Putnam patriot., 1924-06-27
Henry Reach Would Giue
Recreation Park To Putnam
OFFERS THREE ACRES NEAR ToURTELLoTTE's SWIM
MIN HOLE AND FORTY FEET ROADWAY FROM
SABIN TO CHURCH STREETS
He Would Alter Mile and Create Island
Other Plans of Interest.

The question of a municipality owned
and maintained swimming place for
summer time recreation and enjoyment
and a public skating rink during the
winter months, has again bobbed into
the limelight. And Henry A. Reach,
local business man and manufacturer,
is responsible once again for the ques-
ton being brought up. This TING Mr..
Reach has a concrete proposition TO
offer, and the matter has been put up
squarely TO both the selectmen and
Mayor Chapdelaine for their consider
ton and aetino. whereby the approval
or disapproval of the voters may be OBJ
tanned.
Would Donate Roadway
Out Of the many acres of land Mr..
Reach owns between Sabin street and
Fenner street, through which runs the
Five Mile river. he is willing TO make
a liberal donation to enable the town
and the city, cooperating, to develop a
permanent and beautiful recreation
plaee-a park-both for summer and
winter pastimes and recreation.
Mr.. Reach offers. for one thing, to
deed 10 the town or city a strip of land
forty feet in width, running from Sa-
DIN @lfAAt anu tttittf street. MS
street, after being graded and made
ready for yehicular traffic. would give
easy and ready access to the proposed
park. either from Church street onto
Fenner street, or from the state high
way at the new Hopkins Bridge onto
Sahin street
In addition Mr. Reach is willing to
deed to the town or city. free of cost.
like the land for the road, fully three
acres alongside the Five Mile river.
Would Create Island
Included in this land is a compare
lively large area, on which are up
wards of a dozen stalwart elm trees.
This spot could easily be surrounded
By the waters of the river by changing
the course Of the river through the use
Of dynamite. Thus would be created
q good sized island, access TO which
would be gained over bridge from
the roadway proposed by Mr.. Reach,
which. as stated, he is willing to do
nate. Mr.. Reach is in possession Of
the bridge that would be required. and
this also he will give free.
By altering the course of the river
two desirable things would be brought
about in realizing the plan suggested.
according to Mr.. Reach. One, he says.
would be the island, which he declares
would be an ideal recreation or picnic
spot, handy 10 the city and shady for
hot weather comfort The second ad-
vantage, he afiirms, would be the large
area that would be flooded for swim
ming. There would be room for sew
cral hundred people TO battle.
Must Build Bridge
To accept Mr.. Keach's plan a new
bridge must be built over the river at
the point where the proposed roadway
would be developed. But Mr. Reach
sees an easy and economical way Of
overcoming this obstacle. He points to
the old bridge over the Five Mile riv-
er, abandoned on Memorial Day when
the new Hopkins Bridge was dedicat-
ed and open for traffic. Mr.. Reach
believes that the bridge can be OBJ
tanned from the state. removed In sec
tions, and installed IN the new location.
That this procedure could be followed
at comparatively small cost is the con-
viction Of Mr. Reach.
To make sure that there was ample
water for bathing. Mr.. Reach says
that il would be necessary 10 erect
dam. But he affirms that the expense
of this undertaking would be very
small and that the dam could be built
about the abutments of the bridge that
will have to be erected. The dam and
bridge could stand on the same part