The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-09-25
CLUB LIFE IN CALDWELL.

CLUB LIFE IN CALDWELL.
About 1893 a young man. stopping
ever In Caldwell for few days, COM
planned that there was no place ex-
sept the saloon for stranger in the
city to spend his leisure hours. This
report reached the ears of some Of the
loyal women of town who acknowl-
edged the truth Of it and at once set
about to remedy the condition.
Mesdames HI. D. Blatchley, l.. Felt
ham, "A, r. Gypson, H. r. Stevenson,
and Jesse Harmon called meeting
and organized the Progress club
\ whose first object was to furnish a
reading and rest room for the public.
The Odd Fellows donated the use Of
rear room on the first floor Of their
building. The furnishings and litera-
ture were all donated and soon a cozy
attractive room was open to the pub
lie, the fact being announced on q
street lamp placed ON the corner of
Seventh and Main. This lamp was
Caldwell's first street light. The Pro-
gress club met once each month at
which time they rendered literary
programs and discussed popular sub
jects, but the club activities gradu-
ally centered about the library which
was steadily growing. The w. G. T..
U. ladies had small library which
they turned over to the club. Finally
the library committee was the only
active part of the Progress club, the
club really having ceased to exist. To
this faithful band of loyal women who
composed the library committee we
owe much. Because Of the library
committee the Village Improvement
club was organized, the committee be-
coming part Of the Improvement
club.
To these ladies came the idea of
civic club which ripened into the
Forward club Of Caldwell, having a
total enrolment to date of over a
hundred members, and organized
less than two years ago.
Through the efforts of the Forward
club the city council authorized the
placing Of the city library, now grown
to 100 volumes in pleasant, well
lighted and well ventilated room in
the city hall, voting a regular salary
for the librarian, Miss Jennie Wood,
who is making the place attractive to
our girls and boys as well as to the
older people. Fourteen hundred books
per month are often loaned to the in
terested public. The Village Inn
provement committee has planted a
number of trees in the different
school yards and hopes to beautify
them in other ways. The question of
placing a fountain In the city square
is also being agitated and Is looking
towards success. The cemetery COM
mittee's first object is to get water
on Canyon Hill cemetery and after
that to make the cemetery place of
beauty and easy of access.
They have raised considerable mon
ey towards this end an dare continu-
ing their work. This year the club
hopes to make the social meetings
very interesting by reading journey
through Holland, study OF Dutch
art and the discussion of several pop
ular questions. The Forward club is
being honored by having the Second
District Federation meet in Caldwell
and they expect the meeting to be, an
inspiration to them. The generosity
of the Caldwell Commercial club per-
mits the Forward club the use Of their
handsome club rooms, so our meeting
place is in itself an inspiration.
Other women's clubs have existed
from time to time in Coldwell AT this
time there are three Chautauqua Stu
dy circles, the Gem of the Noun
tains' Chautaqua circle having been
organized seven years ago with Mrs.
Y. A. Stone as president, she still
holding that position, being the only
Caldwell club to enter the Federation
until the Forward club became
member
The club hopes to derive much BEN
eft from the Federation meeting and
extends glad welcome to all dele
gates and visitors.
A Brief Historical Sketch of Caldwell.
In September, 1888, the Caldwell
land and Improvement Co., of which
Senator Caldwell of Leavenworth,
Kans.. and r. e. Strahorn, now of
Spokane, were the chief promoters,
located the magic city, Caldwell. Our
pioneer business men were all young
men with little capital, but boundless
faith yigor and energy. Inside of n