The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-17
Institute HAS Revived
Meeting Of Those Interested in Local
Historical Matters.
THE NEW OFFICERS SELECTED
F. E. Pratt Was Chosen President-Ncw
Quarters Are to BE Secured in
Fire Proof Building
Business Transacted.

Yesterday at 4.9O in the board Of
trade rooms was held the first business
meeting in number of years of the
members of the Lackawanna County
Historical institute. J. A. Lansing was
chosen chairman, and ]. H. Fisher, Sec
retary.
AS has heretofore been stated the OBJ
ject of the meeting was to form a re-
organization of the institute. The first
business was the reading of the minutes
Of the last meeting held, which was in
February, 1889, at the arbitration room
In the court house. At that session Of
fieers and a board of directors were
elected. The death of Colonel ]. A.
Price, who was president, and then
the leading impulse of the institute, APP
pears to have thrown the organization
into chaotic state.
A. w. Dickson explained that the
time had come when the remaining
members Of the society thought that
steps should be taken to place the in
stitute on a basis that corresponds to
the standing that a society of its char
acter in city Of the progressiveness
of Scranton warrants. The society, he
thought, was born to live, not to die,
and he saw no reason why it could not
become the power for good that all
such societies bring to a community.
Report of Treasurer.
George w. Phillips, treasurer, made
his report verbally. He said that the
mnnnU N 10 in hn ho, Nd
he would be pleased to have an auditing
committee appointed to investigate his
accounts. He stated that as near as he
could judge the amount is something
over 5000. The chair appointed on the
auditing committee +. L. Platt and DIR.
l.. M. Gates.
The report of the board Of trustees
recommended that in the matter of the
reorganization of the institute that the
suggestion Of E. b. Sturges, stating the
offer of the Green Ridge library trus-
tees granting temporary quarters for
the storage of the mineralogical speci-
mems. The offer was accepted and q
motion made that locks be bought to
secure the safety of the specimens.
1t was also recommended that an ar
rangement be made with the Albright
library for the temporary storage of
books, papers, etc. These resolutions
were urged because the county commits
sioners have served notice that the in
stitute must vacate the court house.
New Quarters to Be Secured
Other resolutions recommended that
as speedily as possible suitable rooms
be procured in a 1ire-proof building,
where permanent quarters can be Of
fered to gentlemen to deposit their col
lections where such can be seen and
studied two afternoons a week by those
interested.
Mr.. Dickson made motion that the
trustees be authorized to make set
tlement with the county commissioners.
Under the agreement when the institute
organized the county commissioners
agreed that in consideration of the ex-
pense the institute was put to in fitting
up the top story of the court house, an
item amounting to $1,000, whenever the
society would vacate the court house
the commissioners would repay the So
ciety.
A motion was agreed to in accordance
with recommendation of the board of
trustees that all back dues be RENTED.
Another motion was carried that all
who pay IS to the treasurer will become
active members for the year beginning
Feb. l, 1895. The next meeting of the
institute will be called by the new
board of trustees.
New Officers Chosen.
The following officers We're elected:
President, F. E. Platt; first vice presi-
dent, A. w. Dickson; second vice presi-
dent, William T. Smith; recording sec
retary, ]. H. Fisher; corresponding sec
retary, w. A. Wilcox; treasurer, G. w.
Phillips; trustees, B. II. Throop, w. d.
Kennedy, l.. NJ. Gates and e. b.
Sturges.