Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-07-25
TO BEAUT|FY A TOWN,
How Well Directed Efforts VIII
Produce Good Results.
WHAT ONE SOCIETY HAS DONE
Progressive Citizens of CresskilI, N. j..
Organize an Improvement Associa.
ton and Accomplish Wonders-Depot
Grounds Transformed-Trees Saved.

Only Il few months ago three COM
muters living in Il small Jersey town
met on train homeward bound from
New York. The conversation soon
turned to the subject of improving their
town.
What Cresskill needs is an improve
ment society,"" one of them remarked.
Nothing more was said ON the subject,
and they left the train for their homes.
A few days afterward another Cress.
kilite met the maker of the above re-
mark and this conversation ensued:
Did you say that CrcsslIil needed
an Improvement society" said he.
Il did" was the reply.
'Do you mean it and would you be
willing to help in forming one?"
'Ccr'ainly. | viii do all | can"
\ meeting was called for the pur-
pose of organizing an Improvement So
cicty ana nine men responded to the
call. After Il brief discussion pres-
dent. vice president, secretary and
treasurer were elected and the society
launched on its career of good work.
At first the membership was limited to
fifteen. The dues are % cents a
month.
For some years the citizens of Cress-
train stopped in the morning bound
for New York, but had failed. The
Improvement society Mt once tackled
the problem, arranged meeting be-
tween their representatives and an Erie
railroad official and soon secured the
promise of an extra train. The meet
ing, at which the needs Of the COM
muters We're thoroughly discussed, was
very pleasant. and in a few weeks the
extra train stopped at trcsskill and has
been we'll patroniZcd. This shows
what little organized effort will do.
The interest In the society grew
apace, and soon the membership limit
was raised to twenty-five. More otli
GERS were elected and the good work
pushed along.
One of the principal streets in the
town is well shaded by an avenue Of
fine trees, forming a very attractive
feature. The electric light wires were
so strung that they were slowly. but
surely, running the trees. a commit
tee from the Improvement society call
ed the town councils attention to the
condition of the trees and requested
them to urge the electric light company
to prevent their wires from touching
the trees throughout the whole Dor
ough. The request was we'll received,
and soon the electric light men cut off
all the branches that We're touched by
the wires, and the trees have been
saved for the enjoyment of all.
This action no doubt brought the So
ciety prominently before the public.
One of the cOuncimen, who is also
member of the Improvement society,
agitatcd the observation of a cleaning
up day for the whole town. He urged
it among his friends ana fellow council
men. The mayor issued a proclama-
ton urging all the residents on May
IL last to clean up around their homes
in the morning and to assemble in the
afternoon to beautify the grounds
around the depot. Quite large num-
Der responded, and great deal of
good work was done.
| Through the generosity and the en-
terprise of the councilman mentioned
above over 200 Towering shrubs of
many kinds We're planted and beds laid
out in the parklike grounds about the
depot. An expert landscape gardener
superintendent the work, while the cit
izens assisted in digging planting, rak-
Ing up rubbish and trimming the edges
! 80 .lot-
place piece Of ground was changed into
a pretty little park. which is improving
all the time. The council has placed
the improvement society In charge of
this park, and it will be kept up and
/ improved as the opportunity offers.
Nearly every body in town has talked
about the change. Such remarks as
"Well, the old town Is waking up at
| last" quite an improvement" Looks
fine" and Good days work for Cress.
/ kill' were heard. Young and old, men,
women and children, turned out to see
the change. Commuters from neigh
boring towns commented favorably on
/ the change.
What CreSslilll has done any town
can do if only n few determined peo-
PIE viii band together and resolve to
do what they can in the line Of I'm
provements. The force Of II good eX-
ample and determination not to be
easily discouraged will work wonders.
! All the society's members vie with
each other in keeping their own
grounds clean and improving them,
thus setting an example that Is being
followed by other residents.
Cans for waste paper and fruit peel
ings will be placed in different parts of
the town. 1t is the intention of the So
ciety to interest the school children
In the good work.
All moneys Of the society are to he
spent on town improvements. The
meetings are held at the homes of the
members twice month. As soon as
all business has been transacted Il
jolly heart to heart time IS enjoyed
Thus another pleasant feature has
been added to the towns social attrac-
/ tons