Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-01
OFFER OF MODERN
TOWN HALL MADE
Mrs. Kate c. Dutton Asks Town.
shend to Furnish Site
Special Town Meeting Called-Bene-
factor Is Native of Townshend, Wild
ow of Col. Henry F, Dutton.

| Through the generosity Of Mrs. Kate
| G. Dutton of Gainesville, Florida, the
town of Townshend will again have O
| modern town hall. All the donor ask.
| the town to do is to furnish the site
Townshend had the very great misfor
tune to lose its town hall in the disas
trous fire which swept the east side OF
Main street on the night of May 8, 1918
when the Townshend Inn and the resi-
dence of DIR. L. j. Parker also were de.
stroyed. The town hall was a new and
modern building, erected in 1910 at an
expense of approximately $4,000. The
burning of the town hall was a very
serious loss to the town, which certainly
is to be congratulated in being the re.
cipient of so generous gift.
Mrs. Dutton, the donor, is the widow
of Colonel Henry F. Dutton of Gaines
vile. She was born in Townshend, a
daughter of l.. II. and Marcia II. Ca
than, and her early life was spent in
Townshend. On May 90, 1864, she mar
red Henry +. Dutton, then lieutenant
colonel in the Eighth Vermont regi-
ment. The old Cathan homestead in
Harmonyville for many years has been
occupied by them as a summer home.
Colonel Dutton was born March 16,
1897, in Ludlow, (Vt.), and at the time
of entering the service of his country
was teacher in Leland and Gray semi.
nary. He enlisted in Company II, Eighth
Vermont regiment, and was commits
stoned captain Jan. II, 1862, and rose
to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In
Carpenters history of the Eighth Yer
mont regiment is the following tribute
to his ability.
"Lieut. Col. Henry +. Dutton, one
of the most efficient and popular officers
in the Eighth regiment was so severely
wounded at the battle of Opequon that
he was unable to continue in the service
and was honorably discharged Nov. IS.
1864. He entered the service as captain
of Co. III, and having an active, well dis
ciplined mind he soon made himself mas
ter of the situation and was equal to
any emergency, whether in camp or UNI
der fire. He was one of the best field
officers in the brigade and could move
regiment in battle with the same ease
as when on parade. For valiant service
as commander of the picked detachment
at the destruction of the gunboat Cot
ton he was complimented by Colonel
III hiS iNPOit W thS ouJu-
tant general of Vermont
After his discharge from the army he
engaged in the phosphate, cotton and
banking business in the South, and was
emnently successful. He died March
IA, 1916.
Mrs. Dutton has chosen the following
citizens of Townshend to assist her in
out her plans for the building:
Finance committee, Charles s. Mills,
Edgar II. Allbee and Fred II. Randall.
Building committee, John II. Ware,
chairman. Edward B. Batchelder,
Charles w. Cutler, Harry Il. Howard
and Henry G.. Stratton.
A special town meeting has been
called for Tuesday, Aug -, at p. M,
to see if the town will vote to purchase
land to enlarge the lot now owned by
the town in order that the new hall
may be placed at a greater distance
from other buildings and thus lessen
the danger from fire. 1t is hoped that
a good number will be present and show
their appreciation for this generous gift.