The Republican journal., 1901-06-06
BELFAST IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Belfast I'M
provement Society was held Monday, June
10. In the absence of the President the
meeting was called to order and presided
over by Mrs. c. A. Pilsbury, Vice Presi-
dent. The annual report of the Secretary
was submitted and adopted, as follows:
TO the President and Members of the
Belfast Improvement Society: In accord
dance with my duty as Secretary l sub
init my annual report, giving in detail, as
much as is possible, the work OF the year.
1t is hardly necessary to repeat to you
the particulars of the forming of the So
ciety, how a few of our energetic ladies,
not satisfied with certain conditions, and
believing the public needs immediate, spent
the hours Of day. designed for recreation
organization that should ''promote the
beauty and welfare of our city,.
Acting upon this meeting was called at
the home of Mrs. F. J. Rigby, June 2S, 1900,
at which officers We're elected and commit
tees appointed. July 2nd public meeting
was held at Memorial Hall, and the work Of
the society entered upon bravely. OF our
dlscouragements and disappontments you
are all aware, and if results are not in every
way satisfactory, we are to-day, at least,
better organized for future effort and able
to guide an enterprise much larger than
any yet undertaken
The first work of the Society was the re-
building of the band stand, burned upon
the night of July 4th. A neat, substantial
uncovered platform was erected at a cost of
about 500. The whole matter was under
the supervision of the Building Com mittee
and through the influence of Miss Barker, a
| member of said committee, some of the
material and much of the labor was donat-
ed. The platform is credit to the work
men and to the city.
| EOl1nyNipU fbiS tba Io, l.
along Northport Ave. was removed and a
gravel fOOtpath constructed. In the build
ing of this, Mr. j. +. Wilson and others
contributed labor and money.
Under the management of the Flower and
Park Com. and at the expense of the society,
the several grass plots at the junction Of
streets have been carefully kept, and the
streets in various places cleared of debris.
The society is also at work, under an
efficient forestry committee, in transplant
ing and trimming trees.
The putting into effect the curfew law was
mainly due to the personal effort of the
Street Vigilant Com, Mrs. c. A. Pilsbury,
chairman.
The society has been instrumental in sug-
gesting many needed improvements which
have been kindly carried out by the City
Government and Mr.. Robbins, Street com
missioner.
Much time and effort have been put into
an unsuccessful attempt to purchase and i'm
prove the vacant lot in Custom House
square, and in trying to promote plans for
guine, however, that the consummation of
this is the work of the near future.
The society at the present time enrolls ISL
members. We have held twenty-five meet
ings during the year. This does not in
clude the meetings held by the various COM
mttees and Executive board.
.. AT meeting held Jan. IA, 1901, a consttu-
tlon and bylaws were adopted. 1t was also
voted to become incorporated under the
laws of the State, and legal proceedings are
operation to that end at the present time
During "Old Home Week Aug. 10TH last,
an afternoon tea was given in Memorial
Hall, to all old residents and friends. 1t
was successfully carried out, and proved
very enjoyable.
Our chief entertainment for the year, and
which added goOdly sum to our finances,
was the presentation of the musical, spec
tacular play Zephra, in Belfast Opera House.
| Oct. %, % and ~. The excellence of the
opera, and the manner in which it was pro
duced, are too well known to bear repeti-
ton. 1t entaled, however, much hard work
upon the managers and committees. but re-
suits were not disappointing.
Much OF the success of the years work
has been due to the interest shown by our
local paper, The journal, in so freely ad-
vertsinS all matter helpful to the objects in
view.
The official board has been we'll supported
by the committees, and the work all the
time characterized by good feeling and en-
thuSiastc, unseltish interest on the part of
the workers.
In closing, wish to personally thank our
| President and other officers, for the patience
exercised and help given me i'll my special
duties, and bespeak for my successor the
same kindly sympathy.
| +. l.. BRACkETT, Secy.
The Treasurer reported S24499 expendi-
lures for the year; funds on hand, S254 "A.
A letter was read from the President,
Mrs. NJ. }. Gammans, expressing regret at
her inability to be present, and declining a
reelection
The following officers and committees
were elected for the ensuing year:
President-Mrs. F. W. Pote.
Vice Presdents-M Louise Hazetine,
Mrs. c. A. Pilsbury, Mrs. +. j. Rigby.
Recording Sec'y,-Mrs. Geo. E. Bracket.
Corresponding Sec'y-Miss Maud Math-
ews.
Treasurer Mrs. II. II. Johnson.
Assistant Treasurer-Mrs. j. W. Freder-
ick.
Auditor-Mrs. Geo. f. Bracket.
Executive Committee-Mrs. NJ. j, Gam
mans, Mrs F. j. Rgby, Miss Mary John
son, Mrs. H. Pitcher, Mrs r. p. Chase, Miss
Maud Barker, Mrs. +. S. Pitcher, Mrs. A. a.
! Small, MTS. Naltef cooper, MrS. A. a. Smltll,
Mrs. Frank Mathews, Mrs. John Quimby,
Mrs. James H. Howes, Miss Juliet A. Wig
gin, Miss Mary Faunce, Mrs. Geo. S. Mills,
Mrs. Geo. A. Quimby, Miss Julia Perry,
Mrs. C. O. Poor, Miss Sue NJ. Partridge,
Mrs. A. |. Brown, Mrs. F. II. Welch, Mrs.
James Haney, Miss Matte PendletOn.
Forestry Committee-MrS. Frank b.
Mathews, Mrs. Bancroft Conant, Miss
Maud Mlliken
Sanitary and Street Vigilant Committee
Mrs. G. A. Pilsbury, Mrs. c. o. Poor, Mrs.
VIM. Conant, Mrs. Geo. O. Bailey, Mrs. O.
II. Cooper, Mrs. A. A. Small
Entertainment Commttee-Mrs. +. j,
Rigby, Mrs. F. W. Pote. Miss Maud Barker
Mrs. H. II. johnson, Miss Hattie Clark
Mrs. Geo. A. Quimby, Miss Mary Faunce
Mrs. Joseph Tyler, Mrs. Edith Walden.
Mrs. Ben HaZeltlne.
Childrens Auxiliary-MisS Mary Mason,
Mrs Elbridge Pitcher, Miss Juliet Wiggin
Miss Lulu Mason.
Flower and Park Committee-Mss Louise
Hazeltine, Mabel Mathews, Mrs. A. A.
Smith.
Bull ilding, Vacant Lot and Unsightly Place
Comm ittee-Mrs; j: F. Rigby, Mrs; R. 7.
Chase, Mrs. F, W. Pote, Miss Mabel Math;
ews, Miss Louise Hazeltine, Miss Maud
| Barker.
Collecting Committee Mrs. Edith Wal
den, Mrs. Bancroft Conant, Mrs. Horace
Pitcher, Miss A. +. Southworth, Miss Liz
zie Kelley, Mrs Frank b. Mathews.
1t was voted to join the National League
| of Improvement Clubs.