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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 297
the association. Any woman over eighteen years of age may become
an active member by paying an annual fee of 50 cents. Any person may
become an associate member by paying $1 annually.
At a public meeting held in March the building committee reported
that the Mackey property, on Columbus Avenue, could be bought for
$9,950. The building was inspected and found, if remodeled, to be well
adapted for the purpose for which it was to be utilized.
The first election of officers was held in August. The ways and means
committee reported that it had raised enough money from contributions,
to Avhich the public in general responded generously, picture shows, lawn
fetes, and the help of the Rest Room Board, to encourage the purchase of
the property. On August 30th the Mackey building was bought and
$5,000 was paid on the purchase price. The board of trustees then borroAved
$6,500 to cover the remaining cost of the building and the necessary
improvements.
By receipts from a bazaar, a dance, an illustrated lecture on Mexico,
entertainment by jubilee singers and donations coming in, the association
AA'as helped much in its early history. There is an old adage which
runs, "Those Avho help quickly help doubly." The adage proved true in
this case. Two merchants' label contests Avere entered and a piano and
a sectional bookcase containing three sets of books by good authors
were won.
The association established a memorial gift roll in which gifts in
loving memory of persons AATIO have passed away may be properly entered.
TAVO names have been placed upon this roll: Mrs. George B.
Perkins' gift in memory of her grandmother, Mrs. Oran Follett, and
Mr. Charles B. LockAvood's gift in memory of his wife, Marion Pierce
Lockwood.
From the beginning the Rest Room Board of Managers and Trustees
of the Women's Building and Rest Room Association have given their
services free. The establishment has ahvays been self-supporting. The
first annual report, dated May 16, 1908, showed a cash balance of $468.
Besides paying $525 on the debt, the last annual report, dated January
12,1915, showed a cash balance of $257.66. The first year nearly 17,000
lunches were served, last year nearly 74,000. The first year nearly 2,000
persons visited the rest room. Last year the number was too great to
count.
Revenues for expenses and paying the debt are obtained from the
receipts of the dining room, renting the rest room and third floor for
meetings of other organizations,.tuition and membership fees, checking
parcels, sale of articles in rest room and donations from those who contributed
and are desirous of making payments covering a period of years.
May 16,1908, the rest room was formally opened to the public. Five
years one month and one day later the Women's Building and Rest Room
Association had a similar opening. Both these affairs were attended by
hundreds of public-spirited citizens.
Previous to June 17, 1913, the date of the opening of the women's
building, the Rest Room Board of Managers turned over all its money