of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 433-435
WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS.
CITY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. Through the efforts of the West End Fortnightly Club, and organization was effected of the City Federation of Women's Clubs August 25, 1902. This association was composed of the Twentieth Century Club, Mother's Club, Query Club, Clio Club, Progressive Women, Fortnightly Club, and Shade's Reading Club. Mrs. C. Weed was the first president and served two years. During her presidency the Federation presented to the public library a beautiful Blasius piano, photos of famous paintings and plaster casts. Mrs. J. M. Kemble was the second president and held the office two years. Through her efforts and members of the Federation, rest rooms were inaugurated and conducted in the city, which were later turned over to the care of the Y. W. C. A. It might be well here to state that the Federation was chiefly instrumental in organizing the Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. D. S. McDermott next filled the chair and during her incumbency rubber matting, costing $105 was presented to Hershey Hospital. Mrs. J. W. Eells was the president in 1907, and it was that year that the Federation presented to the city a public drinking fountain, costing $100. Another gift of the ladies was $50 toward Weed Park Club House, and it is said the members of the Federation were the first to agitate the question of a Chautauqua for Muscatine.
TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB. The Twentieth Century Club was organized November 23, 1900, there being nineteen charter members. The following year the society joined the Federation of Women's Clubs. This club has had the honor of being entertained by many men of letters, and others prominent in the professions, among them being Chancellor McClain; William Owens, the noted tragedian; I. B. Richman, the historian; and Miss Mira Hershey, the well known heiress and philanthropist. At one time while studying United States history, the members met with Mrs. Lewis. On that occasion Mrs. Stephenson's paper on "The Land and the Native Races" was read by its author in the room where seventy-five years ago a group of wild Indians, in war paint and feathers, had gone through the contortions of a war dance for the amusement of a few early settlers, in the home of the late Hon. Stephen Whicher.
THE MOTHER'S CLUB. Probably the largest and most philanthropic association of women in Muscatine is the Mother's Club. This organization has been in existence since 1899 and was organized by Miss Florence Ewing, who at the time was mistress of a private kindergarten. It was in January of the year mentioned that the club was first started and in the following September a new organization was perfected, a constitution and by-laws adopted and the name of the club changed from a Mother's Kindergarten Club to the plain, homely, substantial and beautiful Mother's Club. In March, 1900, this association affiliated with the Mothers' Congress and in May the president and one delegate attended the national convention. Its first officers were: Mrs. Fred Munroe, president; Mrs. Theron Thompson, treasurer; Mrs. D. S. McDermott, secretary.
WEST END FORTNIGHTLY CLUB. The first strictly literary club to be organized in Muscatine is that of the West End Fortnightly, its membership being limited to twenty. The organization took place in October, 1891, its first meeting place being at the residence of Mrs. C. Weed.
THE SPALDING CLUB. The Spalding Club was organizated in 1904 and is one of the most progressive of the various reading circles of the city. It is composed entirely of members of the Catholic church and was organized for the purpose of reading literature peculiar to that faith. The membership of this association is limited to sixteen. The club was named in honor of Bishop J. L. Spalding, of Peoria, Illinois, a man of great learning, a writer of national reputation, and a pulpit orator of renown.
SHADE'S READING CIRCLE. The association with the above name is limited to a membership of eleven and was organized in 1899 at the home of Mrs. Anna Cummins. The first book that was read by the circle was "The Houseboat on Styx," by John Kendrick Bangs. This unique title suggested to the organizing members a name for the circle.
PROGRESSIVE WOMEN'S CLUB. This club was organized in the fall of 1900 for the purpose of reading literature and studying the works of various writers. The meetings are held every two weeks at the home of some one of the members.
GENEVA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. This social organization came into life in 1900, at which time the links were laid out and formally opened May, 30, of that year. The first president was Dr. F. H. Little. The first vice president was L. G. Barnard and the first secretary and treasurer, George Reeder.
On the old fair ground property a neat one-story club house was erected. In 1902 the club was reorganized and incorporated under the name of the Geneva Golf and Country Club. Dr. F. H. Little was made president, John Sterneman, vice president, Charles P. Jackson, secretary and treasurer, and Henry Sheetz green keeper. The new home was erected and formally opened the latter part of July. A tennis court was added to the amusements afforded and proved quite popular. This organized body is one of the prominent institutions of the community.
MUSCATINE LAUNCH CLUB. This club is one of the important social and sporting societies of this vicinity. In 1908 it erected a magnificent club house at a cost of $5,000, on a strip of ground south of the Muscatine North & South depot, on the bank of the river on property belonging to the city. The building presents a most impressive sight from the river and is one of the finest homes of this kind in the state. This club was chiefly instrumental in the formation of the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association, and through its efforts the first annual regatta of the association was held and made a great success.
MUSCATINE COMMERCIAL CLUB. The organization of the Commercial Club in 1892 added very much to the standing of Muscatine with her sister cities of the state. It brought her leading citizens in contact to a greater extent with the outside world and quickened her ambition to keep abreast of the time and grow, not only in business activities and wealth, but also in population and the influence strength of numbers engenders.
The first meeting of the Commercial Club, the organization which got its inception and impetus from W. L. Roach, was held in rooms on the second floor of the Commercial House, and later, for almost a year, the club had its headquarters at this historic old hostelry. The following year permanent rooms were occupied in the Stein building on West Second street.
The Commercial Club had done valiant service for the city of Muscatine in promoting railroad building, manufactories, an opera house and various other things that have added to the wealth, growth and importance of the community. Most of the business men of importance are now members and the club has become one of the strong factors, always vigilant in the city's interest and of undoubted industry in its efforts making for a greater and more affluent community. Since the completion of the Hershey Bank and business block the club's quarters have been established on the sixth floor of that great modern building. Here there are beautifully furnished parlor and reception rooms, card and pool rooms, offices, and one of the finest bowling alleys to be found anywhere. This goes to show that the organization has its social side as well as a care for the sterner realities of life. The Commercial Club's record has been in keeping with the wide-awake, keen, and businesslike proclivities of its members and with the welfare of Muscatine always at heart, the club's future presages a continued growth and prosperity for the city it represents.
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