Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-07-12
WE WORK TOGETHER
GOOD MOTTO FOR A VILLAGE IN
PROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
Excellent Results Accomplished by
Women In a Pennsylvania Town.
Method of Procedure Reforms
Made-vaIue of object Lessons.

Womans work in village improve
ment was the subject of V. C. Melville
In a recent number of The Housekeep-
er. 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
sociaton was organized nine years ago.
1t is composed wholly of women, al
though men are admitted as honorary
members. Their motto is 1--WE 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 as will tend to improve and
beautify 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 its work, and each is known
by the work given it, as sanitary and
street vigilance committee, humane
committed, committee of entertain
ment, flower committee, park and trees
committee, childrens auxiliary and
collectors.
1t is said that no more unpromising
field than Honesdale could possibly be
found for the beginning of such an en-
terprise. There We're vacant lots,
where all manner of rubbish was
dumped; dirty streets, broken side
walks and frog pond in the center of
the village. A letter received from an
officer of the association some time ago
Said
1--WE do not have much money to
handle. 1t is the little things which
I've look after. Our work has been
chiefly in the way of laying out parks,
making flower beds and keeping them
n order The town is crossed by n riv-
pr, which was shamefully neglected.
We began by building a retaining wall
bn each side, and the town council aid
fd us by forbidding the dumping of
lshes and rubbish, as had hitherto
been done. We made a five foot path
long the north side of the river, which
vas already shaded by double row
# naples; vines We're planted along
he walls, and the space gained by the
walls was filled in and planted to flow
RS. There is another park, or square, in
he center of the town which boasts n
brge fountain. We endeavor to keep
he grass cut neatly and to pull out the
Weeds on the sides of the streets and
Il vacant lots"
This association now belongs to the
liberation of Women's Clubs, and a
hort talk about their work by men,
er at a state meeting resulted in the
TERMINATION of several other associa-
ons.
Another notable instance of the work
/ these associations is to be found at
tockbridge, Mass. 1t is the pioneer
rganzaton, being Al years old, and
le results are wonderful to those who
ave not followed the work from the
eginning. Men, women and children
elong to this association, and its
rowth has been phenomenal from the
eginning. One thousand dollars was
lised during the first IL months, and
DO trees were planted. AS rapidly as
be work could be paid for streets were
fained and graded, and proper light
g and water facilities We're put in.
eople were induced to take down
heir fences. The association paid half
e expense of new depot and added
the grounds around it, identifying
EN- by planting trees, making walks
pd cultivating growing flowers. 1t is
pleasure now to wait for a train in
ockbridge. That the work of this
sociation has been of inestimable
Ene6t to the town may be proved by
e famous LenoX neighborhood, which
made up of the palatial homes of
illionaires from neighboring cities,
ho were attracted to Stockbridge by
beauty. 1t would take too long to
II of the fine public library, of Laurel
II park, of the many monuments and
untains and of the numberless lux
les in the line of civic decorations
lich this association has made pos
Die since its organization. 1t must
Dt lOISOlleL, bONcNCls lIdl olOSh-
idge has been a favored child of
rtune, having received large sums Of
bney as gifts from the rich. But who
say that the influence of the asso-
ton has not had something to do
tn that also?
low to make a practical application
all this is the pertinent question.
bw may we make our own environ
nt more beautiful and create a silent
luence that may have its effect on
entire neighborhood? If only our
n dooryard is revolutioniZed, it will
an object lesson to our neighbor. 1t
never difficult to arouse the interest
teachers and pupils in making the
pool grounds pretty. If we cannot
Ee village improvement associa-
h, we can do our best with our own
mediate surroundings, but | think
the near future there will be no vii