The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-13
TOwnshend Votes i'm Favor
of Mrs. DuttOn's Gen.
erOus Offer
ALSO BUYS LAND
FOR PLAYGROUND
Several Acres Belonging to Enlarged
Town Hall Site to Be Retained for
Use of Young People-No. 5 School
house Not to Be Sold.

Through the action of the voters of
the town of Townshend in special meet
ing in the schoolhouse yesterday after
noon not only is a new town hall as
sured as gift from Mrs. Kate c. Dut-
ton of Gainesville, Fla, but provision
was made for a public playground,
which was not in contemplation when
Mrs. Dutton offered to give a modern
town hall to replace the one burned last
year if the town would furnish an en-
larged site
Much interest has been manifested
in Mrs. Dutton 5 proposition, and ap-
probation of her generosity was shown
by large attendance at the special
town meeting, the schoolroom being
filed. w. NJ. Sparks was chosen mode
ratOr in the absence of the regular
moderator, and c. w Cutler was clerk
The first article was to see if the
town would vote to buy piece of land
to enlarge the town hall lot. Before
action was taken there were brief re-
marks by Charles S. Mills, chairman of
the finance committee, who stated that
| Mrs. Dutton Is intention was to have
| the exterior of the building fire proof,
and by John H. Ware, chairman of the
| building committee. who told of the
/ engagement of NJ r. Drew. a Green
! field, Mass, architect, to confer with
Mrs. Dutton as to plans for the new
building.
Mr.. Drew prepared the plans for the
former town hall, and he has been on
the grounds recently, and viii make an
aEother visit soon. The old plans viii be
altered to meet Mrs Dutton s desires.
Under article ! it was voted to buy
the DR.. Leland J. Parker lot next north
of the town hall lot, and sum not to
exceed $1,000 was appropriated for that
purpose. The residence on the Parker
lot was burned at the time of the town
hall fire. Connected with this lot is FIVE
or six acres of land which Is included
in the purchase, and the price of the
whole is 1000. The vote to make the
purchase was unanimous.
Article was TO see whether the town
would vote to sell the school house in
district No. 3. A colony of Seventh
Day Adventists in that locality desired
to buy the sehoolhouse for a school and
church. 1t was voted to pass over the
article.
The disposition of the moving and
pasture land connected with the Parker
lot was discussed under article 5. '.to
transact any other business proper to
come before said meeting.' Several
persons We're ready to buy such of the
land as was not needed for an enlarged
town hall site, but after some discussion
it was voted not TO sell the land but
) to retain ii as town property and con-
vert it into a ball field and playground
for all the schools of the town
The land is conveniently located and
will provide one of the best small-town
: Fairgrounds in the state
Work on the new town hall will be
i begun as soon as possible. As recent
| ly stated, it is to be the gift OF a Town
) shend native, whose husband, the late
| Henry F. Dutton, was at one time an
| instructor in Leland and Gray seminary
( and was lieutenant colonel of the
/. Eighth Vermont regiment in the Civil
[ war.