The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-07-23

their communities for recreational, gymnastic,
athletic, social and welfare work and often for
political, cooperative business, and religious WORK.
Among the specific economic of the buildings,
Tor instance, canning demonstrations, boys
ana girls club work domestic science agrcu'-
tural society meetings fairs. cafes cafeterias'
farmers institutes. and cooperative purchasing
ana marketing activities Among the educationa'
and recreationaI lectures moving PIC
lures night schools. entertainments. billiards,
pool, bowling, table games reading room ana
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 Matinecock Neighborhood associ-
alton and asked him start "a boys club, saying
there place for the boys to 20 for good
time except to the saloons or to the neighboring
town with its 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
neighborhood spirit and community recreation
ut low ebb.
He found also that there in the village
a private unsup~rvised young mems athletic club
which in baoksmith's shop. Being man
of vision. he determined to make this club
alton for the village with community house
a center.
He persuaded the athletic club to sign petition
for the Neighborhood association take them
in as members payment of the regular dues.
81 per year. and then to commission them as
recreation department to furnish recreation for
the whole community The association complied
and appointed an executive committee. composed
of two of its directors and five young men. to
have charge of the arrangements Twenty-nne
bows were appointed committees in order
give them share in the constructive work.
Temporary quarters secured in an old
barn. which fitted up through general
trbutons including a graphophone a piano pool
table stoves. dishes, an indoor baseball outfit.
S137 In cash. and subscriptions for many maya
zines Boy scouts and band organ
lied and other organizations were formed
AS Il result II soon found that 14S 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
At the same time they members of the Neigh
borhood association. with votes all questions
pertaining 70 IT,
The barn soon became too small for these va
rious activities. This brought to the front ques-
ton which had been under consideration for some
time-the erection of a community building If
was finally decided that building should he
erected which would be the Headquarters of the
Neighborhood association with its membership of
800 men and women, representing 23J families
together with its boys recreation department and
also be 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 40 members and
contributions from 90 per cent of the fan sIies In
the village were all donated.
The building is situated on n rise of pround
In a grove of trees and comprises one story and
n basement The auditorium can be mode to seat
500 people, and was especially designed for mo-
tion-picture exhibitions, for dances and for bas-