Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-19
OUR CHIEF BENEFACTOR GONE

IUhny men ave DteH DcilcluCtOTH " |
Burlington. Some. havc given of their
resources: others have performed service
in various ways. 1t falls 70 few mon in
tho history Of the city to devote them
selves to a community In so many ways
as did the Hon. William j. Van Patten. |
whom we now all mourn. He gave not
only financial support for various worthy |
projects and institutions and manifold
service. but also unceasing thought for
our progress and welfare and uplift COM
bined with sympathetic and efficient CO.
operation. A.,
Il is difficult for the present generation
TO picture Burlington without a building !
owned by the Young Mems Christian as /
ISOLATION. The present substantial Y. M. |
c. A. building owes its existence to Mr.. |
Van Patten. He was a pioneer in the
movement for a home for this worthy
organization, and he not only helped to
organize the project but he also UNDER
wrote it's financies to a degree that en-
sured the erection of the edifice. From
that time to this he has been recognized
as a dominating spirit in Y. NJ. c. A.
work, not only in Burlington, but also in |
the State as a whole.
Another institution in which ne had an
abiding interest and which he was ever
seeking to serve in various ways is the
Characterization library, with which he
IVA long ronroctod IN M offi,toI 20 p,ot%,y
In this work as we'll as In his service for
the local and State Y. NJ. c.. A., he was
constantly brought into close association
with youth. and led to think Of their well
in both directions by his broad and gen.
erous sympathies and quick impulses to-
ward every worthy cause.
Long before most people had begun to !
think of organized charity in this region,
Mr.. Van Patten had conceived of the idea
Of putting the relief of suffering and want
on a thoroughly practical basis that should
afford relief without at the same time
mourning the risk OF the pauperization
Of the recipients of charity. He was large
ly instrumental In perfecting the organ
ization and outlining the work Of the
Howard Relief society, whose building
has long adorned the northeast corner of
Pearl and Clarke streets. That this was
pioneer work is shown by the fact that
when the venerable and lamented Rev.
Edward f. Hale was invited to come from
Boston to lend the benefit of his long
experience in the Lend A Hand" work
In this city, he said he was gratified to
discover that Burlington had progressed
30 far in the putting Of organized charity
on a practical basis, that he could only
admire and instead Of suggest
ing.
AS president and long time director of
the Mary Fletcher hospital, Mr.. Van Pat
ten gave Of himself ungrudgingly. and, as
was the case with so much Of his work for
his fellow beings. wholly without recon-
pense. It was a labor Of love. In this serv-
ice he was constantly seeking to combine
the practical and the ideal. He realized
that sympathy and good cheer are i'm
portant factors in healing and health
restoration, and many a patient could
testify to his unobtrusive attentions and
floral messengers of sweetness and hope
that are so appreciated by the invalid.
Mr.. Van Patten's>~ sympathies were so
broad that no local barrier could hedge
In his activities for humanity. It was a
natural step for him from thought for the
welfare of the boys of Burlington to So
licitude for the fatherless and the home
less boys of the commonwealth as a whole.
His service for the latter in connection
with Kurn Hattin homes in southern YER
mont. can not easily be measured. In this
work as in so many other directions he
erless boys of Vermont nave suffered an
irreparable loss.
The comprehensive view of conditions
which Mr.. Van Patten thus gained in the
State at large as well as in Burlington
and vicinity found a natural f~ruitage in
his splendid service in organizing the
Vermont conference OF social work and
In the later project of establishing the
State Board Of Charities and Probation.
Whether as State senator and president
of the Senate, advocating broad measures
for the commonwealth, or as mayor Of
Burlington or as commissioner or trustee
in various departments, championing pub
lie development like moro parks or a paid
fire department as a substitute for the
old volunteer department or as seeking
community uplift. he was ever the ideal
citizen. the gentleman of the old school
and the Christian worker combined.
Whether in official position or in private
life. he was untiring in his public service.
1t would be difficult to mentor any
public Improvement within the memory
of tho present generation in Burlington
in which he did not have a helpful share,
If indeed, he did not take the initiative.
1t VIII be recall~A that at the outset there
was not a little opposition to the erection
of tho Edmunds high school on account
of cost. Mr.. Van Patten was so intensely
Interested in the project to provide Burr