The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-04-13
NATIONAL LIFE co.
PLANS BIG BUILDING
Fine Structure Is To Be Erected in
Montpelier on Westerly Side
of State House
Grounds.

The National Life Insurance Co. il
planning to erect a new building on the
DeBoer and Briggs lots lying between
State and Baldwin streets, on the west
erly side of the State House grounds in
Montpelier. The directors of the com
ipany, at a meeting held Tuesday after
noon, authorized the administrative of
ficers to proceed with plans for a build
ing, which probably will cost 81 coo,
900. If the costs of contraction are not
too great, the actual work will be
started this year. II promises to be
one of the biggest building projects in
Montpelier in many years
The building will be in the shape of
the letter l., so constructed that addi
tions can be made later and formed into
the letter L, the interior court to be
utilized for coal pockets and other
purposes. The building will front on
State street and Western avenue,
set so feet back from State street and
90 feet back from Baldwin street. It
will be five stories high, with basement,
the latter making practically six
stories for working purposes. There
III bt i ,DUVsDOb EuUlt Itft vi O1iilt
space, including the basement.
The building will be made of gran
ite if that material is not too expen-
sive. Marble and brick material -yill
be investigated if the granite is found
to cost too much.
Directors of the National Life Co
had long ago decided that the company
must have a new building, and the
problem had been where to locate. The
Fifeld property adjoining the present
main building OF the company was re
Gently bought but it was decided that
to add TO the present building would
be impracticable So the site lying be-.
tween State and Baldwin streets was
decided upon.
From time to time different portions
Of the present building have been de-
modelled to give added space; and re-
,ently consideration was given to the |
to move the boilers out of the
and place them underground; |
but after the purchase of the Fifield |
this proposal was given up, |
ind the Fifeld house was made into |
suitable quarters. while the DeBoeI |
louse was utilized for the printing and |
,ther heavy work.
When the company erected the pres
mt main building the structure was |
hought large enough for all time; and
I is no criticism of the judgment to say
hat the present building has been out
rown because the company officers
hen did not realize the great changes
hat were to take place in the insur
nee world. For some years the com
amy l.sned money largely to muni
ipalities and on city blocks; but six
ears ago change in policy was put
nto effect whereby loans were made to
arms. Farm mortgage loans necessitat
d much larger clerical force but the
ompany feels justified in adopting that
olicy.
Only few years ago the company (
sed but two floors OF the present main
then the third floor was TAX K
n and the janitor was moved out of
he auilding Still later the fourth floor |
'as fitted up; and lately the secre- '
lry's room was remodeled, giving ad c
itional space, And still the demand "
Or more room grew, until the direc I
Drs decided that il was necessary TO 4
rect new and larger building. 1t is i
lid that the new home will be built 50
an architectural style that will har- t
onize with the new state building a
ross the State House grounds II
Already. questions are being asked as o
what will be done with the present
hiding; but the company is not con- Il
rning itself now about that matter, P
II the company may need the build d
2 for a couple of years if the build u
{ conditions are not favorable this t
ason. p