Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-03
Gifts for Miss Dunbar.
rs Years Secretary
|WOman's Association

twenty-five years OF faithful service
as a servant Of the public is an en-
viabie record for one to possess. and
Monday afternoon marked the compile
lion OF such a period for Miss Frances
F. Dunbar as secretary of the Woman's
Association. The occurrence was not
forgotten by the members OF the assoc
citation who attended the regular month.
~ meeting and Miss Dunbar was made
the recipient of a purse Of money and
freesias. the presentation being made
by Mrs. T. B. Mower.
Miss Dunbar during her long period
Of work has had varied experience.
She has heard the troubles Of hundreds
Of persons which have been poured into
her sympathetic ears. and her capable
hands have lifted many burden from
needy families. When Miss Dunbar
took up the work, succeeding Miss Liz
zie Ames. who went west to marry. the
association rooms were located over the
II. r. Durham clothing store in the
back rooms Later the whole second
floor was thrown open. and later still
the association for several years occu-
pied the rooms over the Whitcomb mar
ket. where Harmon's Electric Cafe is
now located. When these quarters
were leased by a firm dealing in ready
made clothing. the association was
forced to move to much smaller quar-
tiers over Hersom & Bonsalrs. and
when it became possible it moved into
the present quarters. which the asso-
citation bought.
Through Miss Dunbar's influence the
first night school Of the city, was es-
tablished and carried on for more than
Is years before the city took hold Of
the project. After sthat length of time
the city furnished teacher and later
some books. but when working cond;-
tons for girls and compulsory educa-
tional laws became more stringent there
were SO many attendants that the city
was forced to take notice OF the work
and free night schools were established
Then classes in sewing and other
branches Of household art were taken
up and many girls first learned to sex
under the kindly oversight Of Miss Dun
bar and the volunteer help which has
helped for many years. Another fea-
ture Of the work Of the association un-
der Miss Dunbar was the maintaining
OF circulating library which was car
ried on for years before public libra
~ was started in the city.
When Miss Dunbar first took up the
work 1t was for a short time to enable
the association to find someone to take
the place Of the secretary resigned.
After a few months Miss Dunbar was
elected to the position for which she
had shown such capaoaiilitr, and the
passing years have shown how true
were the instincts Of those who placed
her there.
The rooms OF the association are
the mecca of weary shoppers from
out of town. furnishing them a place
where they may leave their bundles,
while they wait for friends. There
is also a woman's exchange which
is open to women everywhere and
many beautiful pieces Of work are
handled there. Food salves have also
been carried on for years and any
thing and everything done to earn
money to carry on the work In all
Of this. Miss Dunbar has been most
faithful. keeping account Of the sums
made In the various ways and back
ing up every movement that was
proposed for the good Of the work.
Miss Dunbar numbers her friends
by hundreds. perhaps thousands
would not be wide Of the mark, as
all the persons who have visited the
rooms all these rs years Of her serv-
ice have come to look upon her as
more than mere acquaintance, they
regard her as a valued friend.
The Waterville Literary Union was
also a product Of the Woman's As
ISOLATION. It IL now known AZ the
Waterville Woman's Club and Is a
prominent factor in the social life OF
the city.
For the past 10 years, Miss Dun
bar has had for an assistant Miss
Sarah Cannon, who has also been
faithful in her duties performed.
While the affair Monday afternoon
was most informal il was most en-
joyable. Miss Dunbar was over
whelmed with the kindness and af-
lection of the members present and
could say no word in return. Tea
and cakes were served at the close
Of the afternoon.