Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-01-11
(By Ruth Haydeen)

ne hrSt canning CIuD organized
in Thurston county was IN Olympia
in 1915, and was called the Il can
can club" There were just nins
members.
The county was not then divided
into club districts as it is now, bu5
there was just one club center where
the girls and their leader held their
meetings. and did their work. The
team was divided into thirds. Three
girls in each team, but one Of the
girls dropped out just before the
demonstration that was to decide
which Of the three teams should 60
to the State Fair at Yakima to rep
resent Thurston county.
That was the first year l had ever
made an exhibit at fair and l won
beautiful hand-painted breakfast
set as first prize for the best twelve
quarts Of canned fruit. This really
gave me start in club work. The
club needed another girl to take the
place OF the one that dropped OUT.
and they asked me to fill the vacancy.
Our team came out second in the con-
test, but this made me determined
to try again next year as | felt
greatly benefited by it.
In 1916 the club work spread to
the rural districts and the canning
club was called the Mother Daughter
Club" We worked hard this year and
although we did not win any frs.
prizes we still feel that it is one of
the most successful years we have
ever had. We met once and some
times twice a week during the bus
lest season, always at the home OF
one Of the members. AS we have
eacy access to the bay, and the oyster
beds we took advantage of it. We
caught most Of our fish. The geo.
ducks are much too dificult a propo-
sition for us girls to undertake so
our brothers dug them for us. When
fair time came we had an exhibit
Of 231 varieties, fourteen of which
were shellnsh. Mr.. Newbill the ma
tional leader, took the shellfish and
twelve quarts of fruit with him to
Washington, D. C. Our club lost out
in the contest between the clubs OF
the county. but 1t did not discourage
US to such a degree that we gave up
the work. All the members had good
reports to send to the state leader
and We won our first achievement
pins.
In 1917 our club was not much OF
success. There were just three
members in our club and nobody was
interested enough to help. We hal
district fair, but no county fai:.
What canning we had done we ex.
hibited at the district fair and won
first prize. We gave one demonstra-
ton. but lost out. The president of
our club was chosen to go to Port
land to attend the fair and give DEM
onstrations. Another leaf was added
to our pins this year, but in 1918 no
new leaves were added to our pins.
We did not organize q club so no re-
ports were sent to Pullman.
In 1919 our club was entirely re.
organized. We tried a new scheme
and succeeded so well that our club
did not break up and we still exis.
under the same plan. The girls or.
ganized and chose one Of the men,
bers as leader and all the Officers
were girl members. It was no longer
the Mother Daughter Club" but the
members and oficers were only girls.
We met once and som times twice a
week to work and discuss business
matters. We were entirely independ-
emit and could work things out as we
chose to. This gave us a feeling OF
responsibility and a new confidence
in ourselves. We endeavored to
make the work as much of pleas
ure as work, and soon the girls came
to look forward to each meeting with
expectation and pleasure. After the
canning was completed we would
make candy or go swimming. We
took many pictures Of the club mem
bers and it's work, and entered them
| in book with the dates and event.
The book was sent to Mr.. Audrain
along with our reports. Two Of the
new members were chosen to COM
pete for county prizes at demonstra-
ton held at Olympia. They come out
second in the contest, but this did
not discourage us.
This year $500 seems to be re-
ward for all of our efforts OF the
past years. At the first meeting thu
officers were chosen and by an unani-
nous vote the club decided to pur-
chase a pressure cooker and COM
plete canning outfit. We canned for
private families and rented out the