16 BULLETIN 825, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEI CULTURE. 
Tennis tournaments are featured. 
The women's department holds frequent sales of embroidery and 
other forms of needlework made by the women. 
The library and reading rooms are much used. 
Motion-picture shows are conducted every "Wednesday and Satur- 
day evening under the auspices of the association. Efforts are made 
to exhibit only the best pictures. 
The house is in constant demand for farmers' meetings, school 
entertain m ents, private parties, dances, and suppers, and for use 
by church clubs. 
COMMUNITY BUILDING, ELGIN, NEBR. 
On January 1, 1917, the citizens of the little village of Elgin, Nebr., 
and the surrounding country met to celebrate the consummation of 
their united efforts; to dedicate, in this town of less than 1,000 
inhabitants, a new community building, a civic achievement well 
worthy of their pride. 
The building grew out of the fact that the town band was about to 
dissolve. A civic meeting was called, other civic needs became 
apparent, attention was centered on them by local leaders of enthu- 
siasm and vision, community spirit was aroused, a club was deemed 
necessary as a working instrument, and the building was projected 
as a home for the club. The general purpose of the building was 
to serve as "a clearing house for all social activities." With this in 
view the opera house was bought in 1916, reconstructed, and dedicated 
as the social center of the town and vicinity. Among the specific 
objects of the building were the following; 
1. A home for the community ciub. 
2. Provision for rest and recreation facilities for town and country 
people. 
3. A general meeting place for local organizations, public and 
private. 
4. A place for lectures, entertainments, etc. 
5. Development of civic pride and local citizenship through an 
open forum. 
6. A public reading room and library. 
7. Development of the spirit of the community through encourage- 
ment of bands, choruses, sings, etc. 
8. To give representative citizens control of the amusement enter- 
prises of the community. 
9. To unite town and country forces for the welfare of both. 
The cost of the building may be summarized as follows: 
Original purchase of real estate and opera house $10, 515. 00 
Original purchase of furniture 735. 00 
Total original cost 11, 250. 00 
Cost of reconstruction, additional furniture and equipment . 12, 851. 46 
Total cost 24, 101. 46 
