Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/664

 582 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY RED WING CIVIC LEAGUE. The Civic League of Red Wing has a reputation that is more than nation wide, its distinguishing characteristics having been copied by many of the largest cities in the United States, includ- ing Chicago. The league was organized November 15, 1903. John H. Rich, who was one of the prime movers in the organiza- tion, being its first president. At that time Red Wing was like many other cities of the same size — trees disfigured with posters and signs, empty lots and yards grown to weeds, sidewalks and streets littered with filth and rubbish, and its one park in a state of sad neglect. The league wrought a great change in all this. Mr. Rich inaugurated a crusade against the signs and posters, and prizes were offered to the boys and girls who on a certain day would bring the most torn-down signs to the basement of the library. Lemonade was given to all and the prizes duly awarded. In the meantime George II. Cook was stirring the people to civic pride through the newspapers. By means of little paragraphs calling attention to such yards as presented a good appearance, and also to neglected spots, he caused people to keep their lawns in good condition and to keep down the weeds in vacant lots as well as to otherwise beautify their property. The placing of rubbish cans a1 various intervals along the streets and the encouragement of the children in keeping the papers and rubbish picked up, soon cleaned the streets and sidewalks. Prizes were offered for the best gardens and the best flower gar- dens maintained by the children and this also resulted in the brightening up of the city, even in the outskirts. The children planted trees with appropriate exercises on Levee park, Avhich was completed during the height of the Civic League crusade, and John II. Rich, one of the leading members, gave an object lesson in civic beauty by parking the waste space between Last and West avenues, now known as Broadway. In 1909, A. V. Pratt had organized a "bee" of business men and on a day now historic, the stores all closed, a band discoursed music, while the business and professional men of Red Wing donned overalls and built a path along the face of Barn Bluff ascending to the very top. The path has since been called "Webster's Way"' from C. C. Webster, who during his life often expressed a hope that such a path might be built. For several years past, the path has been kept up by the successive senior classes of the High school under the leadership of George H. Cook. Twice a year the students spend a half holiday in working on the path under Mr. Cook's leadership, after which they enjoy a picnic at the top of the bluff. As a part of the work of the league. Mr. Cook has in