Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-08-10
WE WORK TOGETHER
GOOD MOTTO FOR A VILLAGE I'M
PROvEMENT ASSOCIATION.
Excellent Results Accomplished by
Women In a Pennsylvania Town.
Method of Procedure Reforms
Made-VaIue of Object Lessons.


Method of Procedure Reforms
Made-Value of Object Lessons.
Woman's work In village improve
ment was the subject Of V. c. Melville
ir. She said In part:
AS an instance of what women can
do along this line we cite the work at
Honesdale, Pa. This improvement as
ISOLATION was organized nine years ago.
1t is composed wholly of women, al
though men are admitted as honorary
members. Their motto is I'VE Work
Together" and their object, as set
forth In the constitution they have
adopted, Is to improve and ornament
the streets and public grounds by
planting and cultivating trees, clean
| ing and repairing sidewalks, with such
other work rs will tend to improve and
bcautify the village. The membership
| fee Is 80 cents and the honorary men,
bership fee 81. No debts can be con-
tracted. The officers consist of presi-
dent, three vice presidents, secretary
and treasurer, who, with an executive
committee Of nine, are elected annually
and have full governing power for one
year. This board divides the entire
membership into subcommittee, CIV
| ing each It's work. and each is known
| by the work given it, as sanitary and
street vigilance committee, humane
| committee, committee OF entertain
ment, flower committee, park and trees
committee, children's auxiliary and
| collectors.
1t Is said that no more unprOmising
field than Honesdale could possibly be
| found for the beginning of such an ell
| terprse. There were vacant lots,
where all manner OF rubbish was
dumped; dirty streets, broken side
walks and n frog pond in the center of
| the village. A letter received from an
officer Of the association some time ago
said:
I'VE do not have much money to
handle 1t is the little things which
we look after. Our work has been
chiefly in the way of laying out parks,
making flower beds and keeping them
in order. The town is crossed by riv-
er, which was shamefully neglected.
! We began by building retaining wall
OH each side, and the town council aid
ed us by forbidding the dumping Of
ashes and rubbish, as had hitherto
been DONE We made five foot path
| along the north side Of the river, which
was already shaded by a double row
of naples; vines were planted along
the walls. and the space gained by the
\ kHI 90
ers. There Is another park, or square, In
the center Of the town which boasts a
| large fountain. We endeavOr to keep
the grass cut neatly and to pull out the
weeds on the sides of the streets and
| on vacant lots"
This association now belongs to the
| Federation of Women's Clubs, and n
short talk about their work by men,
Der at n state meeting resulted In the
organization of several other associa-
tons.
Another notable instance of the work
of these associations Is to be found at
Stock bridge, Mass. 1t is the pioneer
organization, being Al years old, and
the results are wonderful to those who
| have not followed the work from the
| beginning. Men, women and children
belong to this association, and its
growth has been phenomenal from the
beginning. One thousand dollars was
raised during the first IL months. and
400 trees were planted. AS rapidly as
the work could be paid for streets were
drained and graded, and proper light
ing and water facilities were put In.
People were induced to take down
| their fences. The association paid half
the expense Of n new depot and added
to the grounds around 1t, identifying
them by planting trees, making walks
and cultivating growing flowers. 1t Is
n pleasure now to wait for a train In
| StOckbridge. That the work of this
association has been of inestimable
benefit to the town may he proved by
the famous Lenox neighborhood, which
is made up of the palatial homes of
millionaires from neighboring cities,
who were attracted to StOckbridge by
| Its beauty. 1t would take too long to
tell of the fine public library, of Laurel
Hill park. OF the many monuments and
fountains and of the numberiesS lux
urics In the line of civic decorations
which this association has made pos.
sible since its organization. 1t must
not be forgotten, however, that Stock
bridge has been a favored child of
fortune, having received large sums OF
money as gifts from the rich. But who
can say that the influence of the assO-
citation has not had something to do
with that also?
How to make practical application
of all this Is the pertinent question.
How may we make our own environ
ment more beautiful and create silent
influence that may have its effect on
the entire neighborhood? If only our
own dooryard Is revolutionized, it will
be an object lesson to our neighbor. 1t
Is never difficult to arouse the interest
Of teachers and pupils In making the
school grounds pretty. II We cannot
nave a village improvement ass0cia-
ton, we can do our best with our own
immediate surroundings, but ! thing
In the near future there will be no vii
lage without Its improvement associa-
ton and that the next step will lead
! to the organization Of farm improve
ment associations. And who shall say