Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-06-17

i rare Olu pieces OF FURNITURE I'M
ished in the natural color. AL
ready the neighbors are taking
similar discarded pieces of furni-
ture, brushing them off and put
ting them into use. Thus, these
household articles are. taking on
a new value. This is only one
illustration of what is expected
to take place on a large scale
when the work is once well under
way.
/ The museum at Brasstown will
house quaint articles which have
been used in the community,
such as old farm implements,
hand spinning wheels, looms, etc.
When the museum is completed
the community house will be con-
structed. Plans for the building
have already been drawn. The
community house will have at
one end a large assembly hall and
lecture room. Besides the kit
chen, it will also contain carpen-
try and weaving rooms, with
class rooms upstairs. It will be
a large rustic structure to harmo-
nize with the surroundings. La
ter it is planned to construct DOR
mitories for men and women and
cottages for married couples,
barns, granaries and other neces-
sary outbuildings.
The work is going forward at
a reasonable rate, but only as fast
as there is the demand. The ad-
ditional buildings will be built
just as response of the people of
the section make them necessary.
1t will rot be a mushroom growth
for the experience of the workers
will insure permanency as the
work goes forward. At present
there are four residents at the
home of the farm and other work
ers will be added as they may be
needed. The residents are now
largely occupied in directing the
activities of the men of the COM
munity in the building of farm
operations. The work is being
financed by the Presbyterian,
Episcopal and Christian Church
Home Missions Board of the
Southern Appalachians and it has
the moral support of all the
church boards operating in the
region.
1t is believed that the school
will, in the course of time, exert
a deep influence upon the COM
munity; that it will awaken the
community consciousness and de-
monstrate the value of coopera-
ton. To cultivate self-expression
and groupmindedness is a thought
uppermost in the scheme. In
time it is expected that coopera-
tive creameries, selling of fruit,
potatoes, grain and other farm
products, and the purchase of
seed, fertilizer and other supplies
will be realized.
The people are seriously in
earnest and their efforts and &C
tivities will be watched with
interest-an interest already ma
infested in the numerous inqui-
ries received by Mrs. Campbell
and by the visitors from distant
sections who come to Brasstown
to investigate the folk school
foundation.
Those who live and work in the
school will be members of the
community with a share and
stake in the community life, says
Mrs. Campbell. 'The ultimate
form which the John C. Campbell
Folk School is to take must go
under the community need" she
states. Such a growth will of
necessity be slow, it's direction
unchartered and conceivably I'M
expected, but we who have seen
abroad the vitality of the prin-
ciples upon which the folk school
rests and are satisfied as to their
fundamental rightness, have faith
to believe that a school based on
the Danish theory and adapted
to local conditions will result"
Mrs. Campbell explains that
the school sets no requirements;
gives no examinations; offers no
credits; that its primary purpose
lis, through the influence of per-
sonality and oral teaching, to
arouse the individual so that he
will never stop growing 1t
distinguishes, in other words be-
tween acquiring and developing.
It does not try to assume respon-
sibility for local changes, but to
awaken that desire for better
life which is the only sound ba-
sis for change"