Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-05-06
A COMMUNITY BUILDING.
How One Community Erected Building
Which is Highly Valuable to
Community.

L -
Community.
During recent years practically
every town OF any Importance has es-
tablished within itself an organization
known as a Board of Trade, CONNER
cial Club or some such name. Appar-
emily the original conception of the
work Of such a body was largely that
OF stimulating business activities in
their town through encouraging man
ufacturing plants to locate with them.
etc. Through time the different or.
CARNATIONS have broadened their work
until at the present writing the up-to-
date Board of Trade looks upon it's
held OF action a. the territory en-
braced moi only by the town but all
the surrounding district that it can in
| huence.
The Washington, Pa. Board of Trade
early showed its broad-gauge spirit by
starting the movement for an Agricul-
tural Bureau in Washington count
and staying right back of such action
until through the assistance of active
farmers and others such a bureau was
established over two years ago. Since
that time the Board of Trade has fur
n1shed of1ce for the Agricultural
bureau and assisted in every way pos
sible to develop this work. Through
the action of this Bureau the town and
country interests have been brought
very much closer together, or rather
the own and country people have
come to realize more fully that their
interests are common. Out of this has
grown the feeling that a building WIS
needed in town which should be a
general Meeting place of town and
country people alike. Many have talk
ed over the need Of such a building
but it remained for the Board of Trade
to finally establish a Community
Building which was formally opened
on the oath of October.
This Community Building is one of
the first established in the United
States. From the description 0f its
arrangement One realizes that it is
entirely practical. On the first floor
is a large general meeting room for
the use of everyone. A telephone is
installed here; magazines of commou
interest, writing table convenient for
use, a magazine table where people
may bring papers that they do not
wish to keep, for those who are not so
fortunate after using them. In short.
a central point for the free exchange
OF periodicals. A list of all available !
farmers bulletins and of our own ex-
pertinent station bulletins is open to
all and application blanks for the same
are at hand, so that when farmers or
toWnsmen nave a few minutes to spare
they can look ver these and fill GU:
application for those desired. An.
other large room on the first floor is
for serving luncheon5 giving
illustrated lectures to a small gather |
ing and Is valuable for corn and apple
shows, etc. It is planned this coming |
winter to hold q series Of lectures and
demonstrations on domestic science |
work. On the second floor are two |
large cheerful rooms set aside by the
Board Of Trade an rest rooms for wo-
men. 1t Is hoped that through time
it will be possible to employ a lady TO |
have charge of these rooms and pg0ba- /
bly, look after children for the ladies
who wish to do shopping. On this
floor are also located the offices OF the |
Board of Trade and the Agricultural |
Bureau, a separate room being used
for the Office OF each. ]
Back of the building is a hitching
ground with ample space to accommo- |
date fifty teams, with a good brick
walk from the hftching grounds lead !
Ing into the building where the con- |
~veniences mentionedSare open and free |
to everyone. Country people driving
in can come here and hitch, go on into !
the building, leave their extra wraps, |
agree to meet at a certain time and
go about their duties in town. If they |
do not happen to get back at the same
time they can make themselves COM J
Portable and enjoy the privileges of |
the building until their party gets to-
gether.
Naturally the question arises, "How
does this take?" At the formal open
ing on the oath over 1000 people pass
ed through the building and the ex-
pressions of hearty approval of many
good features were unanimous. The
fitting up Of the building is largely a !
cooperative work. much of it being |
donated by individuals in the form of
work and furnishings.
The Board of Trade has purchased
what fittings could not be secured IL
the form Of donations. The opening
was continued throughout the week |
from the oath to the 31st, winding up
on the latter date with a big chicken
and waffle supper and farm products
auction. The auction consisted of
products donated by farmers through