Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-03-17
WILLOW GATHERING
TALKS BETTER HOMES

The community club held it's reg
ular meeting Friday evening, March
II, conducted by Mrs. Eddie e. Clough,
president. After the usual form of
business the following program on
Better American Homes" was given:
song by club, Home Sweet Home;
paper written by Mrs. F. r. Waters,
Cambridge, chairwoman of the Amer
lean Homes of the NJ. F.. w. c., was
read by Sylvia Guessing; Mrs. Frank
Peters read paper on "Budgetting
of the Family Expenses; solo by Mrs.
Claire Whiting, "Afterward"; Mrs.
Grant Thompson gave very interest
ing paper on rural homes and j. r.
Stanton gave very general talk on
building and repairing old houses
which is much needed here, for con-
venience and health. The program
was concluded by song by the club,
THE Dearest Spot on Earth to Me-"
The program was arranged by Mrs.
F.. B. Linsley and Mrs. A. E. Klatt,
with Miss Bochek arranging for the
music.
The following is the paper read by
Mrs. Grant Thompson.
Better Rural Homes.
What a striking contrast is the
compared to the farm of colonial
days! No longer does the farm wife
have to grind the meal, make the
candles and spin, and weave all ar
ticles of clothing besides the many
other duties of the home.
The invention of electrical appli-
ances, improved heating systems, pro-
visions for water supply, and salts
factory sewage disposal are only a
few of the many improvements which
have brought about this change. Ed
ucatiOnal campaigns and the work of
state and county home demonstra-
ton agents, carrying on extensive
home improvement campaigns have
tended to raise the standards of liv-
ing among small-incOme families in
rural sections.
However, due to the fact that each
the activities carried on in the home,
it is very difficult to set standards
for farmhouse plans The need for
rooms and cOnvenienceS for hired
men, essential for some types of farm
ing as well as storage space for pro-
visions depend not only on the type
of farming-dairy, grain, fruits. poul-
try, ETC., but also on the nearness to
towns and cities, the family makeup
and habits, and other factors.
While a great number of farmers
enjoy the benefits of modern improve
ments, many families will not be
provided with mechanical equipment,
cOnveniences, and labor-saving de-
vices for years to come. Therefore,
books and bulletins, describing mex
pensively made and installed equip
ment have been prepared.
Improved methods of farming mean
that fewer people are needed to carry
on the work of the farm. The re-
turns from farming are being used
to support urban homes. Then there
is the health situation. Rural studies
show that in spite of an abundance
of fresh air and sunshine, the rural
child is not developing as well, physi-
cally, as the city child. The difficulty
lies primarily in the home and agen-
cieS closely associated with it. The
fact is that the proportion of rural
to urban population is decreasing.
Let us determine the causes of the
present situation. The most impor-
tant factor, | believe, is the economic
condition of the agricultural indus
try which has caused many to leave
the farm discouraged
Probably next in Importance have
been the long hours of household
work. Few conveniences, poor plan
ming of houses, and lack of outside
agencies, to take over some of the
duties, have made the hours for the
housewife long and monotonous.
In the third place, lack of social
activities discourage many Poor
schools, lack of church associations,
public libraries, and health agencies
have an important bearing on the
child as we'll as the satisfaction of the
family as a whole.
And now what is our program for
the development of the rural home?
Perhaps our first step is better
thought-out farm plans. We want
location that makes the most of nat
ural beauty and contributes most to
the aesthetic as we'll as physical de-
velopment of the family.
In the second place, we want type
of architecture which is suited to
rural surroundings and needs. One
which provides convenience, attrac-
tive surroundings, and background
for the development of family life.
The farmhouse must be planned