Annual Reports 247 



Wednesday June 14, 1916. Abraham Cole Chapter, Reception in cele- 

 bration of Flag Day, coincident with the completion of the renovation of 

 the hallway and the installation of its furniture. 



Saturday June 24. Staten Island Chapter. Garden party. 



Tuesday October 10. Mersereau Chapter. Regular monthly meeting. 



Saturday October 14. Staten Island Chapter. Regular monthly meeting. 



Tuesday October 17. Abraham Cole Chapter. Regular monthly 

 meeting. 



Tuesday October , 24. Richmond County Chapter. Regular monthly 

 meeting, garden party, and celebration of the completion of the renova- 

 tion of the living room and the installation of its furniture. 



Richmond County Chapter also held an informal meeting at the Cot- 

 tage in May, 1917. 



Staten Island Chapter has its preliminary plans prepared for the renova- 

 tion and furnishing of the dining room, in the near future, and Mersereau 

 Chapter has contributed a number of articles for its proposed furnishing 

 of one of the bedrooms, and others suitable for the kitchen. 



On October 6, 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Stoddard resigned as 

 custodians. Mrs. Daniel Henry was appointed in their place on October 

 9 and has been in charge of the premises since that date. 



Early in September a large real estate sign was erected, without our 

 authorization or sanction, on the unfenced piece of the grounds on Nep- 

 tune Street. After consultation with our president a letter was written 

 to the party responsible for the trespass and the sign was removed. 



From time to time it was noticed that shingles were being torn from 

 the side of the Cottage abutting on the New Dorp Lane sidewalk. This 

 was evidently done in a spirit of malicious mischief, or perhaps they may 

 have been taken by relic hunters. The shingles were replaced with new 

 ones and, in order to obviate if possible any further destruction of the 

 kind, each row of singles was secured by a strand of strong wire to which 

 each shingle was fastened by a staple. 



About three weeks ago, early in May, the custodian requested permis- 

 sion to use a part of the grounds for a vegetable garden. The committee 

 decided that the request was reasonable and should be regarded as in the 

 interests of food production, which was of more importance than the 

 temporary destruction of a portion of the grass area which would result. 

 The location and dimensions of the garden plot were, therefore, carefully 

 considered and specified and permission to utilize it was granted. 



Certain work in connection with the repair of the fencing of the grounds 

 should be considered in the near future, and the privet hedge should re- 

 ceive its first trimming as soon as the time is opportune. The committee 

 is also considering the advisabihty of removing the fencing, where it is 

 bordered by the hedge, and of protecting the grounds against trespass by 

 running one or more strands of barbed wire through the middle of the 

 hedge. 



