The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-25

highest distinction in different walks
of life will be of the number, happy
and proud to still rank as members of
the old club to which they belonged
while they were still boys doing
chores on the farm.
The Chamberlain District Farmers
Club was formed Dec. 16, 1873, by
farmers several miles out of the city,
on Salisbury street. 1t was to be pri-
marily an organization for mutual
benefit. At every meeting it was
agreed an essay or paper dealing with
some agricultural subject was to be
read. After the reading the listeners
were to discuss the matter in all its
bearings. After the first few meetings
women were admitted to membership
and with them came the social feature
which soon became so prominent in all
their meetings. A meeting of the club
is now never complete without a nlu-
steal selection or recitation from one
of the woman members.
Twenty farmers attended the first
meeting and are therefore considered
the charter members of the organiza-
ton. Most of them are still alive
Their names are: ]. M. Simons. j. L.
Ellsworth H. H. Holton, Charles J.
Taft, N. F. Foster, Baxter Moore, ].
ID. Gleason, Philander F. Sears Fred
P. Simons, A. f. Dunn, Charles F.
Stowell, W. I. Allen, H. ]. Allen, F. P.
Stowell S. Sears, Pliny Moore, Arte-
mas Barns and N. C. Moore.
j. l.. Ellsworth more than any other
one man, founded the club and was
awarded the honor of being chosen
first president Altogether, there have
been seven presidents They served in
the following order, J. l.. Ellsworth,
H. J. Allen, Charles Greenwood. Pliny
Moore, B. w. Potter, w. L Allen and
w. ]. Wheeler the present president.
The present officers of the club are
w. j. Wheeler, president; w. l. Allen,
vice president; S. A. Burgess. secre-
tary and treasurer; Pliny Moore, P. F.
Sears, Charles Greenwood Mrs. G. T.
Foster and Mrs. G. c. Blanchard, ex-
ecutive committee.
The club was popular from the start
Its growth was rapid and from an or
ganization centreing around the little
cluster of farm houses out OH Sails
bury road, its influence extended all
over the county Few agricultural
clubs in the state have had a more de-
eided influence. 1t has even We'd with
the Worcester Grange, although the
most perfect harmony has Invariably
existed between the two organizations.
Nearly all the members of the Farmers
Club are members of the grange. The
fields of the two Institutions are quite
distinct as the Farmers CLUB never
occupies itself with matters of state
legislation, as does the grange.
Among the prominent citizens of
Worcester who have been members of
the club are three mayors. Harrington.
Winslow and Pratt Among many
other prominent citizens who might be
mentioned are: Joseph S. Perry. James
Draper, Master w. c. Jewet. of the
state grange, John B. Bowl1er and A.
b. Metcalf.
The tWenty-fifth annual meeting of
the club win not vary greatly from
the ordinary bi-weekly gatherings ex-
cept that it will be more given up to
"Reminiscences. Former President ELS
worth will tell how the club was foun-
ded. Pliny Moore has been designated
to write the history of the 25 years of
the clubs life and TO prepare statistics
relating to membership and past meet
ings. All the charter members present
will be called upon for speeches.
Ehe ladies of the club have prepared
q special newspaper, whose reading is
certain to cause much amusement The
ladies in charge Of the musical and lit
erary features of the program are
Lotte G. Wheeler, Mrs. G. c. Blanch-
ard and Mrs. w. c. Allen. After the
set features of the program are over
the old people will draw their chairs
to the walls and watch the young peo-
pie play the old fashioned kissing
games" G. G. Blanchard will entertain
the members of the club at a supper
next April at the close of the winters
season.