Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-22
Woman's Aid
Enters Drive to
Increase Fund

The semi monthly meeting of the
board of the Skowhcgan Woman's
Aid society was held Tuesday after
noon at the public library with a
good attendance. They are entering
upon a drive to increase it's en-
dowment fund. c. A. Coffin, a for
mer Skowhegan resident has made
the following offer to the Aid So
ciety: "If before the first of January,
1924. the aid have made public ap-
peal for the purpose of increasing
the endowment fund of the Woman's
Aid Society will contribute thereto
securities, the annual return on
which shall be equal to that realized
upon all other securities which may
be donated, or purchased with dona-
lions made therefor, provided the
total of my share shall not exceed
three hundred dollars annually"
Signed c. A. Coffin.
Among the requests of a public
nature made in the will of the late
Governor of Maine, Abner Coburn,
was the following: II give and be-
queth to the town of Skowhegan,
for the worthy and unfortunate poor
and to save them from pauperism,
to be founded and one-half of the
income of the same to be expended
by a Woman's Aid, Society formed
for that purpose, $4,000" The death
of Governor Coburn occurred in 1885
and soon after his death the Show
hogan Woman's Aid Society was
organized. The first president. Mrs.
Heller Coburn, was sister, in law
of the late governor.
At the first meeting of the or
ganization the question of the in
terpreting the clause in the will of
the late Governor of Maine who had
MADE the organization possible came
up ana 1t was apparent that even
the amount of $1,000 annually would
not he enough to relieve all the need
which would occur and the socfSty
wishing TO carry out the trust made
TO them in the wisest and best man
Der possible, made an Interpretation
which has always guided the ladies
In the expenditure of The money and
the sum has been expended where
peculiar circumstances seemed to
warrant that it might be well an
piied and the board has at all times
sought that all humiliation be elimi-
nated and the work of the board
throughout the many years has been
carried on very quietly and in an
unaSSuminG manner and were it pos
slble for the board to completely es-
tablish its ideals the public would
never know of its work. The fund
mas been added to twice by beouest
or $2012, gift of Mrs. Lizzie M
rage and by a gift of $4,000 from
MRS. Caroline Reddington in memory
OF her sister, Mrs. Lydia r. Brad.
ford '"u
At the present time an opportu-
NIFTY to increase this endowment has
come by the offer stated above and
any one wishing to donate even a
small sum may do so and it will be
tecetVcd with much appreciat ton by
:l,e members OF the board. who arc
!u9t beginning a public solicitation
~ Increase the endowment and every
dollar received by the solicitors viii
be duplicated by Mr.. Griffin. If anv
choose to do SO. the gift NAV no
presented as a memorial for soma
telative or friend.
ne money at the present time is
expended almost entirely to helm
elderly people, who are nearlv ;f
not wholly unable to work and cb;i-
uren and young people who are in
School and much more money could
ne wen expended and is especiaIiv
hieued IN emergency cases. many nj
Nh,cn now have to be turned away
nv, !" iileuicai ana surgical aid
Inc board feels that the merits
OF the work and the faithful and
cheerful service given by many won, :
en- VINO have served the society dir
ing more than So years of it's evils.
fence warrant them in making this
personal appeal. The present hoard
consists of president. Miss Hannah
n. rage; vice president. Mrs. ADJ
Il. Descombe: secretary, Mary w
Emery; treasurer, Miss Clara r.
Aarney; Margaret T. Goodrich. Mrs.
Celeste Roullard. Mrs. Eugenie p
Merrlam, Mrs. Mary M. Greenwav
MRS. Eva r. Greenwood. Mrs
florence Waugh Danforth and Mis-
gertrude S. Weston. 1919
MIR. Coffin further stated in his Lot
Ter TO Mr.. Maurice P. Merrill that
he would also make the same nr ma
posal with respect to a fund vbiob
may be raised for the benefit of The
Park, except that as to the iatter ' he
would extend the time within wbin,,
me subscription should be closed nc
me hrst of May which would e;Ue
more time to perfecting the nians
III connection with the work on The
park for the ensuing year or wears