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History of the West Barnstable
Improvement Society/
The West Barnstable Civic Association
By Betty Nilsson,
June 2003
The
West Barnstable Improvement Society was “born” in the 1800’s.
The Barnstable Patriot reported in 1893 that the Society held a
meeting at which “The Courtship of Miles Standish” was dramatized and
the debate question was “Resolved that the administration is wrong in
its Hawaiian Policy”. It seems that all of the meetings consisted
of entertainment and a debate.
At a
meeting in 1894, the entertainment was a singing quartet and four women
participated in a wood-sawing contest. There was both a winner and
a booby prize winner in that wood-sawing contest. The debate
question that night was “Resolved that men are more extravagant than
women”. It was reported that the Society cleaned up the West
Barnstable Cemetery and kept it clean, and, no doubt, did much to have
the Library building built.
The
Improvement Society became the Civic Association shortly after he end of
World War II. The Association has studied and carried through
zoning changes, which have helped to maintain the rural character of the
village. It has actively endorsed the many conservation and open
space acquisitions in the village. Opposed to a large commercial
development adjacent to the Cape Cod Cooperative Bank, and nudged the
Bank to give the easterly portion of its land to the Barnstable Land
Trust.
Furthermore, it opposed an environmentally unsound, very large and
poorly planned housing project on Meetinghouse Way. A motel-like
condominium complex in the business district was opposed but was
instrumental in having the Community Building restored to usable
condition.
The
Association actively participated in the re-opening of the Old
Selectmen’s Building in 1989, when that building was 100 years old.
It vigorously celebrated the Bicentennial (when West Barnstable became
the Village of Flags) and the 350th anniversary of the Town
of Barnstable in 1989, when the West Barnstable float in the parade won
top honors. It produced a Village Vision Plan, which became a part
of the Town’s Local Comprehensive Plan. It also has – and
continues to hold – candidates’ nights before elections.
Currently, the Association is working on affordable housing throughout
the village and a viable, all-encompassing use of the Conant property
which was purchased by the town’s Land Bank in 2000. It also works
very closely with the Festival Committee to support the annual Village
Festival. The West Barnstable Civic Association serves as a
connection between the village residents and the town-wide Barnstable
Civic League, our Town Councilor, and all organizations and individuals
that seek its help.
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