West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
HISTORY OF THE FORTNIGHTLY LITERARY CLUB

The Fortnightly Literary Club of West Liberty was organized in 1902, by Mrs. Clara Hughes and Mrs. Julia Pickering, and became federated the same year.

The first meeting was held September 29th, 1902, at he home of Mrs. Mary A. Ditmars with Mrs. Belle McElravy as president, Mrs. Inez Woodruff, vice-president, Mrs. Eva Clark, secretary, Mrs. Sylvia Penn Miller, corresponding secretary, and Miss Caroline McClun, treasurer.

The club has a limited membership of twenty-five. There are seventeen living charter members, all except two are scattered from one coast to the other, however, there are no charter members taking active part in the club today.

One of the members has been active in the club work since 1904 and two since 1908.

In 1905 the club undertook to raise money for the book fund for the new Carnegie Library, which had just been built. A Novgorad Fair was given sponsored by them, with the help of several other organizations. The result was a book fund of $500.00.

In 1911, $25.00 was given to the school board to buy equipment such as swings, teeter boards, sand-boxes and slides, for the grade building.

April 26th, 1915 the club decided to sponsor a little Belgian boy by the name of Jean Vanderyver and about $ 25.00 was sent to the Belgian Relief Fund for his care.

Our 25th anniversary was held on September 26th, 1927 at the home of Mrs. Pauline Royal.

The present officers are, President, Mrs. Lucy Pickering Nichols; vice-president, Mrs. Jesse Easson Brooke, corresponding secretary, Mrs. Bertha Propst, treasurer, Mrs. Pearl Irey.

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