Mr. E. C. Hough
The Village Improvement Society was organized in the fall of 1885, the first officers being Mr. W. H. Doolittle, President; Rev. D. H. Riddle, Vice-President; Mr. S. V. Proudfit, Secretary and Mr. A. P. Eastman, Treasurer.
This society was modeled after the famous Laurel Hill Society of Stockbridge, Mass., and from a pamphlet published some years ago setting forth its object we learn that its funds have been expended on roads, sidewalks and street lamps, for a survey of the corporation, a piano for the public school and other improvements at the school, for taking the census and for Arbor Day expenses—a total expenditure up to that time of about eight hundred dollars. The greater part of the money raised by the society is from voluntary dues or the proceeds of lectures or other entertainments. The funds raised in this manner are generally expended through the town council or in conjunction with appropriations made by that body.
The first observance of Arbor Day in the State was by the Falls Church Village Improvement Society, when in 1892 this society instituted the observance of the day by the public school. Since that date the society has defrayed all Arbor Day expenses.
Major M. S. Hopkins
By an ordinance of the town adopted February 8, 1904, the third Friday in April of each year is designated as Arbor Day, to be observed under the auspices of the Village Improvement Society for the planting of such trees, plants or shrubs as it may desire.
The officers of the Village Improvement Society for the present year are as follows: