The Oskaloosa herald., 1893-02-16
OsKALOOsA,
THOSE COTTAGES.

Dedication Of The Cottages at the
Soldiers Home Conf fort for Old
Folks.
On Thursday, at Marshalltown, the
dedication exercises of the ten cottages
at the soldiers home took place in the
chapel at o'clock, unCer the direction
of Mrs. Sarah Rothrock, department
president of the w. r. C. of Iowa. 1t
is well known that the legislature at
the last session appropriated $1,000 to
build ten cottages on the grounds of the
home, the purpose being to test the
practicability of providing home for
the veterans wives, as we'll as for the
veterans. Five hundred dollars does
not build palace, but it has built a
pleasant little house of three rooms,
consisting of vestibule, sitting room
and bed chamber, with closet; is heated
by stove and lighted by electricity.
The inmates will take their meals at
the home tuilding proper. This will
make pleasant home for the wife who
went through the trying times of '62"
and "64", caring for the home interests
while the husband was in the field of
war. Should this experiment prove sue
cessful the hill at the home will be COW
cred with like cottages, building city
peopled with veterans and their wives.
A movement already has been in
augurated to further the good work of
the state by the pledges Of Mrs. Roth
rock and her noble assistants, the
Women's Relief corps, to build ten more
cottages. The state department of the
G. A. R., the posts of Muscatine and
Davenport each pledge to build one,
that of Muscatine being the first.
The state is being seconded in this
noble work by the loyal and charitable
citizens of the state, and it is believed
that the next legislature will take heed
of the popular demand of the royal peO-
pie of Iowa with an appropriation of
$4,000 to build twenty cottages more.
Mrs. Rothrock opened the exercises by
announcing music by the home Or
chestra, followed by devotional exercises
conducted by Rev. Geo. Hoover, of DAY.
export. Colonel Merrill, president of
the Soldiers Home commissioners, in
their behalf, expressed their apprOba
tion of the interest manifested by Mrs.
Rothrock, and the ladies of the differ
ent corps in the furnishing of the cot
tageS with more than abundance for
that purpose, there being enough to
furnish several more.
An original song by Mrs. ROthrOck,
"Our Cottage Homes" was sung by the
audience, which was very appropriate
for the occasion Letters of regret were
read by Mrs. Rothrock from Governor
Boies, Commander-in-C Chief WeisSert,
of the GA. r., General Steadman, Annie
Wittenmeyer and Nellie S. Chapman,
from Washington, D. {. Miss Belle
Gray, of Washington, the national
president of the Ladies Aid society,
gave very pleasing address, explaining
the objects of the organization of which
she has the honor to be the presiding
officer. Mrs. Rothrock then gave the
dedication address. She is lady of
commanding appearance, speaker of
great force and impressiveness, and her
statements were received with general
Secretary Russell said a few words
and presented the resolutions passed
by the board complimenting the ladies
and their noble work. Capt. S. Evans.
of Ottumwa, and Colonel Keatly made
short speeches. Mrs. Christina Snyder,
of Creston, made the closing address.