Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1917 — REBUILDS RUINED TOWN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REBUILDS RUINED TOWN

Vitrimont, a village of Lorraine, lying between Nancy and Luneville, France, is being rebuilt at the expense of Mrs. William Henry Crocker, wife of William Henry Crocker, the prominent banker of San Francisco, Cal. Mrs. Crocker has already donated $30,000 to begin the work of reconstruction The village is being rebuilt on a new plan which will produce a model village. Miss Polk is in charge of the entire reconstruction work, having been chosen by the American benefactress. She is in Vitrimont supervising the work. The Inhabitants, scattered by the Germnn invasion. have, entered into the spirit of the work and are doing much to help the Americans in building the new village, Vitrimont has been the scene of hot artillery duels a roof remaining on a house. The village until, a very short time ago was a mass of ruin and debris. The picture show’s one cottage in-the ruined town which has already been repaired and made habitable. In the doorw’ay stands a French soldier, home on short leave, with his wife and child. Over the entrance the American flag hangs In company with the French emblem. an evidence of the gratefulness.