Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fourth Annual Meeting | Page 5

out to the butter nut tree, And crack some nuts for

Nicodemus and me.]

=Report of the Proceedings=
at the
Twenty-fourth Annual Convention
of the
=Northern Nut Growers Association=
Incorporated
SEPTEMBER 11, 12, 1933
DOWNINGTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
The first session convened at 9:00 A. M., September 11th at Minquas
Fire Hall, with President Walker in the chair.
The President: "This is the opening of the 24th annual convention and I
will introduce at once for his address of welcome, Rev. G. Paul
Musselman."
Rev. G. Paul Musselman: "Thank you, Mr. Walker. It is my most
pleasant duty to welcome you to Downingtown. Downingtown is quite
an appropriate place for a convention because it is a place where we try
to prepare beforehand for things we believe are going to happen, and
try to get ready to prevent other things from happening."
Less than a mile from here to the north are stretches through the woods
of infantry breastworks. Occupying that woods and those breastworks
was the regiment under the command of Col. Stewart. The British were
down by the Brandywine to the south, and it was supposed the British
would do the logical thing, which they never do, and come up to take
Downingtown, which was at that time the most important industrial

area in the United States. It was the arsenal of the Revolutionary War.
It has continued to grow in its industrial manufacturing until it is now
important in paper manufacturing.
That we are still trying to prevent nasty things from happening is
strikingly evident in the fact that we have not had to call for help to
take care of the people suffering from the depression. The Community
Chest had, in the beginning, adopted a policy of preparing for an
emergency by creating a fund for this purpose and has been able to do
its work without any other than the usual annual drive for funds.
The first paper mill in America was established by Mr. Rittenhouse and
after that paper mills began to be built in this valley. We have gone
through a great cycle. The farms in this community used to be farmed
for money, later interest was shown in the mills and the farmer farmed
without money. Again they are being farmed with money by the
industrialists and bankers and city men who are coming out and buying
up these old farms for country places. I am happy to state that the farms
are coming into their own again. It is this class of people that are
interested in such things as nut trees as something new and different.
It is Downingtown's faculty of being prepared for what is to come that
makes it a particularly appropriate place for your convention. It is
always a little ahead of the parade. We are proud of our local nut
nursery which, in line with the spirit of the town, is just a little ahead of
the parade. You too are a little ahead of the parade, so in that spirit I
welcome you.
The Burgess has directed me to welcome you to Downingtown. I trust
your stay will be interesting and helpful and we shall count it a
privilege for you to call upon us for any further services you may
require. I hope I shall be able to go on the bus trip with you but I am
very busy and cannot make any promises for the moment. So,
welcome!
Dr. Zimmerman: Fellow members of the convention! I am sure that it
has been a pleasure to receive the fine welcome that Rev. Musselman
has given us and I wish to assure him that it is a pleasure to be here. We

are particularly glad to be in this district which is a land of plenty
compared with other parts of the country which have suffered greatly
from the depression. I am sorry that I do not live here.
We nut growers have been in the habit of thinking of growing nut trees
on land which is good for nothing else, so that it is interesting to find
nurseries using this good land and making a success of nut tree growing.
In fact nut culture had its beginning in this district through Mr. Rush,
and Mr. Jones and then Mr. Hershey.
I do not wish to take any more of your time as we have a heavy
program and a lot of good speakers, and if they can add anything to nut
culture, I shall be happy indeed.
Dr. Zimmerman: We welcome members of the Penna. Nut Growers
Association. It is their field day tomorrow in connection with ours and
we welcome them to this convention.
The President appointed the resolutions and the nominating
committees.

TREASURER'S REPORT
Balance September 1, 1932 as reported to Washington Convention $