The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-07-04
Current History of Harmony

author, J. L. Johnson, De1ore asBatncf
ing OF Harmony citizens, en- April Attn,
is full of the current history OF that
up-to-date and hustling community
When 1t was first suggested that l
say a few words at this time, rela-
tive to the history and ideals OF the
Harmony Improvement Club, my first
thought was that 1t was entirely un-
necessary, for | thought the club had
demonstrated the fact that 1t Is an en-
tirely non -political and non-sectarian
organization, organized to work for
the general interest and welfare of the
town and the community In which we
live. | believe we have demonstrated
that fact To the satisfaction of every
fair minded person; but upon taking
second thought | agreed with the
other members of the club that 1t
might be well to devote just a few
moments To a sort of a review of what
we have accomplished in just one
years time
One year ago tonight a few of us
who were Interested in developing the
best interests of this town, met in the
office OF the hotel and devoted the
evening 10 talking over what could be
done To interest the people as whole
TO get to work with a single united
effort in behalf of the whole commnni-
~. and have an organization which
notifies and religion should not enter
into
An organization was effectsed in
u,if II
Longfellow as president, Vaughan
Reed as secretary and Mr.. VanderZee
as business manager After consid-
cradle discussion 1t was finally decid-
ed to call the organization the Har-
mony Improvement Club. The first
thing to think OF was to devise some
means of raising a little money with
which to work. 1t was decided that
the quickest and easiest way to do
that was to give a play, and the mem
bers got busy and in few weeks pre-
sented the play entitled "A Regiment
OF Two, which Melted good little
sum. The next question was, what
to do with the money
| will say right here that 1t was
about this time that we were obliged
to elect a new business manager on
account of the fact that Mr.. Vanderzee
was moving out of town, and Mr. Traf-
ton was elected to that position, and
things soon began to move. All
agreed that for a small Improvement
in the town, a little work done on
the square here in the center of the
village would improve the general APP
pearance of the place as much as any
thing we could do. 1t was decided to
erect a flag-pole in the center OF the
square and grade up and eventually
plant a little shrubbery of some kind
arount it, either in the form of hedge
or some other design that would tend
to make the corner a little more at
tractive. This last part has not yet
been completed butft Is intended that
II shall be done as soon as conditions
will warrant doing the work.
The flag-pole was erected and
beautiful flag twelve by eighteen feet,
made of government standard all wool
bunting, was purchased This flag
was made by Mrs. Marion Tilden Of
Hallowell, formerly Marion Hurd,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Hurd
Of this town. On Memorial day this
flag was raised with appropriate ex-
ercises, which helped to place our
town in line with those around US
that were trying to demonstrate the
fact that they wished to be ready to
support this great Nation in any move
which might be made to help our Sis
ter Nations, and the weaker and down.
trodden nations to remove the des-
TIMES of this world from the most
tyranical zone man" government that
the world has ever known, and place
1t in the hands of civilized people
who appreciate the fact that the
Blessings OF Liberty" were intended
to be dealt out by the hand of our
Creator for the mutual benefit Of His
people.
Along with our flag-raising we had
splendid memorial address given by
one OF the young men who has gone
out from our town and established for
himself q position in life that would
be a credit to any man of even twice
his age, Mr.. Clair E. Turner.
The next thing of importance that
the club decided to undertake was the
question of electricity 70 rthe town.
The first real move that was made
was on Oct. 20, 1917. Mr.. Trafton
went to Skowhegan and met Mr. Abbey
the superintendent OF the Skowhegan
district of the Central Maine Power
Co. Mr. Trafton went over the mat
Der very fully with Mr.. Abbey, and got
a great deal of encouragement from
him. 1t was finally decided that Mr..
Traitor should come home and make
thorough canvass of the town, and
then take the matter to the president
OF the power company, Hon. Harvey
d, Eaton OF Waterville. This can
vass was made with the result that
nearly every house and business place
in town was signed up for lights and
good quantity OF power was sub
scribed for.
On Nov. 18th a meeting of the citi-
zens of the town was held in this hall.
and Mr. Eaton and Mr. Spaulding of
Waterville, and Mr.. Abbey of Skowhe-
gan were present. Pres. Eaton out
lined very clearly what would be re-
quired of the town in order to get the
We must furnish the
poles and set them from Harmony viii
lage to Coles corner in Athens, and
subscribe for ten thousand dollars
worth of the preferred stock OF the
Central Maine Power Co. This look
ed like a tremendous task, but 1t was
decided to attempt it, II 1t proved to
be impossible to get any better offer
from the company. But after Pres.
Eaton and Mr.. Spauldipg and Mr..
Abbey came out the next morning af-