Gone are the days of the old fashioned parlor with its stiff and
uncomfortable furniture placed just so about the edges of the room; its stacks
of pictures and photographs on the table at the center; its mantle decorated
with souvenirs, paper flowers, and various other ornate articles; and its drawn
shades to keep the sun from fading the carpet--but its going is not regretted by
hundreds of West Virginia farm women who have learned how to make better use of
this part of the house.
Women realize that rooms were built to be used and not kept shut
up except for weddings, funerals, or various “special company,” and so these
tightly closed un-homelike parts of the house are being transformed into useful
and livable rooms.
During the past year, about 500 Farm Women’s Club members in
West Virginia improved their parlors by making them over into real living rooms.
More than a thousand pieces of old furniture were refinished. Articles that were
not useful or beautiful were removed from the mantle and table making the job of
dusting much easier and giving the room an orderly, restful, appearance.
These changes were made as a result of suggestions gained at
their club meetings through the study of a special lesson, “Keeping Up the
House,” copies of which may be obtained from the Agricultural Extension
Division, WVU, Morgantown.
About this time of the year, it is
well to urge all readers of the Chronicle to
consider the possible pleasure to be obtained from
flowers, fruits and vegetables. It is also worth
noting that, sometimes, such activity can develop a
monetary profit.
We’re not much concerned, in this article, with the economic
gains of gardening. There are other values that come to the individual who seeks
to develop something of beauty and perfection in accordance with the laws of
nature.
There are countless homes in Calhoun on lots that need the charm
that can come only from well appointed surroundings. It may take some years to
develop an attractive lawn or garden, but the task will bring satisfaction. It
will also add to the natural beauty of your community.
Despite the tightest budget in years
and continuing worries about whether the federal
government will continue to fund Revenue Sharing,
the county commission reversed itself and made a
partial restoration to the heavily slashed budget of
Calhoun Library.
Commissioners voted to restore $2,500 to the library budget,
bringing the total allocated to $15,388, $7,500 less than was originally hoped
for.
The commission expressed interest in taking over responsibility
for upkeep and maintenance of Coopers Park after being notified that the Dept.
of Highways will no longer take responsibility for roadside picnic spots.