Our first President was Zearl Hallcock and we had between 25 and 30 members. For several years we had a Thanksgiving dinner with the Elliott Businessmen furnishing the turkey. This dinner was for all Senior Citizens and Shut-ins.

     In Nov. 1977 we moved our meeting place to the Elliott Meal Site where we meet the first Tuesday of each month. We have a membership of 25. Several of our Charter members are in nursing homes in other towns and some have passed away.

G. A. B. CLUB

     The G. A. B. Club began in March 1970. Making 1979 it's ninth year. The Charter members were as follows:

Of these original members, three are current ones. They are Vicki Elwood, Deana Lewis, and Avis Petty. We now boast a membership of 14, and meet the second Wednesday of every month.

     The G. A. B. Club became interested in bettering the town of Elliott. As we all had small children, we naturally decided the City Park was in most need of repair. So in July of 1975, with the support of the Town Council, we began painting and repairing the equipment in the Park. Each succeeding year was spent raising money for new playground equipment. (Money making projects were mostly Bake Sales and Ice Cream Socials.) As the result of this drive by the G. A. B. Club, Elliott has recieved four new pieces of equipment. They consist of, two (spring action) animals, a Yogi Bear teeter-totter, and a small Merry-Go-Round. These were all set in the park by husbands of the members. For which we received a Leadership Award from Governor Robert D. Ray/

     The members of the G. A. B. Club are proud to have contributed to the improvement of Elliott in it's First Hundred Years.       

Current Members

GOLDEN HOUR CLUB

     Organized as the Martha Washington club (time nor recorded), at the home of a Mrs. Fuller who lived in a house east of the present David Reynolds family home.

     In 1914 it was reorganized and took the name of the Golden Hour club. Hope Sandquist is the only member now who was a charter member. It has always been a social club which met twice a month for a long time, then for many years vacation was declared in the months of July and August. Since 1977 it has met once a month, including the summer months, as air conditioning makes it more pleasant.

     In earlier years the annual banquet held on February 22 was an elaborate affair. Husbands were invited and the committee worked hard to make it a memorable occasion.

     At one time there were eighteen members but fewer than that usually, especially since in later years more women are working outside the home.

     Some years ago having club meant cleaning every closet, drawer and much polishing. Lunch was a two course feast. One wore hat, gloves and dresses. Now we are more casual and club is enjoyed as a time to see friends and share coffee and conversation.

MASONIC HISTORY

Summit Lodge #493.  A. F. & A. M. Chartered June 5, 1888.

     Summit Lodge held its meetings over the old Sprinkle and Stennett Harness shop on the Odd Fellows Hall over the Kidder restaurant for th year of 1891, returning to the former location over the Sprinkler and Stennett Harness shop, remaining there from 1892 to 1896. From then to 1910 meetings were again held in Odd Fellows Hall over the Jones and Porter dry goods store on the south side of Main Street, then moving to the present location in Halberts Hall in 1910, and they bought the building from the Halbert Estate in 1940. The charter was granted to Fred Garberg, W. M.,  W. W. Montgomery, S. W., D. D. Cotton, J. W. and 12 other members. These were recommended by Cass Lodge #412, A. F. & A. M. of Griswold, Iowa. This was the start of the membership which was 105 at one time. There are now 65 on the roll. The Lodge was honored in 1975, by having Walter Buffon appointed to serve as Grand Tyler for the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

MASONIC HISTORY

     The O.N.O. Club began in Nov. 1946 or Nov. 1947 as a birthday party for Lucile Banker. Helen Ferguson had a surprise party for her at the Banker Home. They decided that night to continue as a Social club and "Pot Luck Supper". They named it the O.N.O. Club which means "Our Night Out".

     For many years they met every three weeks on a Wed. night. In recent years the club has met the second Wed. night of each month for their usual "Pot Luck Supper" and an evening of visiting. Due to the passing of Bette DeWitt, there are now just fifteen members left. They are Mildred Milner, Dorothy Downey, Clarabell Carlisle, Olive Shires, Elizabeth Baker, Velma Howard, Audrey Schantz, Margene Petty, Dorothy Gammell, Nettie Artlip, Dorothy Murren, Roxanne Rush, Jean Templeton, Margaret Evans, and Vernita Adams.

ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR

     Elliott Chapter No. 458, Order of the Eastern Star chapter was granted October 23, 1913 by the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the state of Iowa; meetings to be held the third Tuesday of each month. The charter members were: B. F. McVay, C. E. Reynolds, Flora Reynolds, Ida Reynolds, Ella Kinney, Allie Griffith, Cora Halbert, Bertha Giddens, Della Thompson, Lida Woods, Myrtle Mercer, Lizzie Hully, Jessie Mercer Smith, Hannah Williams, Mary E. Richards, Jessie Selby, Jessie Cadwell, Viola Chickering, Gertrude Mercer, Tessie Moore, J. E. Mercer, George Selby, C. J. Kinney, W. I. Hully, F. H. Mercer. Ida Reynolds was the first Worthy Matron of the Chapter.

     Roll of membership from February 1, 1913 to June 20, 1978 is 362. We have ten candidates waiting to be initiated. Warren Devoss served as Worthy Patron for 28 years. He gave the obligation to 100 candidates.

     Jessie Smith has been a member for 66 years. She is the only living charter member. Members over 50 years are Ruby Giltner 59 years, Mildred Kirby 58 years, Mildred Bishop 57 years, Effie Williams 54 years, Emma Egermayer 51 years, Louise Shires 51 years and Ruth Carey 51 years.

     Present membership is 69. Our present Worthy Matron is Treva Stinemates and Worthy Patron, Harold Stinemates. Harold has served as Worthy Patron for 14 years.

RESEARCH CLUB

     The Research in the only Elliott club affiliated with the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs. It was organized in 1911, Federated in 1913. It started with four members, presently has 27, plus two honorary. Meetings are held every other Monday, from September to May.

     The Research has always been a Study Club, and its members were instrumental in starting the Library. They have continued to support it throughout the years.

     They join with nearly 600,000 GFWC members at the national level and 10,000,000 members worldwide to work for the passage of vital legislation, from the first Child Labor Laws and the Pure Food and Drug Act, to current legislation dealing with health, educational and related issues. They support ten State projects each year.  Local projects have included planting of trees for several years in the City Park, sales of American Flags, and remembering the elderly and shut-ins during the year.

     They pursue an "Adventures in Reading" program, and have been the only club in Montgomery County to have 100% participation for the last three years.

     In 1933, Mrs. C. B. Barnes, a Charter Member was elected to serve on the State Board, and in 1968-1970, Elizabeth Viner, who had been a ten-year member of the Research was State President of the IFWC.

WORTH WHILE CLUB

     On May 23, 1929, a group of 16 ladies met and formed the Worth While Club. They were joined by six more to make 21 Charter Members, four of whom are still members, Ruth Ellis, Victoria Larson, Edna McCabe and Alice Shires.

     "Friendship Our Goal" was their motto, the Club Colors are green and white. They chose a Club Quilt pattern, "Cross and Crown" and was made into a friendship quilt by each Charter Member. They even wrote a Club Song to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne".

     They remember their name by doing Worth While activities for the community. They sent boxes to their boys in service, fixed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Sunshine boxes, donated to charities and help victims of floods and fires. They donate to the City Park and Fire Department.

     They give showers for the weddings and babies of families of club members.

     They also have fun morning coffees, hard-time parties, wiener roasts, covered dish luncheons, mystery pals, quilting bees, painting lessons, basket making, evening family parties, farewell parties and guest days, when they invite former members.

     Every fifth year club anniversary has been a special event. This year, 1979, marks their 50th Anniversary. 109 ladies have been members sometime during these years. There are now 17 members.