Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 24.

The questions may be asked, ‘How is the Society's work appreciated by the community it serves, and how is it sustained, either financially or otherwise?’

We reply, its only revenue is its annual dues of $1.00 from each member. It reached its high-tide of membership in 1902, about two hundred and fifty, and now numbers one hundred and fifty-one. It has no endowment whatever, and in all its twenty-five years has never had any bequest of funds, and contrary to a prevailing notion, has never had a penny of municipal assistance. Thus it will be seen that its efforts have been heroic and ‘a labor of love.’ Its current and publication expenses for several years exceeded the annual income, and the deficit was covered by donations of interested members. In 1914 the latter were insufficient, and a new administration found itself with a debt of over one hundred dollars and the problem of much-needed repairs on the building. The latter seeming impractical, the property was sold and temporary quarters secured.

The enterprise of securing a new and permanent home was begun in the summer of 1916, and is so recent as to require little mention in detail. Land was purchased of the city of Medford (at the assessors' valuation, which was $629.00), and paid for out of the net amount received from the sale of the old property, the balance, $371.00 (with accrued interest) being turned into the building fund. Thus was conserved the amount originally invested in its former home.

None too soon was this enterprise begun, as circumstances proved. It would be a pleasure to record that the people of Medford responded liberally and extended a helping hand, but the fact remains that scarcely more than a dozen people outside the Society's membership responded to its appeal. Then came the war time, and during the numerous ‘drives’ for funds the Society had no chance. At the earliest possible moment, without waiting for the building's completion, the Society moved in, ceasing its outlay for rent and reducing its expenses