The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-08-25
W0MAN'S CLUB IS
q YEARS OF AGE
DlnR LODGE ORGANIZATION
WAS FORMED A THIRD OF
CENTURY AGO
MEs. r. Il. Bonner and Mrs. G. d.
Joslyn Helped to Start One Of the
First Woman's Clubs; Men Folks
Were Not ~ Tolerant Then -
Now.
BY Annie w. Bielenberg.

Thirty-two years ago-on July 81,
1890, to be exact-a number OF the
women of Deer Lodge met at the
home Of Mrs. E. L. Bonner to for
mulate plans and draw up q consti-
tuition and bylaws for literary club.
Those ladies keenly felt the need OF
mental stimulus and uplifting influ-
ence such as could only be gained
through organized effort. Mrs. ]. H.
Owings and Mrs. o. ]. Hiles were
the leaders and founders of the club
that was formed. It is greatly to be
doubted whether they gave more
than a passing thought to the import
ance to posterity of the action they
were taking. They were fulfilling a
longing for advancement which the
small town of those days could give
ans club movement had not yet very
markedly permeated the west. Most
of those first members have many
times recalled the indulgence afford
ed them by their own households
the leniency or otherwise with which
friend or foe passed judgment upon
the advent of women into club acti-
vities. Would they have been so in
diligently treated had their act been
deemed anything more than a pass
ing fancy? The fact cannot be gain
said that as such 1t was spoken Of
indeed, there could be no stability
in the mere within of a few persons
who could spare the time for little
study.
Charter Members
oho vnou4hoVc ~
the newN-formed club were: Mrs. N.
J. Bielenberg, Mrs. c. D. Joslyn. Miss
Batterton, Mrs. J. H. Mills, Mrs. ].
H. Owings, Mrs. H. A. Smurr. Mrs.
e. g. Prout, Mrs. E. L. Bonner, Mrs.
o. B. O'Bannon, Mrs. Foote, Mrs. w.
H. Trippet and Miss Margaret Wolfe.
Article of the constitution adopt
ed by them, which stated 1.-The name
of this organization shall be the
Deer Lodge Woman's Club, re-
mains the same today as then.
When one thinks of the questions
of seemingly far greater weight that
come up for solution now, it is in
to know that the matter of
selecting suitable name was deem
ed of the greatest Importance. After
being discussed and postponed for
several meetings, the name incorpOr-
ated in the constitution was decided
upon. Immediately three cheers
were given for the adjustment of so
pOnderOus a question.
Club growth was not great in point
Of membership but enthusiasm was
not lacking. Meetings were held
weekly first at the homes, then at the
school house and later in the read
ing room of the old Masonic hall.
When the membership list had reach
ID the neighborhood of "a, no fur
her applications were accepted for
| while because of the limited capa-
.ity OF the club quarters.
Momentous Problem Solved
Poetry, fiction and literary history
we're among the subjects first under
aiken. How often has not a laugh
'een provoked in the recollection of
he discussion engendered as to the
of history teacher.
hould man or woman be procured?
,ould they, in all propriety. select
man to teach in a strictly ladies
lub? The difficulty was overcome,
With what ease can only be guessed.
Iadam Propriety was doubtless ask
a to be seated for the teacher sell
cted was a man.
During the years following its or
meetings were held with
lmost rigid faithfulness. Attend
nee ranged from five to sixteen
nembers. The year 1896 witnessed
he greatest decline in the clubs life.
he names of Mrs. J. H. Owings and
fro r n Toclvn a1ono testify tn the
with which the meetings
7ere kept up. For part of the year
hey were reinforced by Mrs. T. B.
dcKinetry and Mrs. E. S. Stackpole
n Mrs. e. D. Leavitt.