Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-08-18

The popular demand of Brattleboro
Community Service, since its organiza-
ton last fall, was for real swimming
place" with all the fttings-dressing
rooms, shower baths, check room. RATS.
wading pool, sandy beach, and most of
all. expert supervision.
Brattleboro now has such beach at
the head of Island Park Nearly a thou
sand men. women and children have pat.
ronized the beach during the last two
weeks of its operation and have ex-
pressed their enthusiasm over the new
recreation center
Health Officer Chester S. Leach has
had the water analysed, and the health
authorities at Burlington have written
that the water is good for bathing; al
big rivers go, there is remarkably little
sediment at the bathing beach, remark.
ably less than at the salt water beaches
where the surf and the undertow churn
up sand and dirt, much less than that
common in the southern middle-western
and western rivers where the water is
yellow or brownsh at all times.
1t is difficult to imagine a more favor.
able natural beach on the upper mileage
of the Connecticut than that at Brattle
boro. Usually the Connecticut river
bank goes out a few feet to sink down
to dangerous depth. Children NAV
wade in the beach here for distance OF
40 to 100 feet before the water reaches
their shoulders. There are no dangerous
nndertows as at some beaches, and nc
Few beaches can boast of the person.,
supervision given each bather that is
given at the Brattleboro beach. Diedricl
Stolte divides his time efficiently between
all those who wish personal instruction
in swimming and those swimmers who
want new strokes. Parents bring Their
little children down to learn swimming
Adults who have been trying to swim
without teacher often come to the
beach and swim several strokes before
leaving.
system of merits for the encourage.
ment of swimming causes considerable
interest among the boys and girls. A
card is given marked "AIinnOw" for
those who can swim less than % strokes,
Sunfish' for those who swim more than
% strokes, and "Shark" for those who
SWIM over 100 strokes. A diploma is
given to those who pass all these tests.
In order to stimulate enthusiasm and
Fronting in all the branches of water
sports, an interested citizen has lust
offered $50 worth of prizes to be given to
users of the beach, who participate in
the tests. Competitions and contests are
to be conducted throughout the season.
Not only Brattleboro people but also
Visitors from other towns nearby have
marvelled in the great change that has
taken place at the north end of the
island, where less than two months ago
y,eritable jungle condition flourished
when the work of clearing this section
began, which was about June 10, great
quantities of underbrush had to be re-
moved and in addition there were large
deposits of old logs, driftwood branches
ana trunks of trees that had foated ON
to the island at flood times. The old
swamp which was in that locality also
VIII be remembered. A close inspection
revealed that here was a Shiny depression
s ioo feet long and averaging 10
ieet wide, IN some places three feet deep,
that would have to be filed up. not only
Tor appearance but more especially for
safctys sake. Into this swamp were