Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-12-19
MEMORIAL HALL.
(By M. P. Boyles.)

ones to return. Possibly, those who
return will have done the most in
fighting Freedoms Battle. But there
are some who will never return.
How nobly they fought! How gal
lantly they died we shall perhaps
never know!
In the papers we read of the plans
that are under way to commemorate
the memory Of those who gave their
lives. IN this state some are advo-
eating the erection of building at
the West Virginia University in hon
or of the men who went from this
Commonwealth and served and
died for it. The Clarksburg and
Fairmont dailes are offering plans
for the erection of some sort of
shrine to the memory Of their sons,
who bled and died from Harrison and
Marion. Indeed, the Councils Of
Clarksburg and Fairmont have asked
the government for cannon and other
captured German trophies that they
might be placed in CONSPICUOUS places
| in their cities.
Shall we of Barbour do nothing?
Did not our sons die for the same
cause? am sure we are just as
patriotic and willing to perpetuate
the memory of our boys as Harrison
and Marion counties are to perpet-
uate the memory Of their boys.
In order to keep fresh in our mem
DRY and the memories of generations
to come, the writer has planwhere-
by both the living and the dead shall
have suitable tribute. Permit me
to say, however, that am indebted
to the preachers, teachers, doctors
and business men of the city for
much that is in this editorial. By
their assistance we are permitted to
see mental picture Of building
which Belington needs. And at the
same time it can be dedicated to both
the soldiers who fell and those who
went to the colors.
The proposed building is COM
munity affair. Every man, woman
and organization will be permitted
~ show his or her or its strength.
Memorial Hall will meet the needs
| /. That the churches are not able
to meet. 2. That our schools are
not able to meet. g. That our lodges
are not able to meet. 4. That our
city is not able to meet. 5. That our
Board Of Education is not able to
meet. Let us examine each of these
five needs
First, Our churches have no way
of taking care of our boys except on
Sunday. The churches offer no place
for the boys to spend their evenings.
Memorial Hal would have a gymn-
nasium, a swimming pool, bowling
alleys, pool tables and shower baths.
In short it would be Y. M. C. A.
with competent man at its head to
care for the boys and give them the
Christian guidance that every true
parent wishes his boy to have.
Sesond, And closely connected with
the church problem, is the school
problem. At present the school has
no gymnasium. The boys have no
place to play basketball. No one
knows better than high school teach
ers how much boys and girls are
concerned about basketball. High
school athletics draws the school com
munity together and makes for better
work in the classroom. The recent
medical examinations of draftees
showed that our physical education
had been neglected. In the future
the school community that neglects
the making of wholesome and at
tractive atmosphere for its school
youth will be branded as unprogres-
sive | would not have the the read
err believe that basketball alone is
wanted-not by any means The
Y. NJ. G. A. is an evening school in
reality, place where the boys and
men spend their leisure time under
the guidance of an expert director.
Good literature, wholesome CONVEX
sation, the study of the Bible and
physical development have place
in the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION.
Third, 1.-THE lodges Of this city are
meeting in rented property. By in
quiring find theypay approximately
$50. per month or $500 every year.
think any business man will argue
with me that it is better to borrow
the money and build than it is to
live in rented property. The same
economic principle holds in the pres
ent plan of the Belington Lodges !.
At the end of ten years the lodges
will have paid out $4,000 in rent and
still be living in rented property
NOW, WOULD IT NOT BE BET
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