitors our cemetery. He !
in point out 10 them the beautiful and 4
tistic work that Is located there, the I
sutiful grounds and well-mown lots
hich We all feel proud Of to-day. But 4
bat will b. the scene outside Of the Z
mwood cemetery Let us describe il I
YOU a. Il j. to-day on Hill street. A I
ial wooden building with lean-to at y
ehed. scraggly hedge = stone wall such 4
our fathers used 10 build around their !
nd when they wished to get rid Q, their =