Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-08
HouseWarming at New Club
Center is Well Attended,
Big Events Planned


of the new community house were
thrown open yesterday afternoon.
Long before the announced hour the
residents from this district, visitors
from almost every part of Middle
sex county as well as New York
guests came to pay a tribute to the
members of the Appleby-DeSille
Foundation for the gift with which
they have endowed the community.
A reception committee accompanied
the visitors through the house ex-
planning some historical events con-
nected with the house. There va
and flowers wherever the
visitor glanced while roses, vio-
lets and other varieties of flowers
filled the rooms. After an inspec-
ton the visitors were lead into the
rttreshment room Here the large
table was beautifully decorated with
o flowers, candles, candies, cakes
a9d many other delicacies.
Mrs. George A. Douglas, of New
York, daughter of Olivia Appleby,
chairman of the r~efreshment COM
inittee, also proved TO be a delight
full hostess. She was ably assisted in
the function by a score of ladies'
which included, Mrs. George A.
Helme. of New York. Mrs. Helen
Strater, of New York, Frances Per-
rine, of South Amboy, Mrs. ]. p.
Kirkpatrick, OF Jamesburg, The
Misses Louise and Edith Perrine,
Mrs. ID. r. Mccain and Mrs. Bree-
den.
Among the guests were Mrs.
George w. Helme Mr.. and Mrs.
John s.. Sutphen Mrs. George A.
Helme Mrs. John De Voc Mrs. Mar
tin Parker. Mrs. William Brooks,
Jr., Annette De Voc, William S.
sawyer Miss Ethel Hoddapr,
George W. De Voc. Mr.. and Mrs.
Peter Schweikert. Mrs. A. A. De
Voc, Miss Gabrielle Elliott, Palmer
Rogers, Rev. G. W. Phillips.
Fc' more than three hours visitors
came and went.
Tia Community House is of colo
NAL design prepared by Palmer
Rogers. architect. of New York,
Painted in white. the building rep
resents the type Of a modern club
house. Two large palm vases placed
in front Of the large columns greets
the visitor. At the entrance one !s
attracted by a large reception room
wardrobe hangers. pictures and spe-
call designed furniture. On the
left OF the hall is a big sized room
in which the public library is sit
uated. Yesterday it was filed with
new books. magazines. new shelves
and new library furnishings. The
library is in charge of Miss Howard
and Is open on Thursday, Saturday
nights Friday and Saturday after
moons.
On the right hand Of the hall
there Is another large room which
will be used as a recreation room
for boys and young men. A billiard
tablo is included in the furnishings.
The door from this DON leads into
yesterday diverted into the refresh
naent room for the visitors. Then
there is a large kitchen which
eventually is used in connection
with some of the social affairs given
in the borough.
A stairway leads to the upper floor.
There are six rooms. Each of the
rooms is fully furnished. Two of the
rooms have been furnished by the
descendants of Anna Olivia Appleby.
Another room was fitted up by the
descendants of Ann Armand Fitzallen
Van Wickle, the wife of Leonard
who died in 1880. There still re-
mains furniture used by the Appleby
family scores of years ago. One
room is fitted up as a baby clinic and
there is a meeting room, which will
probably be placed at the disposal
of local organizations.
In 1920 the children and grand
children of Leonard and Amanda
Appleby conceived the idea of estab-
fishing a foundation in the memory
of their ancestors. The Appleby-
DeSille Foundation was then formed
and took over e old Appleby home
stead to make it a community house
where young people could gather,
Since the building grew into an obso-
lete order the directors and members
decided to reconstruct it and make a
fitting memorial for the Applebys,
They have spent several thousand
dollars on the r~emodeling and 1t is
I believed that about $4,000 is the
cost of the place as it now appears.
Preceding the housewarming, the
Board of Directors of the Appleby-
de Sille Foundation held their an
nua, meeting. At this time five trus-
tees who have served with board for
years past have been reelected up
on recommendation of the nominal
ing committee. They are Olivia
Herbert, Florence Beardsley, George
A. Helme, John s. Sutphen and
! Clarence j. Pepper. The election is
of a period of three years and their
terpsg will expire in May. 1926. c.
Helm Strater Is chairman. The of
fcers OF the foundation includes
Mrs. George 4. Helme, honorary
| president; Mrs. Charles G.. Stfater,
: PRESIDENT Mrs. James f. Ropns,