Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-01-24
CIVIC BUILDING
e.
PLAN. APPROVED
Proposition for Soldiers Memoir
al Gets Unanimous Vote
Committee Elected to Arrange Details
Of Organization and Plans for Rails
ing Money.

Ing money.
Whether Brattleboro should have n
memorial building to those who have
entered the service for the government
and 70 Oc used as a civic center for
the Young people of the town was dis.
cusscd Friday night at meeting of
about 100 interested persons in. Festi-
val hall and those present were unan-
imous in the idea that such a building
should be erected, but some raised the
question of whether il would be best
to begin raising money for it now or
wait until the Liberty loan and other
demands incident to the" war were all
taken care of. A resolution favoring
II building and naming a general cons
mittce to investigate was adopted hy
a unanimous vote. and other questions
relating TO the project will be consid.
cred when the committee reports.
While there was no opposition to the
plan to have a building there appeared
TO be misunderstanding of the ref
crcnce to the War Chest funds in the
postscript of the letter calling the pub
lie meeting. This showed a sentiment
against using the War Chest money for
this purpose on the ground that there
might be other demands for it for re-.
lief work. but, as was explained in the
meeting, it was not the intention of
those back of the movement to propose
using the War Chest funds, the fund be-
ing mentioned for the purpose of bring
ing out discussion
The meeting was called to order
shortly after s O'Clock by Harold L.
Moiitt, and George l.. Durham was
elected moderator. After brief re-
marks regarding the need for such a
building Mr.. Durham called upon Rev.
Dclmar +. Trout. who had been con-
nected with previous activities along
this line
Rev. Mr. Trout approved the plan of
Il Memorial building and stated that
tho Civic league community house com
mittce of which he was a member. Sc
cured options on several properties pre-.
vIous to the outbreak of the war and at
that time received pledge which
would take care of the purchase price
of good building site.
Mr.. Moffitt was the next speaker
called upon. lie spoke of the need of.
Il place for the social and physical de-
velopment of the young people and of
the opportunity now to have such
center and ut the same time to honor
those who went from this town into
the service of their government.
The moderator then called for re-
marks from Horton u. Walker. Mr..
Walker idea was that there should be
n memorial to the boys in the service
The boy in the service will not be
hoy when he returns, and some day he
will have boys and girls of his own
and will want a place for their de-
velopment. He believed this was the
time to launch the move
ment and TO form an organization for
out the plan.
Mr.. Durham spoke of the organiza.
ton that was started about 10 years
ago, and said start was made at that
time to secure pledges and good
was assured, but circumstances
arose which made it inadvsable to
carry out the plans at that time.
Lyman +. Holden, another member
of the committee appointed by the
Civic league about three years ago,
statements made by Rev.
Mr.. Trout
Nj. j. Moran, who was called as the
next speaker, said there never had been
a time when the social lines had been
swept aside as they have been in the
past months and that while he APP
proved of "A building for the young
people he believed that all obligations
to, the government should be met first
The moderator then asked Rev. L.
q. $. Osgood to express an opinion on
the question and the latter said he had
lccn sorry many times that there was
no place for inside sports for the young
people and that while much money
would have to be raised for such
project he felt that the right thing was
being done in getting together to talk
The matter over and see what could be
done to solve the problems such az
getting some place in the village upon
which to erect building WREN the
right time comes. He expressed his
willingness to help in any way pos
sible
Martin Austin said there was no
social center in the town for the bows
from to II years of age and he cited
II personal experience of few years
ago, when he heard some boys. who
were seated on the steps of one of the
blocks, discussing the town. One of
them remarked: "This is II II of a
town. Not even Y. NJ. c. A. to sit
down in.
Charles +. Mann expressed himself
as strongly in favor of building for
I he use of the young people, but ques,
toned the advisability of raising the
funds ut this time.
Jean j. Vandcrveer inquired if it was
intended to use the War Chest balance
for this purpose, suggesting that ii
would be better to reserve it for other
purposes, such as celebrations. that
might be desired from time to time. In
reply Mr.. Walker said that the dispO-
sition of the War Chest funds; did not
rest with the meeting or those who