The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-08-18
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
muIate plans and draw up 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. 1t is greatly to be
doubted whether they gave more
than passing thought to the import
ance to posterity of the action they
we're taking. They were fulfilling a
longing for advancement which the
small town of those days could give
to them in no other way. The wom-
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 pass
ing fancy? The fact cannot be gain
said that as such it 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
The twelve charter members of
the newly-formed club we're: Mrs. N.
]. Bielenberg, Mrs. C. d. Joslyn, Miss
Batterton, Mrs. ]. H. Mills, Mrs. j.
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
teresting to know that the matter of
selecting a suitable name was deem
ed of the greatest Importance. After ,
being discussed and postponed for :
several meetings, the name incorpor- a.
ated in the constitution was decided \
upon. Immediately three cheers
were given for the adjustment of so c
ponderous a question.
Club growth was not great in point
Of membership but enthusiasm was
lot lacking. Meetings were held
weekly first at the homes, then at the
chool house and later in the read
ng room of the old Masonic hail. Of
When the membership list had reach f.
ID the neighborhood of "a, no fur !
her applications were accepted for la
while because of the limited capa- e
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 fe
cen provoked in the recollection of -
he discussion engendered as to the :"
mployment of history teacher.
hould a man or woman be procured? =.
ould they, in all propriety, select u
man to teach in a strictly ladies IN
Iub? The difficulty was overcome, he
18th what ease can only be guessed.
[adam Propriety was doubtless ask
4 to be seated for the teacher sell di
cted was a man. TO
During the years following its or -,
anization, meetings we're held with al
Imost rigid faithfulness. Attend pr
nee ranged from five to sixteen
lembers. The year 1896 witnessed
lie greatest decline in the clubs life. tai
he names of Mrs. J. H. Owings and Oh
RS. C. d. Joslyn alone testify to the
,gularity with which the meetings
ere kept up. For part of the year ere
ley were reinforced by Mrs. T. B.
cKinstry and Mrs. E. S. Stackpole
Mrs. E. d. Leavitt.