Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-06-16
WEALTH INCREASED
pETALuwA LADIES ENHANCED PRICE
or REAL ESTATE.

fountains, BpnChCs-the men Salu SuCn
things were fit only for lovers.
From one end of the town to the 9th
er and back again the same material
spirit of prosaic indifference to munich
pal magniicence was sadly manifest
The men Of Pctaluma plainly possessed
no poetry in their souls They had not
a trace of ambition above buying and
selling and voting. They declared that
money might be spent for more sensible
things than the laying ont Of garden
squares and the ornamentatiOn of public
thorOGghfares. Petaluma was all right.
What was the use of raising hue and
cry about the artistic appearance of
a town anyway?
Summed up, the lords and masters Of
Pctaluma households set the seal Of
their concerted disapproval upon the
whole scheme advanced by the fair in
habitants of the town. There should be
no gilt upon their gingerbread if they
could help it.
What Plant flowers and trees and
transform plain, everyday, ordinary
town into big, beautiful public gar
den that everybody would admire and
talk aboutr Nonsensel
But so wives, sisters and sweethearts
took another view Of the matter, and
for this very reason Petaluma's parks.
streets, drives, flowers and fountains
are now among the most beautiful in
the state Of California People wanted
to sell their homes then Now every
body is anxious TO buy.
The women did it, and they are still
doing it. They organized the Ladies
Improvement Club of Petaluma after
vain appeal to get the men to work
What they have accomplished in spite
Of difficulties, even in the face of oppo-
sitiOn should be an object lesson 10 ev-
cry Californian who is worthy Of the
name. To be a member of this club is
to be hard, earnest worker-to work
with hands as well as head, and in Pet
alma the ladies' have toied early and
late with brains and hands alike
Mrs, A. a. Atwood, who has been
president of the p l.. l. {. since its or
ganization, explains how the club
brought order out Of chaos as follows
This club was organized in June,
1896, because Of the dsplorable coudi-
ton of the city's public squares and
streets and the inexcusable neglect Of the
men to put and keep them in decent
condition.
By the terms of the deeds ty which
the city came into possession Of these
plazas they could be used for no other
purpose than public squares. These had
never been cultivated or cared for up to
the time the Ladies Improvement club
took held of the matter. The various
city boards of trustees had been fire.
quently importuned to do something TO
mal2' the squares look presentable, but
had as often passed the requests by I'M
needed. The ladies finally grew tired Of
such eycsores in the center of our city
and took the matter in hand and by
public entertainments and private sub
sCriptions raised sufficient means to
make very Creditable start After two
tdlS manu- WI n VIC llidllN SuNCtttltu
in getting the city trustees to grant a
pitiful allowance of $50 per month
and furnish water to keep the good
work going.
The pla2as are named Highland park
and Walnut park; the former in the
northern and the latter in the southern
part of the city. These two parks are
now nicely laid ont with walks and
drives, shaded by many trees, and
beautiful lawn covers what was once a
barren, dry weed plot All is done I'M
der the direct management and care Of
the ladies Of the club, and the many
visitors who seek rest and refreshment
here during evenings and holidays bear
witness and appreciation CT the good
work accomplished.
The club has been instrumental in
getting the city to sprinkle the streets
in summer and is now contemplating
efforts to have the business streets GOV.
cred with asphalt or some other safe
and desirable covering which will dead
en- the noise of teams and trucks 1t is
now almost impossible to carry on a
conversation while an ordinary express
wagon is passing over the basalt blocks
with which the principal streets are
paved.
Band stands and fountains will be
erected soon in both parks, and Com
pany C's military band, supported by
private subscription, will discourse mu-
sic on alternate evenings and SUNDAYS
in either park There is also an urgent
necessity for more seats in both parks.
The club is officered by and composed
of ladies only and the work is contract
ed for and supervised by the ladies
themselves. We have so members and
officers are elected semiannually. Regu-
lar meetings are held on the first and
third Tuesdays of each month Special
meetings at the call of the president
Our constitution and bylaws are iron,
clad.
Here Is the way we cover the ground
Committee of six ladies for streets.
Of three ladies for Walnut
park the same for Highland park and
plaza; committee of nine ladies for en-.
tertalnments, to raise funds for i'm
executive committee of
seven ladies to decide upon various i'm.
proVements and undertakings and their
execution. Our membership includes
the leading ladies of the city, and all
others, though not members, co.operate
more or less in the work to be done