West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-06-27
WOMEN TO THE FORE
How They Have Been Transform
ing an Ohio Town.
PAINT ON ALL THE BUILDINGS

Despite Protests Of the Men. Bellevue's
Fair Sex Have Shown What Pluck
and Determination Will Do TO Have a
One OF the most unusual exploits
ever performed by woman is that
which Is transforming the little hamlet
or Bellevue, o., just over the Michigan
border, into SpOtless Town which
without doubt will soon be famed
throughout the country for It's remark
able women, says the New York Press.
These women, few more than forty,
nre engaged Ia one OF the most unusual
undertakings that can be imagined.
Entirely describing the eternal rcm-
ininc' and Ignoring objections and
plcadings Of fathers, brothers and hus-
bands, they are engaged In cleaning
MP town Ak never town has been
cleaned before
Up TO date Bellevue has had no par
tIcular reputation. 1t is pretty little
place OF about 100 souls. Its buildings,
like those of many hamlets, have been
poorly cared for, and when the present
sensation was born there were only
four houses I'm the place which were
decently painted. A year ago the VII
lage improvement club was formed,
ana not only the women of the town,
but farmers wives and daughters, were
numbered among It's members. The
object of this organization Is shown in
Its name, but the women found n huge
obstacle in their path at the very start
In no way could they get the men OF
the town to cooperate with them. A
few new walks We're built, and four
houses and one st6re were painted, but
that was about all.
At one OF the clubs sessions few
weeks ago Mrs. Guy l.. Miller, secre-
tary, suggested that they paint the
town themselves She had her plans
all mapped out and they were adopt
ed. without saying word to the
men folk Mrs. Miller and Miss Ethel
Hewitt, acting as committee, went
To nearby city, where n big, ready
mixed paint manufacturing plant was
located. The two women saw the gen
eral manager, explained the object of
their visit and asked FOR II donation of
paint, as the club had no funds. They
pointed out to the manager the adver-
Using advantages his firm would reap.
| and he readily agreed with them. n
week later the men of Bellevue we're
astonlshed TO see dray load OF paint
cans hauled from the station to Mrs.
Miller's house.
Next day dozen members of the
! club. wearing sweaters and short
skirts, left Airs. Miller's home ana pro
cceded to the village church. 4 cou
| pie Of husky village lads followed with
| rig filled with ladders, cans of paint
ana brushes. Six ladders were placed
against the side of the building. and
while six women mounted these the
other six worked from the ground.
| News OF what the women were doing
| quickly spread, and the men left their
work to watch them and to offer al.
vice, not unmiXed with ridicule. Final
| ly they began to offer their services.
| but the fair painters scorned them.
During that day and the next the
church was given its first coat OF
white.
The town hall, n small. ugly. weather
blackened frame building. was taken
next and on the third day this was
painted. On the morning of this day
| young woman who had climbed upon
| the roof TO paint The Flagstaff slipped
and rolled down the roof, only saving
herself from severe fall by clutching
at the caves. Several of the men.
alarmed at the turn affairs We're tax
Ing and fearing that injuries would
| follow, demanded that they be allowed
TO do the work. But the women were
untaltering For more than a year
they had pleaded and urged. They
could now get along without the men
and they said so.
One man whose wife and daughter
were active and enthusiastic members
| Of the club became alarmed. He
| bought lot OF white lead and turpcn-
tine and prepared TO paint his house
and barn Mrs. Henry Rowe, his wife.
told her friends In the club what he
| was doing.
I'VE don't want it, cried the secre-
| tary. THAT stun Is nothing better
! than whltewash. Mr. Miller painted
our chicken coop with the same stuff.
| and I've spoiled two dresses on II. We
won't have It. Besides. we've promised
TO use the paint the company has
| given us"
! The others agreed with her. Mrs.
! Rowe led the club In a body 10 her
! home. and Mr.. Rowe's paint was
! dumped. That same day the women
began painting The house themselves.
! In the afternoon the weather changed
/ ana the work had to be- given up. with
! half the front Of the house painted
! We're going 10 paint every house.
| shed and barn IN the village" says
! Mrs. Miller. "The first days of summer
VIII find this place $50 THAT you wont
| know H. And we're going Co paint the
! homes and barns OF tl,ec members
/ who live outside the village. Ar our
| pnint holds out What YOU might call
| regular deputations viii paint the
! buildings. which VIII lr taken. one aft.
or another by lot We are going 10
paint the stores too The store which
w4s painted last faN was go poorly
/ done that It's really worse than be-
/ fore $50. wc haven't asked permission
0f the owners. but ur'rc going 90 paint
| them just The samo Their wives arc
nemtrrs ~ the club and just now
/ what tine wivos elv goes Ir this town
After we've pointed up we'rc going
/ do other thing IIEc building walks
nd $50 forth"
/ Send us your next order for job printing.