Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1921-06-17


You know the story of our past you are
the hope of our future.
"Town Hall, you are the scene of our
love feasts, our frolics, our ceremonies of
sorrow and happiness our celebrations
of historic days, our functions of dignity, |
and our civic battles royal. You sympa-
thetically mother our town meetings, our
lawsuits, our political rallies, our church
and welfare socials, our singing schools
and debating clubs. our band concerts, our
entertainments of drama and film, our joy
Gus dancing, and our local but weighty
decisions on town, state, national and
even International problems and policies
"rown Hall, you are the material home
of the spirit and soul of the community
over which you preside. You are the
physical body in which the ever-throbbing
heart of the town beats strong or weak.
| You are the free and ultimate voice of the
people. You are the people
| Long may you live, Town Hall, long
as exist the green valleys, hills and
mountains that form your noble environ
ment. God bless you, Town Hall, home
and protector Of your people"
Mr.. Barrett referred to the fact that
Vermont is facing the most critical period
of her history, that she is losing popula-
ton and must become anaemic unless the
situation and condition soon can be radi
cally changed.
"All loyal Vermontcrs, therefore,
whether living in or out of the state, must
realize" he declared, that it is impera-
tive FOR them to plan and carry out with
out delay cooperation in the improvement
of agricultural, Industrial, cultural, and
general economic and social conditions.
The sons and daughters of Vermont liv-
ing outside the state must invest money
in the retaining and betterment of de-
serted farms, in restoring or repairing and
visiting old homes, in starting small in
dustrics. in Harvesting water-powers, in
contributing to the support of local insti
tutions, good roads, churches. schools and
welfare organizations, and in making
bcnefactions in the form of Fairgrounds,
community and club houses, hotels, per-
manent bridges and better and more at
tractive town halls like this ideal and
practical structure in Townshend erected
through the splendid generosity and noble
town loyalty of Mrs. Dutton."
Following a selection by the band the
crowd repaired to the community ball
ground to attend a ball game between
SaXtOnS River and Townshcnd.
The souvenir programs of the dedca-
ton contained the following names !:
Architect. NJ. Roscoe Drew of Green
field, Mass; contractor William Cush-
man of Brattleboro finance committee,
G. s. Mills, +. Y. Randall, f. II. All
| ~ i. w =.
Il. Batchelder G. w. Cutler. II. +. How
ard, III. c. Stratton; dedication commit
tee, j. III. Ware. Mr.. and Mrs William
NJ. Sparks. Rev G. Walter Bishop, Mr..
and Mrs. G. II. Willard, DR. F. l.. Os-
good A. G. Franklin, Mrs. |. s. Sayre
Mrs Ti f. II: Lawrence, r. r. Phillips.
scrbed in detail in The Phoenix in its
issue of March 4 of this year, stands on
the east side of Main street partly on the
site of the former town hall which was
burned the night of May 3. 1918, and
partly on the site of the DIR. L. ]. Parker
house, which was burned at the same time
: The Townshend Inn also was destroyed
| at that time. The only provision made
by Mrs. button was that the town SHOULD
. provide the site and that it should b.
of sufficient size to allow the erection o
d town building with ample open space
o round about to eliminate as far as possibl,
danger from further fire. The lot con
s. tains about one-half acre. The hall de
c stroycd was modern building built IL
II 1910 Mt an approximate cost of $4,000.
h William Cushman of Brattleboro, con
). tractor, erected the building in 1919-1920
g from plans by Architect NJ. r. Drew o
I Greenfield Mass. 1t is of colonial de
r sign is two stories high, and has cupol
q in which is three-dial illuminated clocl
j. with bronze bell. The cupola is sur
i mounted by bronze weather vane of tn
V spread-eagle design. so feet from tn
g ground The building has four large
It round, solid cement pillars in front.
IS is u feet deep and As feet wide. TIL
l. first story is 1912 feet high while the sec
ond is 20 feet high There is an uppe
d and lower veranda. The outside of tn
e, building is of white stucco finish and tn
e roof is slated. The building is to b
e lighted by electricity.
On the first floor is a dining hall whic
n will seat about $50 persons, and variou
% other rooms, while upstairs is an auditO
" rum, stage, dressing rooms, etc. TIL
.tt auditorium with balcony seats about 80
~ persons. veranda on the second foo
IL level is 45 by 10 feet. The heating plant
: including two hot air furnaces is in tn
~ basement.
S, Mrs. w. NJ. Sparks had charge of tn
% dining room at the town hall and Mrs
N o. w. Follett of the Congregational yes
N try dining hall. No decorations of bun,
t. ing or other material We're used in tn
,e town hall save bouquets of roses an
p ferns as the committees felt that al
r guests would prefer to see the rooms i
re their natural appearance and could gal
Is IN this way better impression of tn
l. beauty of the whole structure.
il During the Afternoon program whic
ID was held upon the shady village par
III Miss Esther Dale gave several selections
u including Plague of Love, by Arm,
n a Scottish ballad, Leesyie Landrey
he Mother of Mine. Tours, and Mad
IS cap Marjorie Norton. Miss Dial
'e' is always sure of delighted au
Sc dence with hearts full of love for he
~ when she sings at home and it was wit
le the sure knowledge of the pleasure sh
u could give the "home-folks" as well a
y by the special request of Mr. Barrel
IL that she added this treat to the program
III The ball game between Saxtons Rive
" and Townshend on the community ba
~ ground was one of the big attractions @
=, n the day and was called at 80 p. m. TIL
n game was snappy one and well wort
ia seeing and the final score of 10 to o i
~ ~. favor of the locals made Townshendite
in feel that this was surely their day. TIL
receipts of the game were $l17.35
ne In place of supper buffet lunch wa
III on sale at the town hall from 1 to Z, il
e. Guiding sandwiches, pie doughnuts. cool
r. les and ice cream. Lunch also was sol
he after the evening entertainments and dun
a. ing the dance. At : o'clock the foul
nj act comedy drama, Nan, the Mascot,
40 was presented by the Community club [
% packed house. Besides the 521' r,
-. served seats which were sold out befor
!, . the opening about 40 rush seats wer