Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-11-02

In the discussion that followed
was revealed that scores of bushes
and professional men are in favor o
It. There will be strong opposition
however, when the matter assume
definite form.
And it is this which gives us hin
as to how Webster City may become
| a great city.
"Why are we not one now? Be
cause, in the strictest sense Of thu
word, we are not yet community
we are merely a congeries of house!
and stores using streets and side
walks in common. Can you think Of
la single institution in our corpora
ton lines, that represents or appeals
to the community as a whole? We
have many splendid churches, but
each one Of necessity appeals to Its
own clientele only. We have many
clubs composed of gifted men and
women, but their fine programs are
for themselves only and furnish nc
cultural development for outsiders.
The lodges are for the lodge mem
bers. The theatre is for those who
have its price. Every single organ
ization we have here discriminates
against some one or is adapted to
meet the needs Of one group. Even
our schools are unequipped to serve
as social centers, though they are
superintendent by a man who has the
civic consciousness in high degree.
"The result of this situation is
that we are an ununited people in
the highest sense of that word. We
have no platform from which the
community may express itself. We
have no common home serving as
did the old cathedrals, to house our
community activities. We have
places where we can meet as Metho-
dists, or Congregationalists, or Uni
versalists, or what not; where we
can get together as Masons, or Elks
or Odd Fellows; where we can as
semble as Democrats or Republicans,
knights of Luther or Knights of
Columbus; BUT WE HAVE NO
PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET To-
GETHER AS CITIZENS OF WEB
sTER CITY!
'But we are beginning to feel the
need of such social center, as wit
ness the efforts that are now being
made to build here a Community
House. God speed the day when 1t
can be reality! I can think Of no
other one agency that would do so
much good to this town. It would
destroy the narrow provincialism
from which SO many of us are suffer
ing; it would do away with sectar-
ian jealousies and prejudices; 1t
would help every man to become the
neighbor Of every other man.
more than this it would develop
the latent talent, perhaps even gen.
ius, which is sleeping unknown in
our midst. Who knows but that we
may have actors and actresses here
equal to Henry Irving or Maude Ad-
ans! Who knows but that we may
have hidden unnoted in our midst
musicians and singers equal to any
in the state! Who knows but that
we have orators here as silver
tongued as John Bright! Who
knows but that we may have slum-
boring beneath the surface capac-
ity for civic beauty which would
make Webster City the Athens of the
Middle West! And how can we ev-
err know until we have in our midst
an institution especially adapted te
encourage and foster and develop
home talent, as Community House
would?
Here is my dream Of what g
Community House should bel,
should be centrally located, conven
lent equally to all; should be of 6
quiet and simple style of architect
ure to give expressions in outward
form to the beauty Of our local spir
i 1t; should possess in its basement
swimming pool where winter ant
summer all the people could EMO!
aquatic sports, shower baths, ant
club-rooms for boys (and, speaking
Of that, l am sure that this towl
will some day have to give an &C
count of itself for not having an!
other place for boys to congregat'
of nights except on the streets)
should have a gymnasium whicl