The herald., 1915-06-24
HOME MOVEMENT
IN MINNESOTA
For the Beautifying Of DWELL
ing Houses.
A FRUITFUL PROPAGANDA.

The Director Of State Art Commission
Ready to Supply Models For Farm
houses, Small Village Homes and
Landscape Designs Ugly Houses
Disappearing.
Because of the conviction that the
state should render service to the peo-
ole the director of the state art COM
mission of Minnesota, Maurice Irwin
Flagg. is ready to supply models Tor
farmhouses, small village homes and
landscape designs. The purpose Is to
beautify the dwelling places Of the
people, and consequently the entire
state can develop at the same time
ambition and the love Of the beautiful
in the minds of men with small In
comes.
The general adoption of the designs,
which are furnished practically free,
may eventually result in the wipinS
out of all of the ugly ''shoe box de-
signs that are so plentifully sprinkled
over the landscape. Minnesota is
wealthy state. and 1t is growing more
so because the farmers there are max
ing three blades of alfalfa grow where
one grew before. They are buying the
latest farm machinery; they are bend
ing every effort to conserve the natural
resources of the country. and they are
learning how to take from the SOIL
the greatest possible return.
While all this has been going on the
physical character Of the homes has
been neglected. Mr.. Flagg says in the
Survey:
practical farmers stated their needs,
and it remained for the architects OF
the state to solve the problem OF 3d.
500 ten room model farmhouse. The
state art commission offered prizes. 1t
brought together a jury composed OF
q practical farmer. Senator L. E. Pot
ter of Springfield; Mrs. Margaret l.
Blair, q specialist in the department OF
domestic science and home manage
ment of the University of Minnesota;
Dean A. f. Woods Of the Agricultural
college Of that state, and George Chap
man, an architect"
Thirty farmhouse designs resulted
from the competition. So much sue
cess met this work that there followed
q model village house" competition
| The houses were not to cost more than
| $1,000 each. Fifty plans were submit
ted. Then came competitions for
model farm yard" Any one in Min
nesota can get these plans at a very
small cost, and all others they may gel
by paying a good deal more for them
Mr.. Flagg says:
This program in Minnesota has
stimulated other states to action. Mas
sachusetts has just completed. through
the Agricultural college of Amherst,
model farmhouse program. Califor
MIA, Kentucky. Texas. Indiana ant
many other states have appealed Il
Minnesota for assistance in formulat
ing programs of the same character
The model farmhouse plans have als'
gone to several foreign countries. Ger
many, Italy. France and Canada hav'
published the results Of the Minnesot,
competition for the benefit Of their az
ricultural people.
This better housing program is sup
Elementary to the other work Of tn
commission. 1t sends to towns ant
cities throughout the state exhibition
of all kinds. 1t brings into the stat
each year collection OF the bes
American contemporary art 1t circu
lates exhibits of industrial art, sculp
ture, home furnishings, home indus
tries and school art. 1t organizes hom
industries and handicraft classes an
puts into the field specialists to teac
such work. And 1t has been success
full in finding a market for its prod