The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-08
SEVENTY FIVE PRESENT
PAPER IS READ BY E. l.
CHRISTESON
Purpose of the Organization Is
Described; Talks BY Several
Members


dist church last evening was a splen-
did success. Seventy-five people
were present, including wives of
members and friends.
Following the supper a program
Of speaking and music was given. R.
c. Wilson, chairman of the program
committee, acted as POSTMASTER in
pleasing and efficient manner.
E. L. Christeson, secretary of the
club. was called upon for remarks
relative to the organization and pur-
pose of the club. HIS paper in part
follows:
ION November IS, last year body
of representative men of North Man
kato met in this church and organ
lied what is now known as The
North Mankato Mems Community
club" Though none Of them perhaps
realized it, thegs was laid in this lit
tie organization a foundation that, If
builded upon in the future, can mean
much to North Mankato as a village,
Pad to the people individually.
I'VE have heard more concerning
the community spirit perhaps in the
past two or three years than ever be-
fore. The stress of the times, caus-
ed by war influences, financial con-
ditions, and politics, has brought peo-
pie to realization of their common
interests somewhat strildngly. Yet
the community spirit is not a new
thing, neither is aSforce to be lightly
dealt with if directed into the prop
err channel. The mere name com
munity, as we recognize 1t, i'm
plies people. live within a more
On les - defined neighborhood,
VIII, COMMON interests and re-
spo- es. and who are held to-
ge' =, ties of local sympathy.
N Mankato is peculiarly sit
l. F.. 1t is a village of homes, and
gardens, of wide streets and of at
factive lawns. 1t is not as yet a
business center. The river is the
natural feature that makes the viii
lage as it is today. The problems
that the business men have to meet,
that the home makers have to solve,
are those a little different from Man
kato or of any of the other nearby
towns. Physical and economic con-
~ditiNis bear strong relation to the
village welfare.
cit was a realization of some of
these things, though perhaps not
thought of in just that way, that
brought about the organization OF
the community club. Co. operation is
d
fellow feeling among men that makes
them feel that association one with
another will bring about a mutual
benefit. North Mankato has no place
that brings all the men together. 1t
has needed something of that kind.
The Community club this winter has
helped to bridge the difficulty. 1t
has brought men together in social
way. 1t has afforded means where
men could come TO know each other
more intimately. Business interests,
in most cases, are across the river,
and for that reason great many
residents have no local dealings with
each other. The club has helped to
span that also.
"In the various meetings during
the winter questions have been dis
worth while from unexpected sources.
The subjects discussed have been live
issues. And though tangible results
may not be openly apparent, there
may have been planted the seed that
sometime in the future will bring
about great improvements for North
Mankato. Who knows?
And now as to the future of the
club. That will rest entirely with the
present membership and the citizen
ship Of the village. There are many
things of common interest that should
bring the organization to life again
next year. The village is growing.
New problems are to continually come
before the people, and it will rest
with some man or group Of men to
dictate the policies that shall govern.
Some day not so far off the matter of
street improvements. more school
facilities, civic improvements, ETC.,
will come up. Why couldn't the club,
or some similar organization be made
q factor to handle the matters that
develop?
lot. It will seek to develop the town.
1t can bring more people within it's
domain. 1t may seek to bring those
interests that will attract a desirable
class of people. 1t will create new
and better homes. The scope of the
North Mankato Mems Community
club is almost unlimited. 1t has an
unusual situation to deal with. pc
culiar in that the interests of the
the interests of each individual,
whether he be tenant or property
holder"
Rev. ]. r. Hitchcock spoke strongly
for the community spirit that has
been manifested at the meetings of
the Mems club and expected even
greater things then have been done
G.. E. Ball was called upon to open
the discussion Of the subject What
North Mankato Needs Most" He
spoke briefly of some of the claims
of the village. That we have a water
system not equaled by any city in
the state; fire protection as good
as any and better than most towns
with a volunteer company. We have
excellent schools and churches and
other advantages makes North Man
kato a desirable place to. live. do
you realize that our village hanks
well in size with many of the i'm
portant 49,, e the state. Only nine
cities in NGTs.f Dakota are larger
than our village, only few cities Of
Southern Minnesota have a greater
population. Our taxes are less than
most cities, being considerable less
than in st. Peter or Mankato" Mr..
Ball at length spoke of the needs of
North Mankato: among the most i'm
portant was the need of publicity.
With no commercial body to adver-
tise the village we are badly in need
of publicity and boosting. We need
Grub and cutters on our main streets
together with storm sewer This is
a matter about to be realized this
season. We need town hall with
an auditorium for large meetings of
all kinds. We need the extension Of
the street car line Our Mems cI,lh