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

thrown the old logs, underbrush and other
dumping material. and on top of this
were placed 100 carloads of gravel, thus
bringing this unsighty depression up to
Il level with the rest of the island and
making it slightly and safe.
Where the bathers now enter the water
there was Il marshy spit of land contain
ing some bad mudhOles and the wading
pool was a mass Of boulders of all sizes,
some of them very sharp. The danger of
the spot can be illustrated by mention
ing that on the day when clearing this
spot was begun a local man cut one foot
badly on piece of glass.
The underbrush was all cut down and
removed, the trees removed except those
which were in best condition to save, and
those were trimmed All vegetation and
noxious weeds were killed by sailing
down what is now the beach by the use
of 600 pounds of rock salt
The beach was then covered with
clay and gravel mixed with sand to the
number of 200 carloads, thus building
up the beach to depth of another foot.
Forty carloads of clay and gravel were
taken into the water, thus covering up
the rocks in what is now the wading
pool. In order to do this part of the
work thoroughly, the horses dragging the
carts had to go into the river almost up
to their necks. The larger of the bouders
were removed by boys and these rocks
were thrown into the mudholes before the
beach was built up.
After this operation, 40 carloads of
fine sand takpn from nna,her part OF
the island we're strewn over this pre-
pared ground, thus completing the play
ground and beach where the children can
lie on the sand and play A picnic table
and seats were then erected, board
walk was built and a fagpole raised
Two planked walks were built out into
the river to enclose the wading pool and
finally came the construction of the
checking and dressing rooms.
The old shelter used last winter on the
ice rink was used as a nucleus and to
this was added more construction so that
now there is building consisting of
three sections. The first section. used
for men, comprises several cloth compart-
ments fitted up with benches and mirrors
and shower bath. The second com
partmcnt consists of check room and is
htted with 200 specially made baskets
made in Willamsville to retain the
clothing while the bather is in the water.
Each basket is fitted with brass check,
duplicate of which is given to the
bather.. The third compartment is the
womens dressing room and is divided
into seven cloth alcoves and fitted with
a dressing table, chair and mirror.
shower bath and toilet
Two RATS have been placed in the
swimming area, each II feet square. On
one raft Il steel tower 10 feet high for
diving purposes has been erected The
other raft has been placed nearer shore
for the poorer swimmers. Both RATS
are supported by more barrels than are
required for ordinary buoyancy, thus as
surfing complete safety, and both are an
chored by steel cables to 5OO-pound
weights. A boat with oars is always on
hand ready for instant use.
The cost of clearing the island and
fitting the beach and adjacent waters
with the diving paraphernaia has been
only $500. The salary of the maid
workers now engaged in caring for and
taking charge of the buildings is taken
care OF by the small fees paid by the
bathers.