The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-02
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT
WHAT ONE SOCIETY ACCOMPLISHED
IN NEW YORK TOWN.
Feminine Pride Was Aroused and Led
TO u Converted Movement
Against IgIiness.
New York Evening Post.


New York Evening Post
Village Improvement has been carried out
very successfully by women. Oxford. an old
interior New York town. owes it's charming
appearance to-day entirely TO the endeavors
Of the members Of the Ladies' Village I'm
proVement Society. Three parks were set
arart by the pioneers originally. but after
one hundred years they were little regarded
by the people then living within sight of
them. They were overrun with weeds and
brush: trees began 10 grow promiscuously
in one, while the lines OF another were
broken down and it became a mudhole.
One afternoon two women were looking
out on the plot called Lafayette Square. A
little stream was stagnating through its
center; drivers and pedestrians had no
consideration for the struggling grass.
can we not do something asked one
Evidently they had been thinking of the
same thing, for the other said, Lets try
The two talked with other women, and a
meeting of women was called TO devise
ways and means of improving the village
A permanent organization was formed, and
president. vice president, treasurer and
secretary elected. y board of directors
and executive committee were also ap-
pointed, and constitution and bylaws
were adopted.
Organization was perfected in September.
the objects of the society were made known
throughout the community, and the work
OF improving the village began at the home
of each of the twenty members. The ma
jority of the people said: You can never
accomplish anything" but the women en-
tered enthusiastically upon their enterprise.
They wrought changes in their own door
yards. They exchanged slips" of hardy
plants, purchased the roots of inexpensive
but pretty shrubs BY ordering together
and purchasing at wholesale they were able
to save much. All orders were shipped to
the president of the society, and the ex-
pressage on individual packages was saved
Tor the purchase of more shrubs.
1t was an aggressive campaign. The rub
blsh which had accumulated in the corners
of the fences was cleared away Old fences
were replaced by new ones, or repaired, or
removed entirely. The women made beau
tiful lawns about their homes. and planted
vines TO spread over walls and fences. Or
namental shruDbery was set out; pretty
evergreen or deciduous trees We're procured
from the forest near by, and set in rows
where the crumbling fence once stood.
New sidewalks were laid. AS the village
was noted for its deposit of bluestone.
|
cheapy. AS soon as these were laid il
was seen to be essential that wide cutters
should be made, and with the cutters came
grading the streets and removing weeds
ana stones Attention was given TO back
door yards that faced the railroad. Weeds
and brush had overrun them, and they had
! become dumping ground. Back doors
and barns which had never known a coat
OF colCr were painted. and the weather.
beaten. tumble-down board fences were re-
placed by neat white pckets
C1lhGnrinffnn xk-ae t,alI cfo Coz
funds TO restore the parks People were
asked to give anything from a, cent up. A
New England supper was given. and it
proved TO be SO pleasant and successful that
1t has been repeated annually. The society
was able TO swell the contributions by the
proceeds from series of entertainments,
embracing concerts, theatricals and lee
lures, which found ready favor. These also
were found so profitable i'm every sense that
they have been continued. The money hav-
ing nnally been raised, a committee of three
was appointed TO arrange for grading and
curbing Lafayette square, the dimensions
of which were $50 by 81 feet A handsome
late Calvin Cole by his sons at a cost of
$1,000, and was formally dedica ted to the
village. The expense OF the grading curb
ing, setting the fountain and obtaining
water for ii amounted to 81 900.
Washington Park was next made delight
Iul. Travelled walks were wound through
IL: In place of aggressive weeds. lawn grass
seed was sown; ground was spaded up, and
cultivated plants set out; mountain ash
weeping willow and balsam trees were
| placed here and there, and wild clematis
and ampelopsis were so planted that they
would in time overrun the tops of these
trees. HOllyhOck trees were secured. and
asters. hydrangeas ard wild roses were ar
ranged IN pretty Vistas. Finally, fallen ana
| decayed timber. stumpS weeds and rubbish
were taken from Fort Hill Park. which was
! covered over with rich soil and seeded
down, and is now an attractive green plot
or three-quarters of an acre surrounded
| by a fine curbing. The three parks are
cared for at comparatively small expendi-
| tUre.
CEMETERY IMPROVED.
In a forgotten cemetery on a side street.
near the heart of the village, the few re-
naming slabs had been leveled by the
frosts of many years. Wild apple trees
grew and bore fruit, which was harvested
only by the small boys; old rose bushes ran
wild and mingled with briars. burdocks.
milkweed and golden rod Many old cans
and paiS had been thrown into the in
closure. The grass was never cut and the
grounds were fast becoming impenetrable
The women got TO work, cleared the old
cemetery OF debris and reset the ancient
shafts, removing the ashes of some of the
| forefathers Of the hamlet to the new and
| handsome burial grounds on the hill across
| the river The grass is now moved regu-
! larly. the wild brambles are subdued and
| the place is honored as it should be.
The society has purchased opera chairs
a Stroot-SDr1nk-
| Ter Five of the women have been desig-
mated the "Firemen's Relief" and they
make coffee and provide refreshments for
the firemen at fires. The society has cxer-
cised its influence against the prevalent
habit Of the male population of expectorat-
ing tobacco juice on the sidewalks and
has had a gratifying measure of success.
1t also brought about the enactment of a
village ordinance which provides for the
arrest of tramps If found within the limits
of the village, and notices to this effect are
posted along the highways near the town
and on the trees in town.
In all the society has expended about
5000 on its various improvements. though
the results certainly suggest q large sum.
II continues to foster town pride and pub
lie spirit. and through its untiring efforts
the village to-day stands out i'm marked
contrast with what III was before The
wOmcn's influence has extended 10 the
neghboring farmers, who. patterring after
what they have seen in the village. shave
their lawns and make their cottages and
fences neater. The society. IL should be
added, religiOusly abstains from politics
1t is interesting TO note that the first in
corporated village Improvement society in
the United States was the Laurel Hill As
ISOLATION. of Stockbridge. Mass. which
was originated by Miss Mary Hopkins. now
Mrs. j. L. Goodrich.
SEVERE on BLUE EYES