Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-01
County Rest Room
Is Bio Improvement

One of the real improvements made
by the COUNTY during The past few
years is the est6i s5..::s!:.;.lent of the Mar
shall county rest rooms, maintained by
the county for the convenience and
comfort of the women of the county,
and other women visitors TO the city.
Neat, commodious, in the exact cen
ter Of the city, and within immediate
touch of all the stores and business ac-
tivities, it is one Of the most used and
most appreciated public conveniences
Of the city.
The rest rooms are precisely what
the promoters intended them TO be, Il
comfortable, pleasant place where
women who come 10 the city 10 trade
or for any other purpose. may find
comfort. toilet conyeniences. and rest.
The women may eat their lunches If
they choose, check their bundles, and
nave every comfort and attention pos
sible provided in a public place OF such
character.
There are five rooms in number. in
Guiding a reception room, 25N35, with
a check room and a toilet room adJo!n-
ing, all comforta ply furnished. The sit
ting room contains an abundant NUM-
Der of easy chairs, and a large library
ia Bile in the center OF the room pro-
Vldes the latest magazines and reading
matter suitable to the needs OF poth
young and Old. There is a writing table
with stationery for the use OF the pa
irons. fine rugs on the floor. couches
shielded by screens, where tired and
indisposed women may find greater
comfort in partial seclusion.
A large clock gives the accurate
time Adjoining the sitting room is
another large room. mainly given over
10 tables upon which lunches may be
eaten and bundles may be placed.
Comfortable in Summer.
! The windows of the rest room open
to the south and east and the rooms
are sunny and cheerful, both summer
and winter. The southern and eastern
fronts offer the advantage Of our usual
south winds during the summer
months. The bulk o: the court house
between the rest room and the after
noon sun in the heated weather. also
provides comfort for the patrons.
| Il is Impossible TO estimate the COM
convenience. 1t is not reserved to res
idarts of Marshall county, but any
women visitors in the city as we'll as
their children.
Mrs Emma weatherly has charge OF
the rooms as matron, and does all N
her power to make the visitors vel
come and comfortable.
History Of Movement.
About six years ago the City Fedora
ton Of Wonaans Clubs began move
ment for the establishing Of room!
for the convenience of the women Of
the county. The federation conclucec
tina. the proper place for such rooms
would be in the court house. whlcl
was built for the county. and for the
use Of its people. The thought SCENE
such good one that. before it had be-
come fairly fixed in the mind. petl'
: ton was drawn up. copies Of Whicf
were sent to the various women's ciup
and prominent citizens of the county
requesting that rooms in the basemen
, Of the court house be furnisheded ant
maintained and placed at the disposa
of the women of the county
, To the credit of the citizens, Wht
: were not slow in sraspinc the sltua
} ton the petitions were flied to over
: flowing with reGporci;Hle signatures
The president of the city federation
Mrs A Janney, and vice president, MRS
T. ], Fletcher. went to the board o
supervisors so we'll equipped that ther'
was nothing left for them to do pu
grant their request. The rooms desire
were not available, being occupied un
Ger a lease that did not expire for thre
wears. After these three years the boar
. of supervisors requested the officers 0
: the federation. namely, Mrs. H. )
Howe. Mrs A. Janney, Mrs. L. G. AID
= bott. Mrs. May +. Montgomery, ano
the late Mrs. D. T. Denmead, to selec
; the furnishings for the rooms.
, On Sept. /, 1909. the rooms wer
, opened to the public with Miss Elizabet
: Tomlinson. as mtaron After serVin
: two months Miss Tomlinson was sue
ceeted by Mrs. Lillian Norton, VIII
, served one year, being in turn succeed
n ed by Mrs. Weatneriy, the presen
!, ] matron.