At one time the Woman’s Club sent out a committee to solicit for a rest room. The sum subscribed would not support the work, so during Mrs. Diffenderffer’s term of office as president of the Woman’s Club, a committee was appointed to return this money. Each man on the list was seen personally and they all willingly turned this sum over to the cemetery ladies and it was paid on the chapel.
While we did not make a practice of soliciting, yet many people gave money. In May 1907 a payment of fifty dollars was made (?) headed (?) Mr. J. K. Bass with a gift of twenty-five dollars.
Many people have been generous without solicitation, giving sums of different amounts, among them Mr. Dunlap who was ever ready and sought the opportunity to assist us. Also Mr. Ainsworth and Mr. L. A. Morris, who gave unsolicited $5.00 with which we bought the manuscript of “Mrs. Wigg”, of the Cabbage Patch, and cleared after all expenses $60.00.
The paint inside the chapel, the first time it was painted, was given by Mr. Malone, and all the outside, roof and all, was given by Dodd & Swinney. But we depended too much on others to deal justly with us and frankly acknowledge that some took advantage of this fact. But as the debt was against us we worked hard until we paid it. In less than two years, in February we paid the last debt of our $500.00 by giving an old-fashioned ‘Fiddler’s Contest” and cleared fifty-five dollars and everybody enjoyed it, too. If you have patronized these entertainments you have helped build the chapel. We tried to give you your money’s worth in entertaining you and you still have your money’s worth in the Gethsemane Cemetery (our garden of sorrow). The little chapel that is there is yours. We keep it insured with Mr. Richie and should anything happen the money is to be used to rebuild the same.
Since finishing the building we have placed a water tank there costing fifty dollars on a well-built substantial platform. The proceeds from the “Union Depot” were used as payment on this.
Last year we purchased an organ from Mrs. Bloom for fifty dollars. Mr. Ainsworth gave $5.00 and proceeds from the singing school and doll bazaar finished this payment.
Our Civic work has been varied. During March, 1908, we advocated a clean-up day. Before the day set we tried to give an oyster supper to help pay the expenses of drayage for that day for those that did not have any way to carry off their rubbish. We were not patronized liberally. We only cleared $6.55. But most o f the people of Caddo met the suggestion with a splendid spirit. Fires were seen in all directions. The president of the Civic Club couldn’t meet some of the land owners around town and because load after load of rubbish had been dumped on their property, she naturally concluded that she was responsible for it. Yards were raked, lots were cleaned and white-wash brushes were kept busy. The town was practically clean when on March 28, 1908 the Civic Club ladies took charge of the dray wagon to finish the work. It was cloudy and in the drizzling rain the first wagons were loaded and we had to run to shelter. The faucets of heaven were turned on in full force. It rained for three months and not before the middle of June could we do anything. We have always believed this cleaning up saved the residents of Caddo much sickness because of the un-heard-of rains. Nothing had been left to decay or hold water to breed insects and disease. All the while it was raining the weeds were growing and almost covered those cans before the roads rendered it possible to cart them off. Everybody was busy making up lost time in their work. No one had time to see after it. The city council had them removed finally and the Civic Club ladies used the $6.55 by adding more to it and tried the experiment of putting trash barrels on the streets which was well received y almost all of the business men, but they were wooden barrels and fell to pieces. We hope as soon as we can get the money to replace them with zinc trash cans.
The Civic club ladies have tried to have Arbor Day, but it always rains. However, we have, assisted by the Clubs, planted trees on the public School campus and set out trees every year in the cemetery. We are trying to get an assortment at least two of every kind of tree that grows in Oklahoma, but can’t expect to do much good unless we get water works in the cemetery.
Thank you very much for reprinting this article, especially with the photo. I am glad to have one of "The Chapel" plates from 1953 and this article will be attached to the back of the plate along with the June 12, 2008 Durant Daily Democrat article that Judy Rowland wrote for the 100 year anniversary.
Posted by: Tom Garner | January 25, 2010 at 09:40 AM