Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1920-09-24
OFFER OF site
FOR MEMORIAL
G. L. Durham Says He Will
Give Goodhue Property.
Hoped Work May Be Begun Soon
Residence on Lot Included in Gift
Committee Appointed to Investigate.

Prospects for a memorial community
building were frightened to a marked
degree in meeting of the general COM
mittce Wednesday when George l..
Durham rendered the gift of the So
called Goodhue property on Main street
to be used for memorial community
building purposes "without discrimina-
ton.
With the gift of the Goodhue prop
erty, which was bought last year by the
Durham Brothers Co. from the Centre
Congregational church at a cost of &c.,
600, the memorial project has a nest
egg of more than 100000, as $1591O42,
the balance remaining in the War
Chest, was voted by the War Chest as
ISOLATION last June to be used for
memorial to all who participated in tho
World war.
The committee, together with repre-
sentatives of Brattleboro post of the
American Legion, was called together
by Mr.. Durham Wednesday evening
in the Chamber of Commerce room. Mr..
Durham presided and gave summary
of the Investigations of the special
committee appointed to secure site.
He then made his generous offer and
asked for frank discussion and ex-
preston of opinions. He called on
Principal J. e. Warren of the high
school, who spoke about the immediate
need for gymnasium in Brattleboro
and of the findings of the gymnasium
committee appointed by the H gh
School Alumni association, referring
especially to the amount which it had
been found it would cost to erect
temporary gymnasium for the use of
the school.
The question of maintenance of a
community building was brought before
the committee and discussed in several
ways, NJ. J. Moran, H. w. Mason, R. L.
Fits, Martin Austin, Mrs. c. G.. Fits,
Mrs Fremont Hamilton and others en-
tering into the discussion Pearl T.
Clapp, commander of Brattleboro post
of the Legion, spoke of the fine build
ngs which are being used as homes of
the Legion posts in other places and Of
the need of the local post for home.
as well as more accessible quarters for
the Grand Army, Woman s Relief
corps, and other patriotic organizations.
Another question which came up for
\ coiisideration -and discussion was as to
whether the present building should
be remodeled at an expense Of several
| thousand dollars to be used as club
rooms and new gymnasium erected in
the rear. or whether a more feasible
plan would be to raise the balance
needed for complete new structure
and not expend any of the funds on the
present building. Various opinions
were expressed regarding this phase of
the project 1t was agreed that the
gymnasium ought to be built in perma-
nent form, whether the present resi-
dence is utilized for club rooms or not,
the idea being that if the main build
ing should not be erected at this time
it could be put up later in front of
and attached 10 the gymnasium with
out disturbing the latter. The general
sentiment, however, favored erecting
the whole plant complete if the ex-
pensc was not prohibitive.
1t was moved by Mrs. Hamilton that
the chairman appoint a b-committee
TO take the matter under consideration,
get estimates. etc. and report back to
the general committee as soon as pos
sible. The motion was seconded by
Mr.. Moran and was carried unani-
mously. and the meeting was ad,
| iourncd.
The following sub committee was APP
pointed next morning by Mr.. Durham:
Rev. d. f. Trout, T.. l.. Hildreth, Mar
tin Austin, Carl s. Hopkins, c. Arnold
Pellet, Mrs. Fremont Hamilton and
Mrs. John C. Dewitt.