Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-02-14
For HE Register
CHARLESTOwN,
February 10, 1874. !

| notice an article in your last paper
over the signature of Several Changers
and Mechanics. The ideas named in
this communication are clever, and see
no reason why they can not be carried
out. No one could now count the ben
etits which would be derived from such
enterprises after they had gotten in ope
ration. In addition to this your town
wants Building Association. Six years
ago when Building Associations were
first talked of in Charlesto"n, the idea
of paying in On stock fifty cents per
share per week was laughed at, but
Notwithstanding we started al Associa-
ton with 500 shares, and on the first OF
January last, six years from the COM
mencement of the Association, it had
received in the shape of dues, interest
and fines more than ninety seven thou
sand dollars, all Of which has been loan
ed out to lis members for the purposes
of building and repairing property.
Those yet remaining in the Association
will receive handsome per cent. upon
their investments than any Of
our banks are paying. This Assocla-
ton will wind up in about nine months
from the first of January last.
About one year ago second Build
inc Association was organized and start.
ed in Charlestown with nearly the same
amount of shares-tlis Association is
doing quite as well as the first one
These Associations have, perhaps, done
more to improve Charlestown than any
thing which has been started since the
close of the war.
NIartinsburg has had three of these
Associations since the close Of the war,
two of which ! think have been wound
up, benefttng all who invested in
them, while the third one is keeping
pace with the two which have lately
closed.
can point you to a mechanic in this
town who before the Building Associa-
ton was started in this place Paid $3.50
rent for dwelling. This gentleman
subscribed for five shares of stock cost
ing him S2!O per week. In short
time he received from the Association
for his shares one thousand dollars, with
which he built home. The interest
OH the money borrowed together with
his dues amounted in round numbers to
$3.50 per week, making but little more
than his rent-this has been paid up
regularly each week for the past six
vears-and in the course OF eight
months more from this time, he will
have paid for his home and own it.
If you desire | can give you for the
benefit of your subscribers and citizens,
who are not familiar with the working
of these Associations, other information.
Reference may he had 10 the last
'Free Press" for statement of the
condition of the first Building Associa-
ton on the 2nd of January last. This
statement has been made up with 4
good deal of care and labor, and the
Committee should receive vote of
thanks for their work.
Charlestown has been lively for the
past two or three days on account OF the
good sleighing.
Our Market House is drawing to-
wards completion, and when completed
will be one of the best buildings of the
kind TO be found in the Valley. The
Hall will be the largest and best arrang-
ed for concerts and other shows 10 be
found in any of our Virginia or West
Virginia towns.
OLD Kindred