WILTON – When the Wilton Winter Carnivals ended in 1936, the managing company had $900. They used the money to set up a trust, the income to be used “for the general physical development and welfare of the children of Wilton.” Very little of it was used.

Over the years, those trustees passed away, others were named, and the fund was neglected. But that trust fund still exists.

In a letter to the town on August 15 regarding a revised Non-judicial Settlement Agreement, attorney Bill Keefe noted, “The fund was dormant for several decades prior to 2017. It was, however, wisely invested and continued to grow. In 2017, the Board made an effort to find applicants in need of financial assistance. Board members worked with the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School nurse to find applicants. Frustratingly, these efforts were unsuccessful. Part of the problem is that in recent decades many medical needs of “needy children” have been met through the Medicaid and other government programs leaving a smaller set of uncovered medical needs.” Another problem is current privacy rules.

The fund now contains about $32,000. “And it ought to be used,” Keefe said.

The idea is to transfer the fund to the town’s Trustees of Trust Funds “and let them hold it,” Keefe said. “They can work with the school nurses.”

The plan also expands the coverage to Lyndeborough children since the two towns have a cooperative school from kindergarten through grade 12.

Keefe noted that the two towns also share an ambulance service, the recycling center, and recreational areas. Asking the schools to distinguish between Wilton and Lyndeborough “would be disruptive, impractical, and doom cooperation with the schools.”

He added, as a historical note, that Carnival Hill, site of the former winter carnivals, “is partly in Lyndeborough.”

Resident John Hutchinson has served as a trustee of the carnival fund since the mid-1950s. “We tried to get rid (of the fund) use it for medical expenses but not much has been used. Everybody has insurance these days.”

He agreed that using the money for orthopedics, such as providing braces, “is a possibility since Medicaid does not cover that procedure.”

Hutchinson said they attempted to donate the fund to the Dartmouth children’s fund (ChAD) but the fund is limited to Wilton children. “There ought to be some way to use it.”

Hutchinson said he got involved because he worked at the (former Wilton National) bank, taking over the position from Earl Watts. “Sometimes it been just me, but we recently got the board back up to five.” He noted, “It’s never been very active.”

Current trustees beside Hutchinson are Linda Stowe-Ladoucer, Lynne Stone, Jane Farrell and Bridey Day.

J. Lamar Smith is the chairman of the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Transferring the fund to the town will require agreement of the Carnival Fund board, the Trustees of the Trust Funds, and the Board of Selectmen.

The Select Board took no action on Aug. 15.