The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-09-14
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.

The Club was called to order by the Presi-
dent, 8. Y. Brande, who addressed them as
follows:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES Assembling to-
day upon the grounds newly purchased, and
which are to be primarily devoted to the
uses of the Club, we have great cause for
congratulation.
The wish to perpetuate the memory of
tolls and labcrs-the performance Of which,
in many cases, made the actors little
short of heroes-seems to spring from
the same motives and impulses which prompt
us to raise monuments to the memory of
those we love and revere.
What better monument can we have than
a choice fragment of the earth's surface as
it was fashioned oy nature in the long distant
past, by her irresistible ces-combining
the pleasing elevation, shape and surround
ings which sometimes result from her other
wise arbitrary and apparently capricious
action. 1t is such spot, covered by the
dress of nature, oaks, elms, and lindens
spontaneously springing up and towering
aloft-the product of a generous soil-that
we here devote to the purpose of hallowing
the memory of earlier days and old associa-
tons.
That it may prove a permanent devotion,
reliance is placed on our descendants-tho
who are soon to occupy our places; we turn
over this trust to their sacred keeping, in
confidence that the memory Of the earlier
settlers of Kenosha county will be honored
and respected by their improving and
identifying these grounds from year to year
capable as the place is of furnishing to
them, at the same time. the best and purest
recreation and relief from everyday work
and care.
At the last reunion committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. Thorp, Runk.
Ell, Robinson and Brande, to select and pur.
chase grounds for permanent place of
meeting.
After examining various places within the
county, the Committee was unanimous in the
conclusion that this locality, from its nearly
central position, shape, size and surround
ings, was best adapted for the use of the
Club. Whatever may have been the original
inducement for purchasing grounds at Fox
Lake, it very soon became manifest that the
organization could not claim the support Of
che old settlers as distinctive Kenosba
county institution-and it became question
whether the Club should disband, or re or
ganize, change its base and appeal to lac
local pride of the county by adopting meas
ures calculated TO unite all having common
Wish within its borders.
By good fortune, the sale of the Fox Lake
property was made without much loss, and
thus the way was opened to secure q new
md kwnI hona fnr khaH I,,h
To accomplish this, the Committee has de.
voted its best efforts. how we'll it has sue.
ceeded, you can best judge. With the pro-
ceeds of the sale, $425-after paying and
discharging the debts of the society and
the taxes on the property sold-they have
purchased, in the name of the Club, three
acres of ground, and paid for the same in
full, have cleaned up the leaves and fallen
wood, have opened the main drive through
the same, and trimmed out the underground.
leaving the rest in its natural state, have re-
moved the unsightly stumps and constructed
fence on the east and west sides of the
lot, composed of four lines of barbed wire.
making the enclosure substantially complete,
except on the south end, the fence now
on that side being allowedto stand, pending
the decision of the question Of building. It
is contemplated by the Committee that the
gaps in the track left by nature can from
time to time, (perhaps next Spring., be
filed by planting other varieties than the
native, and thus q pleasing addition can be
made to the ground, its uniformity of aspect
heightened, its variety increased, and its
establishment secured without much cost.
While speaking of this matter Of embel-