Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-08
GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT
Extends Over New England and Even
to the West.
FAME OF THE LENOX ACADEMY
Many Distinguished Men Prepared
for College There-The Sedgwicks.
Successor of Jonathan Edwards.
BY WILLIAM E. CERTIS.

Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass, August %, 1907.
The village of Stockbridge is the birth
place of the Village Improvement Assoca-
tons which have done so much to beautify
towns Of New England and other parts of
the country. The first society of the kind
ever organized in this country was formed
in 1888 by Miss Mary Gross Hopkins of
StOckbridge, young woman with a keen
appreciation of nature. neatness and heav-
ems first law. At that time-and it was be-
fore the days Of summer milionaires-cattle
and hogs were allowed to roam at large In
the village of Stookbridge. which made 1t
necessary to fence in the lawns and gar
dens. The magnificent trees that had been
planted a century before were allowed to
go untrimmed; the grass and weeds were
We're cut along the roadside; newspapers and
other rubbish were permitter to litter the
streets. and the roads were almost impass-
able IN the spring and fall because Of the
mud, and very disagreeable in the summer
because of the dust.
All this was very offensive to a person
with keen sense of propriety and good
order. like Miss Hopkins, and she began
herself with pair of tongs and a basket
to gather up the newspapers she found in
the streets and along the roadside, which
she carried home and Cremated. For more
than year she worked alone and kent the
village green in order at her own expense
hiring a man to NOW the grass after she
had pleaded in vain with the selectmen to
do SO. Her public spirit and civic pride were
ultimately contagious, and the second sum-
mer she was Joined by several other women
who organized a committee and made a can
vass of the househOlderS for the purpose
of securing pledges that they would keep
their sidewalks in repair and cut the grass
and weeds in front of their dwellings. Their
efforts were successful: civic pride was
aroused and the next step was to obtain
the passage of an ordinance prohibiting
cattle pigs and horses from wandering
about the streets. This was hard fight
for the common in the center of the VIII
lage was originally intended as a pasture
for villagers who did not own farms II
had been their inherited privilege to feed
their cows and pigs there ever since the set
tlement OF the town. But a small subscrip-
ton secured them grazing privileges on the
neighboring hillsides. and live stock was
banished from the streets.
Progress of the Movement
The next step was to secure the organiza-
ton of law and order league which un-
dertook sanitary reforms and the improve
ment of the highways, which was done by
private subscription when the seectmen re-
fused to apply the public taxes for such
purposes Waterworks and sewers were
then introduced; sprinkling carts were pro-
vided to lay the DUST the railway company
was induced to erect an appropriate sta
ton and embellish the grounds around it;
more than 1000 shade trees were planted
upon streets that were unadorned; the chan
mel of the Housatonic river was cleared Of
snags and rubbish, and its banks We're
planted with willows and other shrubs; a
library building secured; the old Ceme-
terry was provided with a new fence; the
trees were trimmed; the grass moved
Crumbling gravestones We're restored and
Strengthened, and the villagers were per-
suaded to improve the gardens and lawns
from which the fences had previously been
removed.
The result may be seen by every visitor
who comes here. The great natural beauty
of Stock bridge is no longer defaCed but
has been cultivated to the highest degree.
while the morale of the community has
been elevated, the municipal administra ton
has been made more progressive and effect
I've, and the natural attractions have been
made the most of for the benefit of both
permanent and temporary residents. The
farmers throughout the neighhorhoOd have
become infected with the same spirit. They
rave learned that neatly kept piece OF
land with fine trees, flower garden and a
well-kept lawn will sell much more readily
and at a higher price than one with SLOW
| emily kept dOoryard.
The StockbriGge Improvement Association
| still exists TO perform its functions, and has
been initiated in hundreds of towns through
| out all New England. Miss Hopkins de-
| II
| tie more than fifty years old, but it has
| become general in the eastern states anC
| prevails TO a considerable extent in the
west where il would be well if the people
| of every community We're to organize foi
their own benefit and the establishment OF
| their surroundings. 1t is a public duty
| which women can undertake with the great
| est propricty. Indeed, they are the moving
| spirits in nearly all the village improve
ments Of New England. They go from
! house to house TO preach the gospel o.
| beauty and cleanliness, and are much more
| persuasive in securing public improvements
| than men. Usually the first step is cleaning
! the streets. trimming the old trees anC
| planting new ones moving the grass ant
weeds by the waysde. mending the side
| walks, repairing or removing fences, plant
| ing flowers and shrubs, pulling down un
| slightly sheds and outbuildings and coaXinl
the local officials to set good example b,
] keeping public property in order.
Once Famous Lenox Academy.
1 a n ~