The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-22
Annunl Meeting. VI. A,

The annual meeting of the Village
Improvement Association was held
at the association hail on Monday
afternoon the llth inst. At this
meeting the officers for the ensuing
year were chosen, and it was decided,
now that Mr.. Gilbert is building
large school, that the lot purchased
by the association for that purpose
was not needed and it will be offered
for sale at 1925. The News has not
been given list of all the officers
elected but has learned of the. fol-
lowing: Mrs. Charlotte l.. Preston,
president; Miss May Hutchinson,
secretary; Mrs. F. M. Payson, treas
urer. An interesting feature of the
meeting was the reports of the re-
firing secretary and treasurer as
follows:
sECRETARY's REPORT.
During the past year, our associa-
ton has held twelve regular meet
ings, eight called, and one open
meeting. More open meetings were
planned for, but other business
crowded them out.
While we have not increased our
membership, we have grown more
united and risen to great occasions.
The happiest and best event of the
year has been our release from
debt.
Four choice entertainments, Prof.
Morse Lecture on Japan, Mrs. Bun.
ker's Recital, and Prof. Holton's two
dramatic entertainments, were given
to us. The proceeds from these, ad-
ded to our own earnings, gave us
funds enough to pay every dollar Of
our indebtedness. This happy event
was celebrated by public reception
April goth.
The cemetery has been we'll cared
for, though for the first time the re-
ceipts from the lot owners has not
equaled the expenses; city water has
been piped to it, and whatever funds
was short has been supplied by the
Y. /. A.
Socially we have contributed to
the pleasure of the public by card
parties, suppers, and a variety of en-
tertainments. We also had the
pleasure of entertaining the Teachers
Institute held here in March and
found the meeting both pleasant and
profitable.
After our mortgage was paid the
association was ready to take up
some work for the public good. We
had hoped to build a new school
house on the lot purchased for that
purpose, but our efforts did not meet
with general approval and the mat
ter was laid on the table.
Educational matters seemed to be
most needed and it was decided to do
whatever we could to improve our
school. Every year our older schol-
ers had to be sent away for high
school work. People with children
to be educated could not afford to
live here. According to the present
law, if high school work could be
maintained here, we would be enti-
tied to $l60 more state aid than we
were receiving. This however was
not enough TO pay third teacher,
neither was there any room for one,
Our association at once decided to
furnish room suitable for a school
and to provide whatever funds were
needed to carry on tho work.
After consulting the supervisors
principal of the school and patrons
a delegrate was sent to the county
School Board at Palatka, asking fol
this extra money and Il third teacher
After carefully considering the
matter, the board decided that We
were entitled to the money and
granted our petition. NOT only tine
older scholars, but every child in tbs
school should be benefited by thi:
help
A suitable room has been rented
and supplied with everything need
full and five dollars per month spaic
towards the teachers salary.
This state aid is for three year:
and our pupils should make gooc
progress in that time, il the work i:
kept up. Before another wear W,
will be in the new school-house Sc
generously given by Messrs. Gilber
and Smith where the work can b.
carried on with every improved ia
lcility.