Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-10-29
Crane DREAMS
OF CIVIC HOUSE
Ross Crane, Art Critic From Chicago
Art Institute, Gives Webster
City an Idea to Make
the Town Famous.
SPEAKS On CITY BEAUTIFUL
Would Have City Best in State in
Which to Raise Children
Community House.

Community House.
Ross Crane, famous art critic from
the Chicago Art Institute, dreamed
aloud dream Saturday evening at
the Methodist church in this city. And
in his dream he saw Webster City
UNDUE enough in it's civic beauty to
engage the inauguration of the whole
American continent. Build you here"
said he, "a work of aria big one. A
community building. And let it be
large enough and beautiful enough to
house all the activities of the COM
munity. There is nothing you need
so much. This is my dream for your
city and l verify believe it will come
true"
Both the hint and the inspiration
given in Mr.. Cranes usual enthusiast
tic manner lead not few of his audi
ence to suspect that perhaps, after
all, Webster City may ultimately get
her community house-a dream that
many lovers of a city beautiful and a
city useful have been dreaming here
for years.
Community Spirit.
The subject of Mr.. Cranes lecture
was "The City Beautiful" He felt that
no apology is necessary for the carry
ing on of art propaganda because OF
the war. "Our soldier boys" said he,
"are pouring out their life blood for
an idea. They are in the war to save
civilization. And in Europe they will
see a far different world than this
crude west-a west in the making.
Landscapes and beauty are every
where in England and France. Beauty
means the creation of civic pride and
community sentiment and our west
ern cities must make great strides in
the next few years if we are to keep
our boys at home.
For Children's Sake.
SIS Webster City the best city in
Iowa in which to bring up a child :!
asked the speaker. when you get to
tbe that" he added, you have solved
your greatest civic problem. Your
manager plan, avenues. paving, parks,
etc. are evidence of civic conscience.
But you ought to have city plan.
Bring here an expert to- make a plan
for the city and then grow intelligent
ly and beautifully to it. The pubic
schools make the town and the teach
srs ought to make the pupils love
your city.
Beauty Is Background
Build up civic spirit here-a love
for your city. Beauty is the bach-
ground for our lives. 1t is al an
mercial asset. The surest way t
your money back is to beautify W
city. Beauty means increased COM
mercial value"
And here the speaker depressed just
moment to say that Lincoln school
building in this city is real work
of art. While he felt that not much
had been expended on it, neverthe-
less, nothing had been wasted and It's
interior had real artistic finish
The Chamber of Commerce.
He plead for an active and large
Chamber of Commerce-one to which
every citizen belonged. He felt that
it's activity is needed to bring trade
and population to the city and to
make it beautiful place in which
to live. He also advocated a real old
fashioned planting bee"-a commun-
ity Arbor day.
For Community House.
And then he closed one of the most
interesting lectures ever heard in the
city with a strong plea for COM
munity house-a strong hint that, in
his belief, this dream will come true
here. Invite the best architects in
the world" said he, ito submit plans
for a community building. I have a
dream that will make Webster City
known all over America and this
dream is a community house-a civic
center building You can do it. You
will do it. And with a big, artistic
building of this kind you will create
a community out of a locality. You
will advertise your city far and wide
throughout the land as the best city
in your state in which to raise child.
This, in brief, is my message to
Webster City"
Only small audience greeted Mr..
Crane Saturday evening, but the few
who were so fortunate as to be there
were enthused with the speakers |
dream. And it seems certain that out
of that lecture will grow a renewed
campaign for the ultimate realization |
of a dream dreamed by many people |
here-the dream Of an adequate and
artistic community house.