The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-20
FIRST MEETING
At ROCK HALL
Mrs. Ira Couch Wood Makes an In
teresting and Inspiring Address
to Mothers and Teach
ers Club.
is STARTING OUT WE'LL
Rock Hall Center Being Finely Equip
ped for Its purpose of Com
munity Club House in
PaIean Street.

The first meeting to be held at
Rock Hall center, the new recreation
center at Sig Palean street, was held
yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock by
the Mothers and Teachers club OF
the Wells district.
Mrs Francis Meigs Fales, who or
ganized the first free kindergarten
in Keokuk in that district, and who
is well beloved there, presided. She
explained the purpose of the center
and said that this is Keokuk's con-
tribution to great movement which
is being developed all over America
to foster community life and CO.
operation which will help to make us
democratic and efficient in all that
we do for the common good.
She said that Rock hall is to De
not only place for good times, but
a public meeting place for more seri-
Gus purposes as needs arise.
She said that the success OF the
center will depend largely upon the
mothers of the community, Ind that
it was very fitting that the first or
ganization to meet there should be
the Mothers club. In introducing
Mrs. Ira Couch Wood. Mrs. Fales
said:
1--WE did not know when we began
to plan for this community center
that Mrs Wood, an expert in this
work, was coming TO keokuk. 1t is
Just as il the Lord had dropped her
as a gift right out of the sky just
when we needed her most. Mrs.
Wood said:
For a Big Purpose.
st is a great movement when peo-
pie come together for any purpose.
When the peopes of a community can
srlbmerge their differences and come
together, every one to give all that
he can for the others Of his commu-
nifty, we have then made great step
toward democracy.
"a community center such as you
have formed here is a place in which
to share your good times, to foster
your educational activities and to
bring about the things that you need
for your well being and happiness
IN this place the boys and girls
can come together for parties and
dances and entertainments. You can
celebrate here our national holt
days. You mothers can meet here
to talk about the welfare of your
children and to work for safe en-
yirenment in which they may develop
into good men and women.
1--WE must learn that a community
is an aggregation Of honest is one
great family. You ought to have at
this center every good thing that
other in the year you ought to hear
hau ~
thing that Keokuk has to offer"
Mrs Wood explained that the cen
ter should have center community
council as a foundation of its organi-
zation.
It Starts Out Well.
Miss Eva j. Stevens. principal
of the Wells school, presided at
short business meeting in which she
asked the club to express itself as TO
whether the invitation from Miss
Dora Y bunker, secretary of Rock
Hall center, should be accepted and
the club hereafter meet there. The
club voted unanimously TO meet at
the community center.
Mrs. George Collingwood Tucker
sang a group of negro folk songs in
her inimitable manner, and Miss
Mildred French read a humorous
story delightfully."-.
Sandwiches and coffee were served
at the close of the program.
The assembly room had been very
attractively fitted UP. Mrs. ]. N. D..
Chenowith and committee of ladies
sewed diligently all morning to make
the attractive white and chintz cur
tains which hang in the windows.
There were pussy willows and flow
ers on the speakers table, and Mrs.
Wood added a bouquet of pink roses
and forget-me-nots to the other flow
ers.
The rooms down stairs are being
papered, and when all is fitted up,
there is to be a community meeting
and christening party at Rock Hall