Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-04-23

words about home demonstration
work and its significant bearing up
pom really better homes in rural Vance
county.
The beginning of home demonstra-
ton work in Vance dates back twenty
five years when the county commits
sioners and the County Board of Edu-
cation. working in cooperation with
State Extension Department, started
the work. Their choice of an agent
to begin the work was none other
than our own Mrs Hattie F. Plum
mer. Twenty-Five years of natchless
leadership have proved the wisdom
of their choice
Mrs. Plunlnaer 'rought to her work
broad wisdom, a sympathetic I'M
derstanding 81 the problems of farm
women and girls, and patient deter
mination that she would help them;
first by lessening their drudgery-
teaching and showing them easier
ways of doing common, every day
tasks; and second by bringing into
Their lives more play more beauty,
and more of the really finer things
of life.
Starting the work on small scale,
their first project was canning to-
matoes and string beans. She per-
sonally supervised each canning and
helped each woman and girl to mar
ket their product, thus giving to many
farm women their first income.
Out of this small beginning has
grown the present curb market where
country women bring to Henderson
their surplus produce, vegetables,
chickens, pork, turkeys, eggs, butter
cream, milk, canned and preserved
fruits, in fact, almost everything one
could find in an up-to-date grocery
store. Here at this market they sell
their products for cash prices, and
many of them have found this sale of
products at the curb market more re-
mumerative than the sale of their hus-
bands cotton crop, and even the to-
bacco crop in the years of the depres-
sim. Mrs. Plummers tireless en-
tkusiasm and hard work have been
the impetus that has spurred the wo-
Men to this achievement. In turn the
rooney thus earned has gone back to
make better living conditions in the
Eomes, whether it be used to educate
the children, buy piano, build a
hoiae, paint the house, beautify the
grounds or buy electrical equipment
for the home.
one OF the proudest hours of Mrs
Plummers many years of service was
" hen rural electrification became a
certainty. For more than fifteen years
she had worked so hard to bring cleo
tr1c1ty to the farm home, and one of
her dreams for her farm women was
at last realized. Now many farm
homes are equipped with running
water, lights electric stoves, radios,
refrigerators, churns, and every cleo
trical convenience found in the CITY
Tome.
1t is far way that home demon
stratlon women and girls have travel
ed TINS quarter of century, If time
and space would permit, it would be
most interesting to follow each step
IN tnelr progress-each project they
nave taken UP and studied until they
hao mastered = canning, millinery,
healrn' foods, clothing, poultry arts
ana crafts, household management,
recreation, sanitation, yard beautifica-
slon, and better equipped homes.
comparison of the farm homes as
they were twenty-five years ago and
az present is evidence of the benefits
OF this work. A ride on any highway
IN our county will show how the older
MONIES and grounds have been re-
modelled, painted and improved; and
the newer ones have been built with
such careful planning for convenience
ana beauty This is not just in obser-
vance of Better Homes Week, but it
Is a direct result 9. Home Demon
stratlon work as taught by our be-
loved agent, Mrs. Plummer. Yes, she
is beloved for her genuine worth, and
Tor her whole hearted devotion to the
interests of the farm women and girls |
she has given the best in her life to |
the cause SO dear to her heart, and
farm women and girls know it and
appreciate it. Her work has brought
such rich rewards f0 fha r11Y,o1 1,rro<e,