Connecticut western news., 1906-07-19
WATSON MEMORIAL
GIRLS FRIENDLY SOCIETY HOUSE

An Attractive Spot Where Members
 of This Society Find Rest and Rec
 reation at a Moderate Expense -
 Fostered by the Episcopal Church .
 The Mary Watson Memorial, more l generally known as the Vacation House, near Canaan, which was opened ill June . this year, is now affording rest and recre- ] ation for the following members of the | Girls Friendly Society: Misses Emma | Popp, Rhea Dion, Gertrude Hulburt, Daisy Hulburt, Lydia Smith, Olive Moul- l ton, Hartford; Maude Blakeslee, Theresa ! Brokelshew, Olga Brokelshew, New Haven; Resana McNeil. Torrington; Hilda Anderson, Hartford; Sarah Kaiser, West Hartford
 The Girls Friendly Society Is an or ganization worldwide in it's scope and has branches in every country where the English language is spoken. In the United States there are 30.000 members, and in the state of Connecticut 33 branches. It is fostered by the Episco- pal church. Girls of good character may join the society regardless of their church affiliations, although the asso- ciates, those who have the work i'll charge, must be members and communi- bants of the Episcopal church.
 The girls are, for the most part, em- ployed as stenographers or i'll kindred vacations, although there are many members who have no regular employ ment.
 Every girl before becoming member is put on probation, and should there be any question as to her eligibility at the close of the probationary period, she is denied membership.
 At the Mary Watson Memorial the girls are permitted to come and spend one or two weeks, the price for board having been placed at the nominal sum of three dollars which amount is applied toward the maintenance of the House. These girls come from all parts of the state. The House is not endowed and at times some difficulty is experienced in maintaining it, although small con- tributions are made toward it from each branch of the society in the state.
 The Mary Watson Memorial premises were formerly owned by Mrs. McLain of Hartford. She presented the property to the bishop of the Bridgeport diocese, dedicated 1t to the memory of her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Watson, and requested that it be used for the purpose of furthering the work of the church. At that time the Girls Friendly Society was greatly in need of a vacation house and the church decided to use it for that purpose. Since that time the interior of the house has been remodeled to better adapt it for the Society's uses, large veranda has been bnilt and various other improvements made.
 The house mother is Miss Mary E. Johnson; Miss Lucy C. Whiton is chap erone, and Miss Sally Carol is the nurse. These ladies all take deep in- terest in the work of the Society and serve in their respective capacities with out desire for, or expectation of financial reward.
 The Memorial will probably be closed about the middle of September, after which the associates will hold their an- nual conference there. Here an inter change of views and experiences take place and plans are considered for fur thering the work. In addition to the mutual benefit thus derived. the asso- ciates enjoy the respite from the more or less strenuous service which they have been called upon to perform dur ing the vacation season.
 The Episcopal church and these Chris tian women who have consecrated them l selves to the work of assisting their deserving sisters, deserve much praise, and this gratuitous service is much ap- preciated by the many young ladies who each year visit this healthful and invit- ing spot where they may enjoy vaca- 7 tion at an expense not beyond their , resources.