Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-29
County Home Holds Annual Meeting Interesting Reports Regarding the Work ofPat Year and
 of the Children Placed Out-Dinner Followed by
 Exercises by Children.

1 In the bright, sunshiny rooms of the New London county temporary home, l rendered dcubly inviting and attrac- 1 tive in their neat and SpotIeSS cond1- l tion, which IS an everyday character l istic of all parts of the building in l charge of the, matron, Miss Jessie l Gibson, and her assistants, the board of management and the committee of visitors met on Thursday for their an- nual meeting. with others present also who are interested ia the work done | by the home.
 | For County Commissioner B. F.. Williams of Mystic, a member of the l board for eleven years, and much of that time chairman, it was his last meeting, as his term is soon to ex- I pire. Recognition of his faithful and 1 painstalSing interest in the home was made in the proceedings of the meet | ing. For County Commissioner c. H. Smith of Noank, or the other hand, | it was his first annual meeting, all though he had been present at the home on the occasion of the summer picnic. County Commissioner c. p. Moves was likewise present. showing his uncea sing interest in the proper management of the home.
 About sixty were present in the schcolroom when Chairman Williams called the meeting to order shorty after 11.30 o'clock, and prayer was cf- fered by Rev. c. H. Ricketts of Greene vile Congregational church. Report by Secretary. This was followed by the detailed report of Mrs. Frank A. Mitchell, sec retary, showing the extensive work carried on in the year as foHoWS AS the years go on it becomes more and more difficult to tell in a. concise way a story of the year which shall interest you gathered from all parts of the county, and shall yet be true ex- ponent of the spirit and purpose of the work, and of what has really been accomplished.
 Proper and Attractive Condition. The house speaks for itself. Your attention has more than once been called to the fact that although en- i larged and added to numerous times, it has not kept pace in growth with the steadily increasing number of chil- dren housed under its roof. No great Improvements have been inaugurated, but many constant repairs have kept the whole structure in proper, and you will doubtless add in attractive condi- ton. This good appearance is not put on for the day of annual meeting alone, but prevails throughout the year, 1 a fact which may be demonstrated by visits at unexpected times, the house being open for your inspection on all days of the year except Sundays. Health Has Been Excellent. It does not take the training or ex- 1 perience of an expert to know that the l air-space in the dormitories is far less | than it should be, but it speaks vol l tunes for the wise and careful man aeement of Miss Gibson, and for the 1 liberal provision of the commissioners 1 that in spite of our crowded condition when 96 children were cared for in a l house with a capacity of only 70, that l the general health of this large fam 1 fly has been excellent.
 Capable Matron and Teachers. l After three years absence Miss Gib-
 son seems better fitted than ever to | bear the varied and arduous responSi- | bilities of this home, and has the un- 1 qualified approval and cooperation of I it's beard of management Not the l least of Miss Gibson's. attinments is
 the ability to call to her assistance women Of fine character and high ideals, whose habits of life are a con- stant example of right living. The same teachers are employed and | those of you who can spend a little 1 time in the school room after the 1 luncheon hour will be able to see how i well the pupils have progressed under
 and absolute lack of friction which pre- vails in the whole working force of the | house and school is most noticeable 1 and has made the oversight of the l home most agreeable duty.
 Days of Pleasure for Children. During the long vacation the chill dren spent a number of days in the 1 woods and berry patches, and it ap- pears as f these outings have had l some direct bearing upon their excel | lent behavior, such days being regard | ed something in the line of a rewards 1 of merit.
 | Thanksgiving day was just as satis- 1 factory as ever, The Bulletin turkey l being large and fine, and fianked with many other good things.
 1 Christmas, too, saw turkeys a plen- l ty on the board with presents from 1 friends and teachers. The entertain i ment by the children the. last day of school was particularly pleasing and creditab1
 1 Christmas has been heretofore in 1 this family as in most homes the day ! of days, but this year Saturday, the | 17th of June, will be accorded that 1 honor. Perhaps you do not know what 1 happened that day, but if so you could l not have been in New London county 1 A kind friend not only conceived the l idea of giving the children an auto 1 ride. but she invited her friends and 1 their friends to assist. with the result l that 2s autos carried the children and | some grown-ups to Ocean Beach ano l return. At Mabrey's there was ice 1 cream and cake for all, a fine hurdy l gurdy played on the lawn packages o1 | popcorn cakes were distributed on the way, and if you think the children were | the only heppy ones in the party you l are much mistaken.
 1 In July, in accordance with vote o1 1 the children a picnic was held under i the trees in the rear of the house, iI | place of the usual car ride given by l the commissioners, at which plenty o1 cake ice cream and candy were serv- [ ed. rounding out another happy day i Taken with the Sunday school picinC
 and the many gifts from lodges. Sun
 i dren have had their share of pleas
 i Ures.
 Care of Children
 Backus hospital has been unfailing ant
 A dentist is employed regularly by tht
 home. and cases of adenoids and de.
 fective sight receive attention. Al
 this in addition to shelter, food, cloth.
 i and and general care is excellent anc
 1 vet many of these children should bt
 | in family homes.
 The state board of charities intend.
 to make a definite effort to find home!
 for children under 12 years of age, thi!
 coming year. and bespeaks your activ,
 l interest ond cooperation in this effort
 Are there not in New London count,
 some homes where a child would b.
 1 welcome, not only for what he migh
 | do, but that his childhood might b,
 more complete?
 i Loss to Board.