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Cultus Club

    Fifty years ago, two neighbor ladies, Clara Kemmann and Myrtle Schluter, in a friendly chat, decided to organize a study club. The club became a reality in 1934 and was name the Cultus Study Club with ten charter members. Appropriately enough, the first president was Mrs. Walter Kemmann and vice-president was Mrs. Edwin Schluter. Other members on the executive board were Mrs. Arnold Pruess, secretary and Mrs. Floyd Bixler, treasurer. The club was federated and complied with all federation regulations. Meetings were formal and held in the evening in member’s homes.

    The club has taken an active part in State and General Federation projects, as well as, community affairs. The roadside rest area, west of Clarence, on highway #30, was a major endeavor and has provided a place for travelers to picnic or rest. A committee, Mrs. Ralph Christiansen, Mrs. Kenneth Morehead and Mrs. Hugo Rixe, aided in the planting and landscaping. Picnic benches were provided and throughout the years, other plantings have been added. Each year, an award was presented to a freshman high school student, who was outstanding in English class. Books were donated to the Edna Zybell Memorial Library and used clothing was sent to the Walsem Family living in the Netherlands. Greetings are still exchanged with family descendants.

    Following the Forty-fifth Anniversary, the club voted to leave the federation and continue as a study club; keeping local projects as the library, treats for the Nursing Home on special days and to remember the Walsem Family.

    Special anniversaries have been celebrated. In 1959, the Twenty-fifth was commemorated with a 6:30 dinner at Le-Hi’s restaurant. Seventeen members and one guest, Mrs. Hugh Lamont, county president, were present. Table favors were unique cookie recipe booklets featuring favorite recipes of the members. The Three-Thirty Club, Lowden, provided the setting for the Fortieth Anniversary when members and husbands enjoyed an evening meal with appointments in ruby and white. Charter members, Mrs. Walter Kemmann, Mrs. Edwin Schluter and Mrs. Fern Freeman, were given special recognition. The Forty-fifth Anniversary was observed with a tour through J & M Antique Shoppe followed by brunch, at the Methodist Church basement, with appointments in blue and white, all in keepkeeping with the program caption, “Saffire Jubilee,” and the theme, “Montaque in Blue.” The Fiftieth Anniversary was held Tuesday, April 24, 1984 at Doc and Jo’s Restaurant, Mechanicsville. A noon luncheon was enjoyed by all members and one guest, Mrs. Walter Kemmann, club’s first president. She and Edna Freeman, charter members, were presented spring corsages in honor of the memorable occasion. Past secretary’s books were on display with other mementos. Each observance had a program following the meal and a social hour.

    Many awards have been received for outstanding yearly program booklets. These included programs by exchange students, guest speakers and members, such as, Miss Violet Choi, Korean student, who was attending Cornell College; Miss Nobuko Imanishi from Japan; Sonja Antwnez, Honduras, with Rev. Levsen of the U.C.C. Bennett as interpreter; Joyce Norberg, a native of Indonesia; Fritz Lohri, Germany and Rose Brown from Nigeria. All shared educational facts and pictures from their countries. Jean Utley, who was an exchange student to Norway, brought back an interesting program.

    Other programs were slide shows with commentary of Germany, U.S.A. Landmarks, Alpine Tour, BI-centennial program, “Our Heritage,” presented by Rev. Calvin Schumacher, Gary Oster’s trip by ship to Europe and Kenneth Morehead’s sight-seeing trip to Alaska

    Book reviews have been included in each year’s program, as well as, special interest subjects as demonstrations on china painting, floral arrangements, meal planning and preparation and patchwork quilts, to name a few. Other highlights of the …

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… club’s program have been the annual tours. Some of the more memorable ones were the visits to Jane Boyd’s Community House, Herbert Hoover’s library, the Old Capitol Building, Iowa City, Stone City and Brucemore.

    The club members have profited by these meetings the past fifty years. Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from October through April with one meeting in December when the Christmas Party is held. The program title for the past year was “A Past to Remember-A Future to Behold.” The 1984-85 officers and members are president, Ruth Ruprecht; vice-president, Norma Dettmann, secretary, Wilma Fisher; treasurer, Helen Norberg, other members are Dorothy Albert, Jessie Bauman, Margaret Davis and Edna Freeman. The program title for 1984-85 is “Health, Hope and Happiness,” with Helen Norberg and Edna Freeman, program committee.

    The club was in charge of the “Old Fashion Dress Contest” Saturday, July 21, at the park. In spite of high temperatures and bright sunshine, the contestants modelled their antique gowns, self-made dresses and bonnets, or family groups dressed in old fashion clothing, with happy smiles and enthusiasm, making for a successful contest which added to the day’s entertainment and the Quasquicentennial celebration.