The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-27
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
is Proposed For City Of Mt.
Vernon
In A Suggestion Coming From
California
by PicrSOn ". Banning, Re-
cent Visitor Here
who Found Much Matter Of
Interesting Nature
And Outlines Procedure For
Forming Such Society
Los Angees, Cal, Apr. 10.

Editor Banner
When in Mount Vernon recently |
was afforded an opportunity to call at
"a number Of the old homes and noted
many things Of considerable local his.
: toric interest. also heard many stor-
les of the early days of your thriving
town.
One thought constantly recurred to
me at every turn and with great force
You have your women's clubs and or
ganizations, your mems clubs and Or
sanizations, and various church socie-
ties, all of which have a definite pur-
pose, usually temporary in nature. But
right in your midst there is an oppor-
tunity for the creation of what should
prove of lasting value to you, both
from civic standpoint and from the
local pride that exists I'm your midst.
4 have not been in many cities the
size of Mount Vernon where the at
mosphere of the home, and the air of
refinement together with the old fami.
able and full of promise than in your
little city.
Why not take advantage of present
conditions and make the most of them
even If on small basis? The older
persons of your city have unlimited
facts and information of unusual in
terest regarding the pioneer days and
Searly settlers of Mount Vernon, who
established homes In what was once a
wilderness, and assisted in the making
of the present city of Mount Vernon
4 heard many stories of the early
days, both of hardship and how this or
that early settler made good or be.
came prominent, and how public al-
fairs were advanced through the sac
rifice of one or another. How many
of you know who was responsible for
the first public building in Mount Yer
non? How many know who was the
FIRST governing official of the settle
ment? How many know who was elect
ed to the legislature and congress for
the FIRST time? Who was the first
man arrested, and what for? Why did
they not extend equal privileges to all
males for the first few years? Who
was the first minister, and of what
denomination was he? How many can
tell which is the oldest house In Mount
Vernon, who built IT, and where It
stands or stood? Did Mount Vernon
have fort, and II 80, where was It
located?
There are a thousand and one more
than interesting things right before
you that are perhaps unknown to those
of the present generation. 1t is true
there have been histories OF the coun-
~ written, but there Is much that they
do not contain for lack of space, aud
much has happened since that should
be recorded in definite form.
Are there not among the active men
and women OF your city a number who
will form themselves into group for
The purpose of organizing an historical
'oeitty H4o HADulu
be done at once. WIN not tie mems
or women's clubs unite in this and
bend their activities and energies TO
wards establishing a society of perma
nent value for preserving the tradi
tions and history OF the early days?
1t is not difficult to establish such
an organization on the following lines
First form charter membership. Lee
each one put one dollar, or whatever
amount is agreed upon, into common
fund to be held as trust or building
fund Let each member pay annual,
one dollar dues, or whatever amour
may be decided upon, aud when new
members are taken in. allow them L
pay the same initiation fee into tn,
fnnd as the charter members did. or in