In Northern Iowa Fire Department is Finely Equipped iajuujnA WILLIS. MASON CITY FIREMEN TRAVEL TO FIRES WITH MOTOR APPA- RATUS — HOUSED IN A FINE BUILDING. For a city to become a city of tho first class it must first prove it- B ® lf *° be a first-class city and one of the distinctive features of a first- class city is its adequate protection f^ ora ^ re * oss * The development of the Mason City fire department has well kept pace with the growth of the city and the current records show that its efficiency in holding down fire loss compares favorably with the other cities of the state of this size and even larger. Beginning with a volunteer fire department of four men, it has grown to an organiza- tion of thirteen fire fighters, who receive their monthly pay check to perform their one and only duty Equipment. The Mason City fire department has passed through all stages of de- velopment until now it has all the modern equipment in the 96 horse- power triple combination engine that was purchased July l, 1914 This combination consists of a chemical engine, force pump and several lengths of hose. This huge engine is capable of forcing water to the top of the highest buildings and can attain a speed of between fifty and sixty miles an hour on the road. An- other 30-horsepower motor which answers all fire calls is equipped Taa a ^ W0 ban( I chemicals and carries 1000 feet of hose. This engine was purchased in August of 1914. Be- sides the two fast motors there is a horse dra^n chemical which is kept in reserp* only for urgent calls and a horse drawn hook and ladder wa- gon equipped with a comDlete mvt.fit THE MASON CITY DAILY GLOBE- GAZETTB X Fire Department is Finely Equipped Lastl’PSmiaso.D CJ U’JJW 1 rJCUo/ 7i, ■was proud of tha faoltbat Wy won the typewriting contest In Iowa. That last year’s winning was not a freak was shown this year whon Mason Oily won first and second. Mr. Clifford Kupplnger easily oxcelled all stu- dents who had less than one year’s training In typewriting, while Mr. Joseph Bryson lost first place by less than three words per minute. These results are a clear justification for the money that Is being spent for commercial education. A prominent business man recently made this statement: "We have tried a number of people In our office, and It was not until we secured one of the gradu- ates of tho Mason City High school that we found a person that could handle tho work.” Graduates Stand Well. Another test of an institution Is how the products compare with the cago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, In- nrt Missouri. Debating Work. Debating and public speaking is rapidly coming to play an important part In the student life of the Mason City High school. One of the larg- est crowds that ever attended a de- bate in the city was present at the debate between Mason City and Clin- ton. Mason City won a unanimous decision and it was the opinion of the Judges that the team was one of the best ever developed In Northern Iowa. This year when the Declamatory contests were put before the stu- dents, twenty-eight students Immedi- ately asked to enter these contests^ and othei-B that applied later had to bo refused. These contests were ex- citing jyjd the Interest shown by the stui «rT body was plensing to all people who aro Interested in this form of work For some years past Mason City has always had one or two people who by their own initia- tive had equipped themselves to rep- resent the school in declamatory contests, but this is < the first year that the school offered training to those who decided to take the work. Athletic Record. Under the direction of Coaches Bailey and West the athletic inter- ests of tho High school have been advanced steadily of late, and the school is now taking part in many forms of athletic, endeavor In which contestants wearing the red and , black were In the past unknown. I The spirit manifested in the school I now Is very good in tills regard, faith- | ful support being accorded the teams { put out by the school, win or lose, j The boys who go away and do their best and do not bring home first , prizes aro just as well received as though they broke state records Good attendance of the student body at all athletic events has been \ sibly be required in that regard. In fact, the building, like a modern fac- tory will appear to be largely win- dows. With the erection of this building, and the addition of the equipment which it can house, which can not be used in the present school the scope of usefulness of the high school to the community, in every department, will be much increased, and the sphere of influence of the public schools will be constantly broaden- ing. ❖ ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH * HAS A PINE SCHOOL ❖ One of the finest parochial schools of the state is situated in Mason City, in connection with St. Joseph’s Ro- man Catholic church, and known as St. Joseph’s Convent. Eight years ago the old building burned to the ground, and the present building was erected on the old site. The building is four story, of brick, surrounded by fine old trees, and a well-kept lawn, 'with a very large playground in back. Though it was thought at the time the struc- ture was erected that ample room had been allowed for growth, it is now thought that in the near future plans must be made for more class rooms. The large basement has a kitche n, a d ining room for girl stu- dents, and aiso a Drivate dining room for th c Sisters. On i;., ■’h^t floor there is a very large central hall, with nine class rooms opening from it, and along the south side is the beautiful little chapel, and a large reception room. The music rooms, thre e in number, are also on this floor, in the west wing. On the sec- ond floor are the dormitories for the Sisters, and the out-of-town students, and also the community room, and on the fourth is the large auditorium, running the full length of th e build- ing, known as St. Joseph’s hall, in which the children stage their school plays and programs, and which the different societies of the church utilize as a meeting place. In a for- merly unused portion of the base- ment a gymnasium has very recently been fitted up for the boys of the school, and it was almost entirely through their own efforts that they ; secured most of the equipment for it. TMs lias been a great source of O. A. WEST, Athletics and Sicenco. For a city to become a city of the first class It must first prove it- self to be a first-class city and ono of the distinctive features of a first- class city is its adequate protection from fire loss. The development of the Mason City fire department has well kept pace with the growth of the city and the current records show that its efficiency in holding down fire loss compares favorably with the other cities of the state of this size and even larger. Beginning with a volunteer fire department of four men, it has grown to an organiza- tion of thirteen fire fighters, who receive their monthly pay check to perform their one and only duty. MISS LODENA WILLIS, Equipment. The Mason City fire department has passed through all stages of de- velopment until now it has all the modern equipment in the 96 horse- power triple combination engine that was purchased July 1, 1914. This combination consists of a chemical engine, force pump and several lengths of hose. This huge engine is capable of forcing water to the top of the highest buildings and can ' attain a speed of between fifty and sixty miles an hour on the road. An- , other 30-horsepower motor which answers all fire calls is equipped with two hand chemicals and carries 1000 feet of hose. This engine was purchased in August of 1914. Be- sides the two fast motors there is a horse dr&grn chemical which is kept in resergDonly for urgent calls and a horse drawn hook and ladder wa- gon equipped with a complete outfit. By F. M. HAMMITT, Principal. Present High School Building. TO FIRES WITH MOTOR APPA- RATUS — HOUSED IN A FINE BUILDING. OZ1.ZZ V° V rffl MASON CITY DAILY GLOBE - GAZE T f !i wrjy > i* w Yli\g^ , 12 1 fe read Rometwrnr' TIT about rats, I want to know if it In true"; "What have you in the library about super- heated steam?” Wlmt is the ho ip ht of Queen Elizabeth?” “I want .a suggestion for a book review of a book portraying a young life”; "I just, saw a bird with a peculiar mark- ing, 1 want to identify it”; "What is the legend of the Northern Lights?” "What is the address of the Carne- gie Corporation of New York?" "What are the provisions of the Keating-Owen bill?" "Where are the headquarters of the federal courts of Iowa?" “Have you any books about effloresence in brick?” "How is Bav-le-Diic made?" "We want the text of the Dick Militia Art"; "Do you know where 1 could find Commo- dore Perry?” "1 want a recipe for preparing calves’ brains"; "What is in (he library about the United States coast survey?” "Have you any books about the care and feeding of babies?" These few quotations may give a partial conception of the variety of questions which are constantly com- ing to the workers In the big build- ing on the corner of State and Su- perior streets. Questions which come from people of all ages, of every ^'auk and degree of education, from people who have realized that "When in doubt, it is wise to consult the Public Library,” and that for assist- ance in answering any question the library is “as near you as your tele- phone.” Only On© Phase. But this is only one phase of the work of the library, as one who hap- pens to be near or in the library any day after school will realize ns he conic TT By BERTHA S. BAIRD, Librarian si cs the many children who c'omc [ warefs d pumic TPTIding ro with happy faces, either to get books tljose days Mason City had open sa- to take home or to spend an hour loons, and Rev. S. M. Hudson, pas- or delight in the children’s room, [tor of the Methodist church, in his reading and looking at the pictures, sermon one Sunday morning, spoke But Tuesday is the happiest day of of the deplorable facts of the situa- all, Tor that is "story hour day,” tion and urged that some means be when the childrens librarian intro- supplied whereby men could find a duces them (o the riches of fairy place to congregate, where they would have an opportunity to im prove their minds instead of dead- ening them. The sermon made an impression and shortly after, the ag- and folk lore, to the literature of all ages. The children living too far (from the library to come to it frequently are not neglected, for the library has itat1011 was commenced for a reading placed books in all the schools and »““■ How thl f could be bought ns the library assistant goes from j aboat was a serious question in the school to lend the books to the chll- 1 m ‘ n “ dren, she is often mot with, "Oh, here cohies the library teacher, goody goody, wo can have libraries today.” The library board through tho work of the library staff is seeking in every way to make the library of benefit to every man, woman and -child in Mason City, to “peopleize" the resources of this fast growing in- stitution. A East Growing Institution. 1 of those who saw its need, but the agitation was continued. In January of that year- a meeting of citizens was called which was pi- ed over by J. V. W. Montague. Cur- tis Bate, Sr., was selected secretary and an organization was formed known as the Occidental Library as- sociation. Those who became num- bers were asked to pay a fee of $."« and to contribute every year tliere- l after TrtfTis maintenance. Inside of three months they reported three j # . / MRS. BAIRI), Librarian. in 1916; from a circulation of 1060 in 188!> to a circulation of 67,669 in j And It has been a fast growing ill- hundred volumes with several peri ■ brary, a catalog of 245 titles, printed stltutlon, from a library of seven odicals for circulation. I in 1871 hundred volumes in 1889 to 13.114 | Mrst Home for Rooks. | During these days there was a The books were first kept in the I constant struggle to keep the library 19K>. In 1S89, there was a per cap- 1 Shepard building and after two or ! that^t^must diT? for u^'nt of kroner ita circulation of only .036 of a book three years were removed to the rear sunnort Mnn»v „ iv „_ h J > _ r L,_ ,,,r, „ u, a 3. M L, m * th , tto , , r/r. ,^ast w “,R , s^r _ " building on the corner of State and Dr. A. A. Noyes, conducted a lecture I hose who have been interested I Main, where the Boyd Smoke Shop I course, hoping the proceeds would in the library from its earliest dnvsji s now located. After a time, about [add materially to the funds. Mr. olten marvel at the progress which the year 1873, the books were re- Noyes, in writing of this venture, has been made and recall the early moved to the bank building of I. R.jsays: “He secured the taleiu, and days of the movement and the long Kirk. Mrs. Mary Card had charge ; to be sure it was a brilliant array and , struggle before it became a well es-! 0 f them, who, the records tell us, j ought to have attracted the whole tarnished institution. iwas unceasing in her efforts in re- population of Cerro Gordo county.” | As far back as 1871, forty-five j pairing and caring for them. One of [On the list were Brigham Young’s years ago, when the population of jtlie most prized treasures in the local nineteenth wife, Eliabeth Cady Stan Mnson City evidence of as only 11S3 there was history collection of the library, is ton; Theodore Tilton. Du Chailluz. strong sentiment to- , the printed catalog of this first li- j the African traveler, Tan Kee, the Chinese lecturer. Unfortunately this cl Fo r t the course was finished there was a deficit of $15. The presidency of Dr. Noyes cov- ered a period of about thirteen years and after he left the city the books were kept at Hurd’s jewelry store for a time, when they were taken to the office of Doctors Dakin and Osborne. Many had been destroyed and some were lost. For a, few years the li- brary interest waned and the town was without a reading room. Women to the Rescue. But a?! or a lime a number of noble women came to the rescue. The saloons had beon put out of the town, and a great need of a reading room was felt. Those interested in the venture asked Jar the old books and afterfJme Hesitation on the part of the remnant of the old associa- tion, they were given, but not with- out the understanding that they were to be returned in case the present effort failed. A building on South Main street near the location of the Bijou theatre was rented, which ser- ved both as a reading room, a home for the librarian, and quarters up- stairs for a tenant, from whom some remuneration was received to help with the rent. Miss Mary Hurlbut was secured as librarian. Coffee and sandwiches were served Saturday afternoon, and every effort made to attract to the new reading room. First Permanent Officers. Thus the library was set on foot again with a remnant of the old books, a few newspapers and maga- zines. It was on November 10th, in 1888, when all arrangements were completed and the following perma- nent officers were elected: President— Mrs. J. A. Farrell. Vice-President — Mrs. Cable. Secretary — Miss Mable Emsley. Elizabeth Han- rtttrgH the ef- forts of Mrs. S. a Allen anrl Mr J. E. Blythe, a gift of $20,000 wai secured from Mr. Carnegie for the erection of a new building. Later it was found that $20,000 was not sufficient for the building planned and after an unsuccessful effort to induce Mr. Carnegie to add to his gift, a subscription of $11,500 more was raised among the public spirited citizens and women’s clubs conse- quently the Mason City Public Li- brary is the gift of Mr. Andrew Car- negie and Mason City citizens. After much time and devoted la- bor on the part of the trustees, the beautiful building was completed and on January 10, 1905, over elev- en years ago, it was dedicated, and the dedication was a most joyous occasion. With the exception of the art room the second story of the library was not finished at first, because the extra rooms were not needed, but they were built because the-xemmit- Directors — Mrs. Dakin, Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. Glass, Mrs. Bal-e, Mrs. John Stanbery, Mrs. Manchester and Mrs. M. I. Clark But the struggle was only begun. Money was not forthcoming at a rapr id rate, so there were many suppers, fairs, luncheons, entertainments, etc., to swell the library fund. Cards for yearly membership were sold and a charge of 5c made for every book taken from the room. After a time the board of directors became satis- fied that the movement was on a sure and safe footing and in 1891 petitioned the city council for a tax for support and received a levy of one mill. By this time the library, or reading room, as it was usually called, had outgrown its quarters, and in 1S92, the board secured a building on East State street, where the Cut-rate Grocery is now located. The cost was $3500, $600 of which was raised by the women for the first payment, and the new library was opened on September 24, 1892, withHee in charge was far-sighted enoug_ music by the ba^d and great rejoic- to realize that with the growth of ihg- I the city and library, space for expan- In 1899 the whole community was; sion would be needed. It is the de- saddened by the death of Miss Hurl- c j s j on of the library board that the but, the librarian, and lier sister, time has come when the library Mrs. Anna Chapin, who had assisted building must be completed, and the her, took up the work and served J plans are now being made to finish until September, 1911, when the the rooms and move the children’s present librarian succeeded her. department into what will be the The New Library. best equipped and most attractive In the fall of 1900, the building | children’s rooms it is possible to owned by the library caught fire. have. Few of the books, however, were de- j The public library is the most stroyed, but many were injured by | democratic institution in the city, water and smoke. After the fire, and should be a city's best invest- the property known as the Tiffany ment, paying large dividends in edu- home, located where the present li- j cation, culture and development, brary building now stands, was se- ! What it means to the city is limited cured. The location and grounds i only by what the people in their u e were ideal, but the building was of it, determine it shall mean. f SON CITY DAILY GLOBI-GAZKTTI M. HAMMITT, Principal, A : « mm mmm esent High School Building, n that regard. In ike a modern fac- d be largely win- 1 of this building, the equipment which can not be used in the present school the scope of usefulness of the high school to the community, in every department, will be much increased, and the sphere of influence of the public schools will be constantly broaden- ing. ❖ ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH * ❖ ❖ ❖ HAS A FINE SCHOOL ❖ ❖ ❖ ♦J* * 1 * *** *** * 1 * *** •** ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ One of the finest parochial schools of the state is situated in Mason City, in connection with St. Joseph’s Ro- man Catholic church, and known as St. Joseph’s Convent. Eight years ago the old building burned to the ground, and the present building was erected on the old site. The building is four story, of brick, surrounded by fine old trees, and a well-kept lawn, with a very large playground in back. Though it was thought at the time the struc- ture was erected that ample room had been allowed for growth, it is now thought that in the near future plans must be made for more class rooms. The large basement has a kitchen, a dining room for girl stu- dents, and also a private dining room for th e Sisters. On the first floor there is a very large central hall, with nine class rooms opening from it, and along the south, side is the beautiful little chapel, and a large reception room. The music rooms, thre e in number, are also on this floor, in the west wing. On the sec- ond floor are the dormitories for the Sisters, and the out-of-town students, and also the community room, and on the fourth is the large auditorium, running the full length of th e build- ing, known as St. Joseph’s hall, in which the children stage their school plays and programs, and which the different societies of the church utilize as a meeting place. In a for- merly unused portion of the base- ment a gymnasium has very recently been fitted up for the boys of the school, and it was almost entirely through their own efforts that they secured most of the equipment for it. This has been a great source of