The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, July 5, 1906 The following extract is from MRS. JESSIE MALLORY THAYER's address before the recent meeting of the Chariton Improvement Association: "Is it timidity, or stupid indifference that allows us to permit the old ruin of the Atlantic House to deface one of the best residence streets of our town for a period now extending into years. Don't tell me that nothing can be done about it because of legal complications among the owners. That corner is an eyesore and a nuisance and a disgrace to the city council and to the citizens of that part of town who suffer it to exist so long, when a little persistent, dogged courage, mixed with a large portion of energy and never-let-up-ness could surely find the remedy and use it. If all else fails us commend that ugly ruin to the tender mercies of the youthful vandals who annually are permitted by the city authorities to wreck and damage valuable property on Hallowe'en. We know there was nothing timid about our boy citizens that night at least." JOHN V. BONNETT was interviewed concerning this, on Saturday, and stated to a Leader reporter that under the "complications" he was powerless to do anything with the old ruin but though Chariton might turn it into an attraction from the eye sore which it now is by planting vines to trail up the stately old walls in their partial decay and institute a fountain in front with beautiful white swans floating in the eddys. Festooning mosses might be induced to grow where the broken bottles and tin cans now linger and the spray arising from the bubbling wells would lend a misty fascination, alike attractive to the seekers after the rare and beautiful. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifet October 20, 2004 [email protected] *O.K. Frank or Gary -- where and what was the 'Atlantic House'???