A Centennial Benefactor
A local church society, struggling under the weight of debt, receives a surprise donation from a 101-year-old woman in Massachusetts.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Ladies Aid society of the M. E. church were agreeably surprised at their last meeting by receiving a donation of $10 from one whom they had never seen, and of whom only one of their number had ever heard. The name of the donor is Mrs. Almira Milligan of Alford, Berkshire county, Mass. It came about in this way. One of the members of the society whose name we withhold by request, noticed in a missionary paper some time ago, that the Massachusetts lady above referred to had headed a subscription for missionary work with $100. The Ritzville lady concluded that it would do no harm to write to one who seemed so liberally inclined. She accordingly sent her a letter truthfully describing the condition of the church finances, the small band of workers who are struggling along with church debt, and alternating with hope and despair about ever getting it paid. She sent the little missive on its mission and to her surprise without further ado Mrs. Milligan answered the letter inclosing the $10. The ladies tell us that the letter they received was better than the money, although they are truly thankful for that. Mrs. Milligan is 101 years old.
“The ladies tell us that the letter they received was better than the money, although they are truly thankful for that.”
This story highlights the precarious nature of early civic infrastructure and the reliance on informal, often long-distance, philanthropic networks. It serves as a gentle reminder of the community-building efforts required to establish the institutions that define a town.
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