Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-01-19
Over Twenty Attended Meet
ing.--Interest Manifested
and Support Pledged
Aim to Establish Permanent Building
Fund

A meeting called by a special COM
mittee Of ladies of the Elizabeth Port
err Putnam Chapter, ID. A. R., 10 dis
cuss ways and means to give Putnam
a much needed public library build
ing, was held in the Chamber OF
Commerce rooms, Monday evening.
Notwithstanding there was sleet
storm that night more than twenty
responded TO the invitation. This was
greatly encouraging to these public
spirited ladies as was the unanimous
expression Of opinion that Putnam
needs a public library building and
the endorsement Of the suggestion
from the organization that unless a
start is made the objective can never
be reached.
The invitation to assemble to dis
cuss the matter was sent by the ID.
A. X. committee to all organizations
in the city. to ministers, to city and
town officials and department boards
also to the Chamber of Commerce and
to the press. While few sent re-
Rrets and pledged hearty support to
| the movement most OF those invited
appeared in person or by representa-
tive. Included in the organizations
represented were the directors OF the
public library, the Chamber of Com
merce, the common council, the school
board, Elks. X. of c., Parent-Teach-
err Association, American Legion,
Catholic Women's Welfare Council,
Odd Fellows. Grange, Rebekahs.
Rotary Club, r. H. S. Alumni Assoc
citation, w. r. c., and others. Rev.
James F. English represented the
Second Congregational church. Rev.
". O. Bellerose. who left Monday for
Canada, sent message endorsing
the project. assuring the meeting OF
his support, and wishing the project
success.
The meeting was called to order by
Mrs. Mary Bishop. Mrs. Silas NJ.
Wheelock was elected secretary. Miss
Anna NJ. Sampson read the minutes
of the ID. A. r. meeting at which IL
was decided that the first step" to-
ward new public library be taken.
Reaction Favorable
Ii was announced that the commit
tee of the ID. A. r. did not come be-
fore the meeting with any outlined
plan but TO have general informal
discussion of the project and to find
out what the reaction to the sugges-
ton would be. The reaction was
most favorable. Every one present
was asked to express an opinion and
each took the opportunity TO state
that he or she was heartily in favor
Of a new library building and endors-
ed the suggestion that if no action
was taken nothing could be accom-
plished.
The discussion lasted quite some
time and was an exchange OF ideas.
Miss Sarah C. Crosby, regent of the
local ID. A. r. Chapter, told OF the
fund $4,000 that the chapter has
on hand that can be used as a nu-
cleus Of larger fund for library pur-
poses. II was suggested that the town
had a fund from the estate of Mary
Gardner, who devised her property
on South Main street for library pur-
poses to the town and which had
been sold by the town. No one pre-
sent knew the exact status Of this
fund, which was said to be over
81. 900. The American Legion build
ing fund was also suggested but its
status was not certain.
The result of the meeting was the
appointment of a nominating COM
mittee to bring in nominations for q
permanent ways and means commit
tee at later meeting. On the nomi-
mating committee are George l. Pad
gett. r. II. deCoudres. Warren ;.
Ames. Mrs. Mary B. Bishop and Mrs.
c;lae M Wheelock
Manifest Enthusiasm
There was considerable enthusiasm
as the meeting adjourned. The pur-
pose of the call for the meeting had
been accomplished. First II has been
learned that there is an underlying
desire for a public library building
and secondly il was learned that the
so-called First step" toward the end
sought has the approval Of substan-
tial citizens. II is not hoped 20 have
new library within a year, per-
haps for several years. but Il is hop
ed. and following the meeting IL may
be said it is expected, that Putnam
will have library building fund
which, II is hoped and anticipated,
may from time TO time attract gen
erously inclined people Of Putnam,
those formerly of Putnam, and others,
to add to this fund as opportunity Of
fers. 1t is understood that had Put
IMAM had such fund in the past Il
might have received some substantial
gifts and requests. Ii will have such
a fund In the future