The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1919-11-21
ORGANIZATION TO BE PROUD OF

mere was fair attendance of the
members and the following officers
were chosen President, Mrs. Frank
w. Taylor; president. Mrs. Chas
l. Peterson; secretary, Mrs. Gladys
Evans; corresponding secretary, Mrs.
ID. II. Lewis, treasurer, Mrs. F.. V. Gov
ert.
Ihe retiring president, Mrs. j. +,
samson, who has held the office since
the formation of the League, seven
years ago. stated that she had the
pleasure Of announcing that upon re-
tiring from the position she had held
so long, through the insistent kindness
ana confidence of the members, the
League was entirely out of debt, and
with the money due sfor rentals the
treasury would have a substantial bal
ance to its credit. The ladies insisted
upon bestowing upon Mrs. Samson the
title of honorary president
The activities and accomplishments
OF the Civic League are worthy of more
than passing notice, as outward and
visible evidence of what women can
accomplish when they set their hearts
upon any object. Seven years ago the
League was organized for the purpose
of providing the town with a lor Z felt
want, decent place in which citizens
could assemble for meetings or social
entertainment, and quarters for the Ii
brary, that had dragged along very
much of an orphan without a place in
which to properly store books, and no
comforts for those who wished to take
advantage of a reading room. After
much correspondence permission was
obtained from the railroad officials for
the League to occupy a large tract on
the railroad right-of-way on the west
side of Main street. The citizens sub.
scribed literally to building fund and
one of the handsomest community
buildings in any of the smaller towns
of Eastern Washington was construct
ed. The ladies did not rest upon their
labors after the building was fairly un-
der way. The tract of Vand surround
grass and thickly planted to trees.
Time has worked a wonderful trans
formation upon that once barren spot
The plot is a verdant lawn and the
trees have taken on marvellous
growth until the League premises has
become beautiful oasis in the very
heart of the business section, salts
faction to every residlsnt who has
spark of civic pride and source of
unstinted praise from every stranger
who visits the town. The beautifying
effect of the vigorous trees is in
measure a reflection upon the lack of
public enterprise among the residents
of the town, however, for the result of
water and care in the park demon
strates that had property owners
planted out trees along the streets
few years ago Oroville today would
have been one of the most attractive
small towns in the west.
But all these improvements costs
money, and lots of it. When the build
ing was ready for occupancy, and the
surrounding improvements completed,
il was discovered that the money col
lected for the purpose of financing the
Civic League building was far short
of the actual cost. Then there was the
equipment necessary for the interior,
such as chairs, and a piano, and
range. and other accessories. These all
cost money, and the League went still
deeper into debt. When the civic
League building was at last ready for
occupancy and fully furnished the
ladies' were face to face with a debt
that would have discouraged most
men. Were they down hearted? Not
to any appreciable extent. The League
contracted the debt and the ladies'
at once commenced formulating and
carving out ways and means for can
ceiling that Indebtedness. Slowly but
surely from receipts from entertain
ments, public feeds, dances and rent
ais the obligations we're trimmed
down until at last the League was
able to announce a clean slate. 1t
has been a long and gruelling task.
Seven years of persistent and lnslstent
work. but the ladies have never shirk-
ed. nor never dispared The winning OF
the game was like about everything
else in life that an individual, or pody
of individuals set out with determl-
nation to accomplish. Earnest effort
and perseverance is certain to gam
the object in the end.
On behalf of the citizens OF Orovllle
we wish to congratulate the ladles
upon what they have accomplished
The Civic League building and grove
is an asset to the town. 1t could nave
only been obtained through some
such united effort as was displayed by
the ladies of the organization. we
fear had the object been LETT TO the
men the town would still be without
q community building. The male does
not seem to have the pride of purpose
nor the determination that anlmates
the women folks when they start in to
do things. Luckily the women TOOK the
responsibility upon their own should
ers. and results have followed. Inc
usefulness and the constructive aDll-
itv of the ladies does not end with the
lifting of the Civic League debt There
is still room for much Improvement
in Oroville, and we feel satisfied that
the Civic League will prove an I'M
nortant factor in bringing about those
;n,nrovements in the future. Hats OIL
to the ladies as we look with keen
satisfaction upon the monument that
has been erected by their own hands
TO feminine pluck and initiative.
w IL philnnt returned to Wenatcheo