Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-07-16
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their communities for recreational, gymnastc,
athletic social and welfare work. and often TOT
POLITICAL cooperative business, and religious WORK
Among the specific economic uses of the buildings,
fW Instance are canning demonstrations Dogs
anu giEs& club work, domestic science agricul-
tural society Neetings, fairs, cafes cafeter.as'
farmers Institutes, tx cooperative purchaslns
and marketing activities. Among the educatlenai
and recreational uses lectures moving pr
lures. night Schools entertainments, billiards.,
pool, bowling, table games, reading ROOM anu
library
The Matinecock neighborhood house, LOCUST
Valley, Long Island, New York, is an excellent ex-
ample of the way in which community buildings
come into existence and are managed.
About eight years ago boy came to the sec
rotary of the Matnecock NeighborhOod associ-
alton and asked him to start boys club, saying
there was no place for the boys to go for good
time except to the saloons or to the neighborlng
town with it's questionable amusements. The sec
rotary, who had but recently arrived made
survey of the situation. He found that through
economic changes, farming was gradually being
given up and the section was becoming resi-
dental one. The population shifting. and
neghborhood spirit and community recreation
was at low ebb.
He found also that there was in the village
a private unsupervised young mems athletic club
which met in a blacksmith's shop. Being man
Of vision he determined to make this club
alton for the village with community house as
center.
He persuaded the athletic club to sign petition
for the Neighborhood association to take them
in as members on payment of the regular dues,
ST per year. and then to commission them as
recreation department to furnish recreation for
the whole community The association complied
and appointed in executive committee, composed
of two of it's directors and five young men, to
have charge Of the arrangements. Twenty
bows were appointed on committees in order to
give them share in the constructive work
Temporary quarters secured in an old
harm. which was fitted up through general con-
tributions including graphophone, piano, pool
table stoves, dishes, an indoor baseball outfit,
S137 in cash. and subscriptions for many maya
zines Boy scouts and band soon organ
lied, and other organizations formed.
AS a result, it was found that 148 young
men were governing themselves, financing their
own enterprise through various entertainments,
and providing social opportunities and athletics
for their fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters
AZ the same time they were members of the Neigh
horhood association, with votes all questions
pertaining to it.
The barn soon became too small for these va
rous activities. This brought to the front ques-
tion which had been under consideration for some
time-the erection Of a community building. 1t
was finally decided that a building should be
erected which would be the Headquarters Of the
Neighborhood association, with its membership Of
300 men and women, representing 235 families,
together with its boys recreation department. and
also be a general social center.
The completed building, together with the land
represents an outlay of $4,000. The community
nature of the work in the raising Of funds and
the method of construction is indicated by the
fact that the land the labor of 10 members, and
contributions from 90 per cent of the families in
the village were all donated.
Tho hudnp is situated on rise of ground
In a grove of trees and comprises one story and
a basement. The auditorium can be made to seat
500 people, and was especially designed for mo-
tion-picture exhibitions, for dances, and for bas