The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-07-28
FRIDAY. JULY 2S, 1922.
THE CIVIC CENTER.

If a traveller, stopping in Fulton, \.
Y, wished to go from his hotel to the
public library to secure data, then to
the city hall to obtain the signature of
notary, then to the postofice to send
this material BY registered mail, and
finally to the railway station to take a
train it would be necessary for him to
travel considerable distance and to
spend much valuable time in searching
out these important public buildings. 1t
must be plain to the most Indifferent
observer that had these structures been
grouped about a public square or lined
along the river front the result would
have been both convenient and pleasing
to the eye. The case of Fulton alone
ought to provide sufficient evidence to
convince the most skeptical that the
grouping of public buildings so as to
form a civic center is not a fad, but is
based upon the saving grace of common
sense.
What is true of this New York mu-
nicipality is true of a very large number
of American communities and one does
not have to go far to discover the reasons
for this promiscuous location of build
ings of public character. Very fire.
quently city, county, state and nation
are called upon to erect buildings within
a municipality; and because there is no
co-ordinating agency the result often
times is most distressing. The city hall
is built by a government transitory in
character The court house is con-
structed by the county authorities in an
Independent manner. The armory is
erected by a state commission; and the
postofice by federal agency. In addition
to these. such buildings as libraries and
legion homes. although erected fire.
quently by funds other than public, are
essentially public in character and their
indiscriminate location adds to confu-
sion and inconvenience. 1t is true that
many public buildings do not lend them
selves to the grouping principle. Fire
stations must be placed at strategic
points. Schoolhouses ought to be so dis
tributed as to make them easily reached
by the children of the different areas
Hospitals have their peculiar demands
which must be met. 1t takes no lengthy
study to determine the buildings which
properly make the civic center.
In Barre, Vt, one finds a pleasing
contrast to Fulton. Here is to be seen
good example of a beautiful and con
venient civic center which reflects the
good judgment of those who have been
guiding Barre's growth. Grouped about
triangular park are the Hotel Barre
the Aldrich library, the city hall, the
postofice, the Legion home and several
churches; while the Burns monument
and the Spaulding high school on the
higher elevation furnish an impressive
background. In view of the fact that
Barre has not been privileged to have
a planning commission, because the au-
thority of law was lacking until re
Gently to create such an agency, it speaks
volumes for the foresight Of her business
men. Few places in Vermont have APP
proximated the effort.
Many Vermont municipalities have,
however, a remarkable opportunity to
develop civic centers because they have
within their limits a common or a public
square. 1t remains to be seen whether
these open places will be dignifed with
public buildings or lined with garages
and creameries. The responsibility of