The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-04-02
WOMEN OF THIS TOWN HAVE
REST ROOM FOR VISITORS


The women of this town have for
more than one year past operated
what they consider a model rest
room 1t is conducted for the benefit
4 OF visitors in the city, and since its
doors we're first opened 1t has served
upwards of 1000 people SO great
have been the benefits derived from
1t and so successful has the manage
ment been that 1t has grown in size
from one room to four Starting
under the personal management of
ten of the progressive women Of the
community, It has become. In all save
actual adoption by the aldermen Of
the city, a municipal institution. 1t
furnishes place where women who
accompany their husbands to the
city, may retire when they have COM
pleted their shopping, a place where
both men and women may remove
travel stain, a rendezvous for those
who desire to meet In town, and, for
the men, 1t takes the social place of
the saloon. 1t is provided with a
library, dining room, kitchen and
a ladies' retiring room. 1t is in
charge Of competent woman, called
the matron. There are more than
500 books on its shelves, and good
supply Of magazines and newspa-
pers is kept on the library tables.
Lunches are served at very nominal
prices that barely pay the cost Of the
material used and for its prepare
tion. 1t is practically self-supporting
now and its benefits are generally
recognized by the merchants of the
city, who contribute to its mainte-
nance. The history of the work is
Interestingly told by one Of the mem
bers.
I'VE have a population here" she
said, "of about 1900. The Yakima
valley is quite thickly settled here
abouts. Land is high and SO the
ranches are small. Everything is
called ranch, too, even If 1t is Of
only one acre. Fruit and vegetables
are the principal products. These
small ranches, varying from five to
forty acres In size on the average, of
course, increase the rural population
tributary to Sunnyside beyond that
usually dependent on a country town.
A great many people drive here to
trade, to attend committee meetings.,
to make social calls, to worship, to be
present at concerts and for other
business and social purposes. II the
day of their coming happens to be
windy one and the dust is heavy on
the roads, the visitors naturally drive
direct to our rest room, because here
they have every convenience for re-
moving the dirt from clothing, hands
and face, and, In the case of the
women, for rearranging their hair.
1t was the demand for some such
place as this that led a few of our
energetic women to establish the rest
room. We had talked the matter
over many times after some OF our
friends from the country had told us
what convenience such place
would be, and our informal discus
sions finally led to the organization
of the Public Rest Room club.
There were ten of us In the club,
and, OF course, we met with many OBJ
stacles at the outset. To begin with
we had no money and not all OF the
business men took the interest in the
plan that they should have taken.
However, we went ahead, elected our
officers president, secretary, a
treasurer and an executive board
and made arrangements for renting
one room at an annual rental Of
$40. The landlord donated the
first months rent of $40 in order
that we might utilize such funds as
we had collected for the purchase
Of wall paper and furnishings. We
bought what furniture was needed
after the soliciting committee had
completed its work of requesting do
lations. Through this committee
ables, stoves, floor coverings, rock
RS and chairs, a couch and other
urniture and fixtures we're donated
II loaned. Many of the articles
we're not at all new. but they served
he purpose. A telephone was in
tailed for MS without cost and the
women of Sunnyside came forward
with gifts Of pies, bread,
axes and other pastry These were
old. One of our well wishers made
3 a present Of so potato sacks for
,hich we obtained 5 cents each.
"By persistent work we finally had
place where men and women could
ome and enjoy warm fire, rock
,g chair. papers, books and maya
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