The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-17
CLUB OBSERVES
ANNIVERSARY
WOman's Club Has Filled
Important Place in
Community
RECORD OF QUARTER
CENTURY REVIEWED
All Past Presidents Attend Anniversary
Meeting or Send Letters - About 200
Persons Present-Mrs. Thompson Cuts
Large Cake

A gathering of 200 or more members,
with program of music, historical facts
by past presidents and a luncheon,
marked the 25th anniversary observance
of the organization and federation of the
Brattleboro Womans club yesterday ait
ernoon at Odd Fellows temple.
The music consisted of groups of vocal
solos by Miss Anna NJ Wollmann of
Springfield, Mass, teacher of music at
Mount Holyoke college and soprano So
loist at the Old First Congregational
church in Springfield, with piano accom-
paniments by Miss Izetta NJ. Stewart
Miss Wollmann's voice was of clear.
resonant quality and the appreciation
with which her numbers were received
was very marked throughout. the audience.
Historical facts and "reminiscences of
the club were covered in talks by the
president, and by seven past presidents
who attended the meeting and through
letters from three past presidents unable
to attend. \ pretty feature of the ocea-
sion was mammoth birthday cake,
which occupied a table near the platform
throughout the afternoon. The cake was
handsomely decorated and bore the dates
''1S96-1921" across the front of the mid
ult SttllOL ne CAKE IlSO carried
candles, which were lighted about 61J
O'Clock, after the luncheon, which was
on the cafeteria plan, had begun. The
cake was cut by Mrs. Ruth y Thomp-
son of Northampton, Mass, a past pres
ident, who was unable to reach here in
time for the program. The luncheon con-
sisted of fruit salad, rolls olives, ice
cream, individual cakes and coffee and
was under the direction of the social com
mittee. Each person was given u gener-
GUS piece of birthday cake.
In opening the meeting the president,
Mrs. Clarence l.. Stickney, said that .
years IN the life of an individual was not
of particular moment, but when a club
reached the quaTter-eentuFy mark it WAS
worthy of particular recognition and
celebration. She expressed pleasure at
being able to welcome so many members
introduced the sololst, who rendered sew
eral selections, each of which was re-
eelved enthusiastically
The president then called attention to
the Red Cross membership drive, the
coming sale of Christmas seals, the anti
clpated visit to BFattleboro of Miss
Alice Robertson, representative in con-
gTess from oklahoma, and children 5
book week at the library. Mrs. w J.
Blgelow, chairman of the program COM
mittee. spoke of the next meeting of the
club, Dec. I, when Mary Boyle 0 Reilly
.of Marshheld, Mass, a war correspon-
dent during the World war. relief worker
in Belgium, France, Poland and Russia,
and foreign correspondent of a press
syndicate, will address the members on
Today in History -Stressing We Women
Now
A brief history from the preliminary
meeting. looking to the formation of the
club, April 10. 1896, un to the present
time was then given by the president.
The history showed the following main
facts:
Thirty-fve interested women felt there
was need for women to be organized to
be able to do some much needed work in
the community. Fourteen of the 81
women present at the preliminary meet
ing started the club as charter members.
They were Mrs. Levi ID. Temple, Miss
Helen sFl~tcher, Miss Annie Grout Mrs.
John c. Dewitt. Mrs. George f. Barber
Mrs. O.. ]. Pratt, Mrs. c. f. r.. Jenne,
Mrs Caleb B. Lamson. Mrs. E. s. Bowen.
Mrs. II. c. Squires, Miss Jessie L. Gregg,
Miss Minnie Stoekwell, Miss Eva Cow
ing. Mrs. s. Z. H. Beeman. Five of this
number still are members of the club.
They are Mrs. Barber, Mrs Lamson,
Mrs. Dewitt. Mrs. Pratt, and Mrs f. H.
Stevenson. who was Miss Jessie Gregg.
The first directors, of whom there were
six, were chosen from the various
churches as follows: Miss H Belle Smith
Methodist; Miss Annie Grout, West
Rrattleboro Congregational: Nvs. l. w.
Hawley, First Baptist; Miss Helen
Fletcher, Centre Congregational. Mrs.
Q. J Pratt. Unitarian; Miss Minnie
Stockwell. UniveTsalist. Mrs Temple
was the first president of the club and
was rlade an honorary member IN 1899
and the same year became president of
the state federation Miss Susan f.
Clark was first vice president and Miss
Jessie Gregg was the first secretary and
treasurer.
Mrs Temple Miss Clark Mrs Barber.
Mrs Beeman. Mrs. Pratt and Miss Alice
G. Weeks composed the first COMMITTEES
named TO draw up a constitution, and
(Coutipued on pape