SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

May 18, 1933

The Senior Play, given by members of the student body of Burr and Burton Seminary, as usual drew a large number of Manchester and Dorset folks to the Gymnasium on Friday evening. The play "The Admirable Crichton" by Sir James Barrie, was a big undertaking for such an inexperienced group of actors and actresses and their coach Miss Eileen Paradis is to be congratulated on her splendid work, for she changed the modern maidens into the Gibson girls of the latter 19th century and made the youths of this modern age fall into the cast and class of past ages. The cast was so well chosen that each one seemed to be a home in his part right through the play. They were a well drilled group. Individually and collectively each did his part to carry through the humorous and the serious situations that made it a highly successful production.

The cast was as follows: The Earl of Loam, Norman Thompson; Lord Brocklehurst, Huntington Gilbert; Hon. Ernest Wooley, Joseph Fowler; Rev. John Trehern, Claude Campbell; Mr. Crichton, Carlos Warner; a Naval Officer, Blanchard Stone; Tompsett, Orrin Beattie; Thomas, Guy Stone; John, Blanchard

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Stone; Monsieur Fleury, Louis Martin; Folston, Walter R. Hard; the Countess of Brocklehurst, Mildred Healey; Lady Mary Lasenby, Virginia White; Lady Catherine Lasenby, Jane Barrows; Lady Agatha Lasenby, Barbara Show; Tweeney, Elisa Harris; Fisher, Mildred Healey; Mrs. Perkins, Eleanor Harwood; Simmons, Nina Capen; Jeanne, Cleo Clayton; Gladys, Margaret McGuire; Stable boy, William Whalon.

Miss Paradis was assisted in the coaching of the play by Miss Catherine Hosley. Robert P. Robert was the stage manager and arranged the sets, assisted by George Thomas and Dean Summer. The drop used in Act II was painted by Carl Ruggles of Arlington. Many of the gowns used in the drawing room scene in the first act were loaned by local ladies.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

May 15, 1958

MANCHESTER — Dr. and Mrs. George R. Stuart of Bronxville, N.Y., formerly of Manchester, have been spending a few days in town.

Harry H. Bottome, who has been in Florida for the winter months, returned on Monday to Manchester and is at The 1811 House for the summer.

Lloyd Eaton and his mother, who have been in Chandler, Arizona, during the winter months have returned to their home here. Mr. Eaton will again be located at the desk in the Equinox House during the season.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Miller and son, Jackie, also Mrs. Bertha Town, Mrs. Charles Wheeler and Mrs. Nicholas Miller, all of Saratoga, N.Y., were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brayson.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

May 19, 1983

MANCHESTER — An Equinox Corporation official urged the Manchester selectmen to contract with the National Development Council (NDC) to help package federal financing for restoring the old Equinox House and promised to pick up the tab for preliminary consulting services with the non-profit corporation.

"The Equinox project can't go without the NDC," Vice President John Kennedy told selectmen Tuesday night. Under law, the NDC can only contract with a municipality. "If we could contract with NDC we would," he said.

The selectmen agreed to meet with Michael Merrill of NDC to review the possibility of a three to four month preliminary contract this week as suggested by Kennedy. At the end of that time period, the town would know whether federal financing was a reality. "We don't want to keep funding an outfit that's not doing the job," Kennedy noted. "We also want to be sure we're not throwing money away."

At an informative meeting with town, village and Equinox officials, Merrill said his firm receives from $30,000 to $35,000 annually, an amount which can be reimbursed if the grant is received. Kennedy said, "$2,500 a month is a cheap price to pay for a group with their expertise."

Kennedy urged the board to vote Tuesday night on the contract so Merrill could submit a preliminary application for an Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) by May 31. "It's extremely urgent to get something in to see whether it's a project they'll consider," said Kennedy. But the board's consensus was that it wanted a more in-depth meeting with Merrill before signing on the dotted line.

In response to questions by selectmen, Kennedy said a hotel or condominium hotel was the most likely project for the old hotel which sits in the heart of Manchester Village, but Equinox Corp. officials need the NDC to tie the project together. "We need them to help us arrive at a common denominator," Kennedy said. "We've got a decaying building there. We need a financially viable program."

As outlined by Kennedy, a hotel project would have difficulty sustaining itself with private funding and high interest rates during the first few years. Federal financing protect the community and acts as a buffer to run a viable hotel. "We don't need another newly done hotel that's a fiasco."

FIVE YEARS AGO

May 16, 2003

MANCHESTER — Manchester Commons will be the new neighbor of Torrey Knolls if a permit is obtained by the Regional Affordable Housing Corp., RAHC. The project would contain 15 units, including one pre-existing cottage for the resident manager.

In testifying before the Development Review board, RAHC project engineer Ellis Speath said that after reviewing several options, the entrance road would be a continuation of Torrey Lane.

"We looked at upgrading Hicks Lane, but decided against that option," he said. Speath said that Hicks Lane would end at the Hewes' property line.

RAHC's landscape designer, Bob White, said that while some trees would be eliminated, others would be preserved.

"There will be additional plantings scattered throughout the project to provide a future canopy," White said.

Neighbor Mary Ann Hewes requested a fence rather than trees to screen her property from the units. She also said that a play area with swings and slides etc. would help keep young children off the road.

Cheryl Secoy expressed concern that the layout would put the project right in front of her living room. Speath suggested appropriate screening to soften the impact.

Antoinette Eggers said that the current units at Torrey Knolls had some problems.

"The place is looking seedy," Eggers said. "Some screens in the back are falling down. The back of the buildings are not looking good. I have seen projects like this become slums, and I don't want to see this in Manchester."

Manchester Commons will need to obtain a permit from Act 250 as well as the Development Review Board.