The following, written by a past president, documents the first 70 years of the club’s history.
Capsule History and Philosophy of the Woman’s Club of Rock Springs, Wyoming
Written by: Helen M. Johnson, Past President, 1975-76
Research: 1991, Past President’s scrapbooks, Secretary’s minutes, President’s reports, Executive Board Journal
Rock Springs, Wyoming, is a fairly small community of approximately 18,000 people. It is situated in a semi-arid region in the southwest corner of the state. The city originated as a coal-mining town because of the rich veins of coal in the rolling hills. The area is generally treeless and hilly with strange rock formations etched into the hills by the constant winds. The town gets its water from the Green River located fifteen miles away. The sheep and cattle ranches dotting the country form an integral part of the area. The city has often been called the “melting pot” of people because so many families of different nationalities came to mine the coal and find work wherever they could. This was a community where the women yearned for a means of relaxation, sisterhood, and community involvement.
The Woman’s Club of Rock Springs evolved from the women’s group known as the Delta Meta Delphian Club with Mrs. A.G.Duell, president. After much discussion a number of Delphian members decided to leave the Delphians and join the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, and for that purpose, some of them, including Mrs. Duell, undertook the long, arduous journey to the state Federation meeting at Torrington, Wyoming, on October 16, 1922. The 650 mile trip from one end of the state and back during the young age of car travel was a spirited undertaking.
Through $50.00 donated by Miss Beulah Hay and $15.00 from the club, the Woman’s Club of Rock Springs was put on the “Founders List” of the Endowment Fund and became affiliated with the Wyoming Federation. It was later federated with the General Federated Women’s Club in May, 1925.
When the First meeting was held on November 11, 1922, the club became known as the Woman’s Club of Rock Springs. Fifty-six names were placed on the club roll.
At the second meeting on November 25, Mrs. A.L. McCurtain, chairman of the Constitution Committee, read the proposed constitution, and with a few changes and additions, this constitution was adopted. Fifty-one more names were added to the club roll at this meeting making a total of 101 members. According to a very old executive board journal, which was kept through the years 1923 to March 22, 1935, there were 121 charter members. In 1924, the general membership rose to 132. In those early years, the Woman’s Club was one of the chief sources of socialization for women in the arid, barren, coal-mining town.
After the club was organized in November, the election of officers was held on December 9, 1922, and Mrs. H. H. Gibson was elected the first president. One of her first acts was to write the State Federation inviting them to hold the state convention in Rock Springs. The invitation was duly accepted, and the brave new organization hosted the 20th annual convention of the Wyoming Federation in October of the year 1923, just a year after it was organized. Amazingly, forty-seven clubs from the sparsely populated state drove long distances to attend and give their reports.
Mrs. Lin Noble, state president in 1923 said in her state address, “Let us realize deeply the great privilege it is to be a part of the womanhood of Wyoming – gathered in one body, united in purpose and spirit.”
The question raised that year to the groups was, “Why did you join the club?” And the answers were: “For companionship, friendship, wisdom, inspiration, and efficiency.” The replies given are as meaningful today as they were then.
During Mrs. Gibson’s term in 1922-23 petitions were signed and permission granted to form a department of Music, Short Story, Art and Literature, and a Physical Culture Department.
Education was considered even during the formative years of the club. $5.00 was placed in the funds for education.
Its first money-making project was a Valentine’s Day dance held February 25, 1923, reaping a net profit of $94.50.
For the year 1923-24, Mrs. F. B. Crumley was elected president. The meetings were held in the public library until February. Then an offer was accepted from the Elks Club to rent a club room for $25.00 a month. With the exception of July and August, the summer recess time, monthly meetings were held at the Elks’ building. The Woman’s Club continued to lease space in the Elks’ building as late as May, 1930. Then for many years meetings were held in the old Congregational Church building located on B Street where the Mt. Bell building now stands.
In 1923, a Chickering piano was purchased from Mrs. Wells and placed in the Elks Home club room, and a year later the club room was refreshed with pictures, draperies and chairs.
The club generously donated $50.00 to the Education Fund during the 1923-24 presidency of Mrs. F. B. Crumley.
Mrs. C. E. Swann was elected club president in 1924-25. It was during her term that a petition was presented to the Club asking permission to form a Civic Section. Permission was granted. A Christmas Committee was also added. The Club now had four departments – Short Story, Civic, Art, and Music.
This was the year when the club was instrumental in acquiring the first maternity wing to the Sweetwater Memorial Hospital and also helped implement the establishment of Bunning Park.
Mrs. Oscar Fieldscher was president in 1925-26. In October of 1925, the Club sponsored a dance at the Elks’ Club netting $118.50. It was shortly after the dance that the Club colors were selected.
Quoting from the secretary’s minutes, we find this: “In compliment to the Elks for their royal treatment to the Woman’s Club, it was declared to adopt one of their royal colors – purple. Other color chosen being – gold.” The following club motto was also decided upon:
“Service is the standard of life and love is the motive of service.”
Ten dollars was given to the city towards the purchase of trees for a newly-formed park (Bunning Park).
The Club was justly proud in having one of its members, Mrs. T. S. Taliaferro, as president of the State Federation and another member, Mrs. D. D. Spani, as corresponding secretary for the State Federation.
When Mrs. J. L. Libbey was president in 1926-27, the club cooperated with the Salvation Army by making 50 stockings for hospital patients. A winter carnival was held and netted $887.41 for the treasury. In addition, the club erected drinking fountains and purchased more trees for the Bunning city park.
Mrs. B. F. Crumley was WFWC Chairman of the Department of Find Arts.
1927-28 was a busy year for president Mrs. V. J. Facinelli. A building fund was established for the purpose of buying a club house, if and when it was feasible. The amount that was deposited was $500. Money was added to this fund at various times throughout the years.
During Mrs. F. L. McCarty’s term of office, 1928-29, the Club Sponsored “The Bird House Building Contest” for school children with $25.00 given in prizes. It also sponsored a pre-school age clinic for children.
Although the Club had given infrequent luncheons the first few years, the idea of general monthly luncheons actually evolved in the spring of 1930 when president Mrs. Hitchcock (1929-30) called an executive board meeting to discuss ways and means to procure one hundred percent attendance at the closing meeting of the year. The board discussed the advisability of a banquet at the closing meeting. The response was an enthusiastic “yes”.
On September 8, 1930, the new president, Mrs. Elias, (1930-31) proposed having a lunch at the regular meetings. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the idea. The Mormon Relief Society expressed willingness to provide a fifty cent luncheon if the hall would be paid for by the Club. So on May 9, 1930, the spring luncheon menu listed a cocktail, roast beef, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, dressing, one vegetable, salad, rolls, coffee, and dessert.
On September 13, 1930, when Mrs. Claude Elias presided, the first luncheon of the year was at Howard’s Cafe with a cost of seventy-five cents a plate. During the 1930-31, the luncheons alternated between Howard’s Cafe and the Congregational Church Hall. It was also decided by the members that the club would move the piano from the Elk’s building to the church dining room so the programs could be held there.
Today the Club has monthly luncheons at various restaurants. The different sections meet in the ladies’ homes, at the meeting rooms in the library on C Street in downtown Rock Springs, and in the White Mountain Library meeting room.
A past president’s pin was presented to the Club’s first president, Mrs. H. H. Gibson. The Club decided to do this each year until all past presidents had received pins.
During Mrs. J. F. Davis’s tenure in 1931-32, the Club devoted much consideration to children. It donated money to the Cheyenne Orphanage and to the Laramie Cathedral home for children. It pledged aid to Girl Scouts and money for a sleigh hill for children at Yellowstone School.
In addition, more money was given for trees at Washington Park and the cemetery. When Rock Springs was first developing, its precious and expensive water was transported by barrels from the Green River, fifteen miles away, so it was difficult to have any plants or bushes. If flowers or bulbs were planted at the cemetery, the gophers and other animals at them.
Ten layettes were furnished to expectant mothers in needy families when Mrs. A. P. Russel was president in 1932-33. The state president, Mrs. A. C. Meloney of Basin was entertained at an informal tea in cooperation with the Delta Meta Delphians Club which was still in existence. Three more trees were planted in Washington Memorial Park.
Trees continued to be planted by the Club members despite one community leader’s proclamation that “If God had wanted trees to grow in Rock Springs, he would have put them here himself.”
It was in 1933-34 with Mrs. A. J. Hamilton as president that the first flower show was held in the Congregational Church under the aegis of the Woman’s Club of Rock Springs with the Civic Section in charge and working with the county agent for beautification of home grounds.
The Milk Fund, initiated in 1934-35 under the leadership of Mrs. Miriam Sheddon, was designed to provide milk in the schools to undernourished children. With the Civic Committee in charge, milk bottles were placed in the stores for contributions to aid in the school milk fund. Fifteen dollars was given for the fund.
The club women made ninety favors (coal buckets with pieces of coal) for the Wyoming Products breakfast at their state convention in Green River.
Mrs. Phister of Bondurant, Wyoming made six rag dolls with material given to her by the Club. The dolls were sent to a state children’s home. Mrs. Phister continued to do this for seventeen years.
In 1935 a tea was added to the flower show with a public discussion on beautification. There were 65 flower varieties exhibited.
During the January meeting a petition was presented requesting permission to form a Drama section. Permission was granted. The Club now had Music, Short Story, Art and Literature, and Drama sections.
When Mrs. Hubert Webster was president in 1935-36, the Finance Committee sponsored a card party in January for the purpose of aiding the Milk Fund for undernourished children in the schools. Fifty dollars was the amount pledged, and $59.80 was earned.
That year there were 100 exhibits for the flower show, and the Congregational Church hall was crowded. The Club was invited to take the show to the Old Timers’ Building, but for a while longer the shows continued to be held in the church.
Three women were on the Wyoming State Board. Mrs. W. D. Thompson was Recording Secretary, Mrs. T. S. Taliaferro was Parliamentarian, and Mrs. D. D. Spani was Music Chairman.
Each section was responsible for a monthly luncheon with musical selections featured in addition to the main program.
In 1936-37 with Mrs. W. D. Thompson as president, volunteer work for the Milk Fund Tag sale continued. It brought in a total of $150 with 1,200 tags made and sold in entirety before six p.m. on the day of the sale.
During this period, the ever busy Civic Committee with Mrs. H. H. Gibson as chairman sponsored a card party early in the fall. Proceeds from this event were used for the purchasing of a wheelchair and paying for necessary repairs. This wheelchair was lent out from time to time.
In August a flower show sponsored by the Civic Committee gave cash prizes to children from flowers and vegetables. The flower show had outgrown the quarters of the Congregational Social Hall, so in the future the show was held in the U. P. Coal Co.’s Old Timer’s Building through the invitation of Mr. George Pryde.
During Mrs. Arthur Vail’s presidency, 1937-38, the Garden Section was formally organized and was separate from the Civic Committee. It asked for and received permission from the general club of a permanent assignment of conducting the Flower Show each year in conjunction with the county fair.
A Past President’s Division was added, and the Recreation Committee sponsored a “Story Hour” at the library for children. This program was sponsored by Woman’s Club for many years to come. At present, the library is in charge.
The records show 90 members in the year 1938-39 when Mrs. Lillian Wise was president. In December, the Past President’s Section with Mrs. H. H. Gibson as chairman, had charge of the December program. Their guests were thirteen little needy girls who were treated with gifts by Santa Claus and then taken to a show after lunch. There was a large attendance at the monthly luncheons. November attendance was 58 women; December showed 72; January with 53; February has 46; March attendance 75.
The Garden Section became active with Mrs. Gordon Morris as chairman. Interest in gardening and in landscaping homes had gained momentum. One woman who had lived in Rock Springs and compared the past days with the present, observed “One house on Front Street had a few straggling morning glories. The idea then was that nothing would grow here.”
The Short Story Division had courses from the University of Iowa whereby the fine points of setting, plot, character, style and theme were studied.
The WFWC convention was held in Rock Springs in October during Mrs. G. S. Pitchford’s term in 1939-40. The Club now had six sections: Music, Short Story, Art and Literature, Drama, Garden, and Past Presidents.
A study of the historical development of the short story was initiated by the Short Story Division. It began with the oldest story in existence written in 2,500 B.C. and continued to the modern stories in current magazines.
The Drama Section gave a musical and dramatic program for General Club. The enjoyable, enlightening, and highly amusing enactment of the play “If the Shoe Fits” was performed.
Three women held offices on the state level with Mrs. Hubert Webster, chairman of American Home, and Mrs. D. D. Spani and Mrs. Lillian Wise in the Music Department.
Mrs. Pitchford’s favorite quote was this:
“Worry not over the future
The present is all that thou hast,
For the future will soon be the present
And the present will soon be the past.”
Mrs. E. M. Thompson presided in 1940-41. During that time the Club was generous in its donations. It gave tot he red Cross, the Milk Fund, various children’s homes, the Tuberculosis Society, the Wyoming General Hospital for Christmas boxes, Boy and Girl Scouts, and the Infantile Paralysis Drive.
The Club still had its original wheelchair. President Thompson stated that it had severed a useful purpose during a convention in the summer.
The Music Section was engrossed in a study of “Twentieth Century Music,” and they also followed a program approved by the National Federation of Music Clubs by studying the book “What to Listen for in Music.”
In January, the general club was treated to a Short Story program of the reading of a story “Xingo” by Edith Wharton.
The Drama Club delighted an unusually large gathering in February when they presented the play “Wisdom for Wives.” A Valentine motif was carried out in the table decoration selected by the Drama Club.
With World War II as a background Mrs. W. R. Duffey served as president in 1941-42, and the Club invested $999.00 in defense bonds. Many members registered for defense work and projects. The raising of victory gardens was encouraged, so club women and community gardeners cooperated. The tenth annual flower and garden show was held in the South Side Catholic Church, and Mr. Harry Marriott was the winner of the victory garden.
For the general meeting, the Drama Section gave a platform reading of “Arsenic and Old Lace” which was unique and greatly enjoyed by the women.
An original musical play written by one of the members around the central idea of music in the home was the February luncheon program given by the Music Section.
In 1942-43, Mrs. R. P. Hogan, Club leader, urged the women to devote more time to projects concerning the war, thus, programs were devoted largely to some phase of war interest.
In cooperation with other organizations, $81 was donated toward a nurse’s scholarship.
The war work consisted of buying surgical dressings, giving nurses aides training, plus training women in home nursing, raising gardens, learning conservation of foods, baking cookies for the USA, conducting Bundles for America drives, and investing $1,350 in government bonds.
Eighty-one members were listed.
The Short Story Section studied short stories written by contemporary authors, and the women in the section also did thirty-seven hours of hand work for the Red Cross at their meetings.
The war effort was continued during the term of office of the very busy Mrs. E. L. Parr (Imogene Bardtrief) in 1943-44. The fourth war loan drive credited the Club with collecting $16,525. Members assisted Rev. Henry A. Link with providing food and lodging for servicemen going through town. Donations were given to the War Service Committee, the National War Fund and the National Victory Clothes Drive.
Each Club member was assessed one dollar to help pay tuition for a nurse’s training at the Wyoming General Hospital.
Up to this period of time the Executive Board always met one half hour before the general meeting, but today’s executive board meetings are held on a day separate from the general club meeting. The Club dues were $5.00 including the luncheon, and lunch was a mere thirty-five cents if you brought a guest.
The regular committees and sections were continuing their customary programs.
The Drama Section had a series of programs consisting of Drama in Moral Building, Radio Drama, Summer Play Production, and Dramatic Readings. They also performed a one-act play entitled “The Salvage Mongers’ at the February meeting of the general club.
In June, the Club entertained the Nation Federation of Music Clubs president, Mrs. Guy P. Gannet. A banquet and special musical program was given.
In 1944-45, Mrs. E. J. Young was elected president of the Club. In conjunction with the Rock Springs Delphian Club, which was still in existence, books were purchased and placed in hospitals for crippled soldiers. Club volunteers also assisted in the Red Cross Drive, War Bond Drives and the Paper and Oil Cloth Drives. The Club had $13,500 in War Bonds. Woman’s Club also took an active part in the opening of a Youth Canteen.
Mrs. R. Y. Gibson, 1945-46, continued to push the war effort. The National Victory Clothes Drive netted the Club 15,000 garments, a total of 9,980 pounds of clothing, ten pieces of bedding, 1,100 pairs of good shoes and 60 new felt hats.
Mrs. Gibson’s closing remarks were, “Swiftly the years comes, swiftly they go. But why should that matter? All that counts where life’s sands are run, the Service given, and the good we’ve done.”
Mrs. Charles Holland’s term in 1946-47 showed a fall membership of fifty-nine members, and by the end of the year there were one hundred twenty-one. The Hospital Committee prepared and delivered twenty-six baskets to the hospital on Christmas Eve, and Club members bought tickets for forty-seven underprivileged children to see the Passion Play.
When the County Fair started in 1946, the women then held two flower shows a year. One in the spring or early summer, the other in conjunction with the County Fair.
That year the programs for the Drama Section included a study of Broadway plays, a visit to the local radio station where records of members’ voices were made, and a demonstration on “Stage Make-up” by the Thespian Society of the high school.
In February the Short Story Section presented the general club program with Dr. Ruth Hudson, professor of English at the University of Wyoming, reviewing the book “Green Grass of Wyoming’ by Mary O’Hare.
The city was growing, and so was the neighboring town of Green River. This was due, in large part, to the opening of the trona mines west of Green River. By way of explanation, trona is sedimentary deposits of alkaline ore from which is produced soda ash. The deposits outside of Green River are the biggest natural deposits of trona being developed in the world. The soda produced is a basic industrial chemical which is widely used as one of the basic components of glass, soaps, detergents, baking soda, and a wide range of industrial products.
The year of 1947-48 was the Club’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Mrs. Harry Thuesen (Marian) was president. The Club started its yearly meetings by having a Membership Drive and a Silver Tea in commemoration of its twenty-fifth anniversary with six charter members present.
The state president visited the Club for the January meeting. The Wyoming Day program, which dealt with pioneer history, featured an original story in verse by Mrs. J. H. Goodnough, and the Drama Section of the Club presented a one act play entitled “Gratitude.”
At the home of Mrs. Rose Bertagnoli, the Music Section had the pleasure of having as a guest, Mr. Anton Schubel, Metropolitan Opera singer, who gave a very detailed account of the wonderful program in progress to select the better artists in the United States.
One of the special projects of the year was sponsoring the five cent movies for children.
The Music Section presented outstanding musical selections including old Scottish songs with their backgrounds as the subject, a Metropolitan Opera singer, a singing Christmas program, and education programs on music.
In 1947, the Woman’s Club accepted the invitation to have its flower show with the County Fair which had been formally instituted in Rock Springs. The flower show became a show for all gardeners in all of Sweetwater County instead of only for Rock Springs.
The membership at the close of the year was 145 members, which included forty-nine new members.
The traditional projects were continued during the year 1948-49 with Mrs. A. L. Anderson presiding. In 1949, the Garden Section asked for and received from the general club a permanent assignment of conducting the Flower Show each year in conjunction with the county fair. The Milk Fund Drive was conducted by the Civic Committee; gifts and food parcels were delivered to the local hospital and County Welfare Home at Christmas; the Drama Section contributed toys to the children in the local hospital for Christmas; and a tour of the flower gardens in the city was made by the garden Section in the fall.
An entertaining melodrama entitled “Murder at Mrs. Lorings” was presented by the Drama Section at the general meeting.
Another general luncheon meeting which was immensely enjoyed was a clever original short story “So You Married an Engineer” read by the author, Mrs. W. W. Skeeters and promoted by the Short Story Section.
Mrs. Wm. Milligan then began her term of office in 1949-1950. Remember the period in 1936-37 when the Club acquired a wheelchair with the proceeds from a card party and continued to use it from time to time? This was the conception of the Lending Closet. The Club actually established the Lending Closet in 1950 so that people of the community who had lingering illnesses in their homes could borrow sick room equipment such as a hospital bed, bedside table, bed utilities, linens, wheel chair, back rest and crutches.
Mt. Fuel Supp0ly Co. of Rock Springs maintained a dispensary at Hiawatha, a company camp 60 miles south in Colorado. Deciding to close the dispensary, they had no use for the equipment. Looking to the future, the women of the Woman’s Club gave birth to the idea of a Lending Closet. Mrs. George Chilton was the first chairman, and the equipment was stored in the basement of her home.
The Drama Section distributed boxes of food to needy families at Christmas, and innumerable boxes of food and clothing were solicited and delivered to needy miner families during the coal mine strike.
For a change, the Short Story Section produced a one-act play for the general luncheon meeting called “Confidentially Speaking.” The Section members felt that the year had not just consisted of entertainment and study. They had also been able to accomplish something of value to the community through the sponsoring of a Thanksgiving and Christmas projects for needy families. Through the cooperation of members of the Woman’s Club and teachers and students of the Washington School, the committee was able to prepare several baskets of food and clothing, which were distributed at different intervals to five families.
Drama Section entertained with “Our Aunt from California.” Several weeks of preparation went into the production; first the selection of a play, then the choosing of a cast, and finally the long weeks of rehearsals.
As a civic project that year, the Music Section collected old clothing for a needy family, with Mrs. Richard Webster as chairman of the project. Members of the group sang two different times at the RSWC luncheons, twice at the Baptist Church, once at the Congregational Ladies Circle, once for the L.D.S. Church, and several other places.
Each section had its own civic project in addition to its programs and general luncheon meeting programs, including table decorations.
It was a busy year for Mrs. Estelle Draney in 1950-51 with the annual Flower Show continuing as well as the Milk Fund drive and other long-standing funding commitments.
The Legislative Committee on behalf of the Woman’s Club endorsed the move of the housewives of the state to repeal the ban on the sale of yellow oleomargarine. The ban was repealed, and Wyoming women were permitted to buy yellow oleomargarine.
A city wide flower selection was started by Marjorie Buchanan, Mrs. H. H. Gibson, and Mrs. Seddon Taliaferro III. The iris was chosen as the city flower in 1951. In addition, the Club voted to have a Spring Flower Show, open to the public for competition, with Mrs. William Milligan as chairman.
The barely mentioned American Home Section had some wonderful programs that year on making dress forms, holding a glove demonstration, making patterns, and having remodeling demonstrations. It also featured candy making, table decorations, and main dish casseroles.
On December 17, 1951, Mrs. Phister of Bondurant, Wyoming, was given nation-wide recognition as being selected the “Good Neighbor” by Walter Mason, on the “Know Your Neighbor” radio program. The Woman’s Club was also given recognition in connection with this worthwhile project as it had consistently furnished her with materials for the doll making.
The Legislative Committee discussed its work with the county legislators.
Mrs. Harry Foster was president in 1951-52, and membership was up to 124.
A one-act play entitled “Lady Rosa” was enacted by the Drama Section for the March general luncheon meeting.
The American Home Section had a demonstration on handmade rugs, one on hooked rugs, and a demonstration on altering dresses. The section also made apron bags and studied how to make curtains and draperies.
The Short Story Section for the January meeting decorated the tables with a winter theme, and one of the members gave a book review.
The Music group furnished the decorations and presented the Christmas program for the general meeting in December, and they also served the Club by furnishing prizes for the public card party given in November.
The February program featured a “Dress Review of Yesteryears.” Dresses 100 years old and down to the early twenties were modeled and their history given.
The following contributions were listed: Endowment Fund, Red Cross, Cathedral Home, Tuberculosis Association, Cancer Drive, Foreign Scholarships, Crippled Children’s Society, Milk Fund, March of Dimes, Wyoming Children’s Home, St. Joseph’s Home, Community Chest, Education Loan Fund, and Penny Art.
The final activity of the club year in May was a program put on by the Garden Section. Each of the members was presented with a favor of a growing plant and a symposium on plants of special interest in this locality was conducted.
There were seven sections listed – American Home, Arts and Crafts, Drama, Garden, Music, Past Presidents, and Short Story.
In 1952-53, Mrs. C. F. Tomsik stated that the Club had “donated to every civic drive in the community and, in fact, helped spearhead each and every drive. We were in charge of the Mother’s March on Polio, and this was indeed a successful drive.”
The Past Presidents Section was very busy putting out the final printing of 150 yearbooks, and the Garden Section sponsored two flower shows, one the Spring Flower Show, mostly iris, in June; the other the big fall flower show in connection with the Sweetwater County Fair.
Three members of the Club were state chairman on the executive board including Mrs. Dwight Fisher, Mrs. Barr Smedly, and Mrs. C. F. Tomsik.
This was the thirtieth anniversary of the Club, and it was marked in a special way by having the charter members give the program with the first president, Mrs. H. H. Gibson, as chairman. Each charter member was presented with a rose.
As usual, an outstanding program was given by the Drama Section with a play entitled “The Women.” This was an experiment which required considerable creative imagination and was an adaptation of a three-act play.
The Club was in charge of the canteen at the Blood for Freedom railroad car when it was in Rock Springs on December 16 and 17.
The newly-organized Bridge Section was in charge of the October luncheon program.
The First “Hotflash” then called the “Rock Springs Club Woman” was initiated during the administration of Mrs. W. H. Buchanan in 1953-54.
The Woman’s Club of Rock Springs along with Reliance, Green River, Granger, and the Eden-Farson Progress Club were hostess to the 50th Wyoming Federation of Women’s Club convention in Rock Springs.
It was apparently at this time that the Short Story Section had been phased out and blended in with a new section called Literature Section. Short Story Section began when the Club was begun in 1922 and was active for 32 years when it ended around 1954. It had served a long, useful, and enjoyable period of time.
Unfortunately, the records of Mrs. Buchanan’s presidency are lost, but Mrs. Buchanan’s legacy of hard work and commitment to her community and the Club are left as a shining reminder to all people who serve and give of themselves to others. She joined WCRC in 1946, and from then on, worked tirelessly for the Club. She was indefatigable in her efforts to have a national proclamation of March as Youth Art Month. Although her dream has not been realized in that respect, Youth Art Month has been observed in the state of Wyoming since 1961.
Margie held state offices in different capacities for many years. She was Publicity and Advertising for Wyoming Clubwomen for the Southwestern District, State Fine Arts Chairman, Family Life Chairman, Art for Youth Chairman, and in 1975-76 held a state chairmanship, but the name of the office was not listed.
Her dedication to WCRS was a guideline throughout her life. When she died June 14, 1990, at age of 92 her Woman’s Club pin was resting on her dress.
The many projects and activities undertaken by this unassuming but energetic woman are representative of what so many clubwomen have done in the past and are continuing to do in the present.
In 1954-55 when Mrs. D. K. Jones (Edna) was president, she stated, “An initiation ceremony was instituted which I believe gives dignity to the acceptance of new members.” After the ceremony a corsage was given to each new member. Perhaps, not a necessity, but definitely an asset, was the purchase of a lovely lace tea cloth.
It was Mrs. Jones’s aim that year to try to be of greater service to her community and to her Club.
The project which served the community that year started out with the emergency Polio benefit. $127.79 was raised for the emergency drive.
Mrs. Estelle Draney was appointed Custodian of the Educational Fund on the WFWC executive board.
The Play “Come Live In My House,” a comedy in one act was held at the Rock Springs High School by the Drama Section.
During the year 1955-56, Mrs. W. T. Steinhour (Anne) successfully worked with the school board to have a classroom for children who brought sack lunches instead of requiring them to eat in the sweaty locker room.
The Club continued to contribute to the Milk Fund and the Scholarship Fund. It collected $368 from the annual Easter Lily sale. The savings account had swelled to the grand sum of $4,591.33.
The Past President’s Division was in charge of a membership tea in the high school which also honored state president, Mrs. Fred Boice, Jr.
All the other meetings were held either at Howard’s or the Park Hotel with the exception of a tea held in the high school in February, the occasion being the annual play entitled “Sisters Under the Skin” given by the Drama Section.
The Garden Section sponsored the Iris Show in the springs and the Flower Show in the fall. There were now five sections listed: Garden, Drama, Literature, Music, and Past Presidents.
Under the leadership of Mrs. T. S. Taliaferro III (Irene) in 1956-57, the Club entered the GFWC Community Achievement contest with a project to landscape the Thompson Street side of the cemetery. This was to be a two-year project.
Other projects for the year were a continuation of former years – the Milk Fund Drive, the Easter Lily Drive for Crippled Children, and also the Mothers’ March for Polio.
Mrs. Estelle Draney was elected and installed second vice – president of the Wyoming Federation.
When Mrs. B. W. Croft (Edna) 1957-58 was president, a whole week was proclaimed by the Governor of Wyoming as State Music Week. The Union Pacific-Rock Springs Community Band was directed by James Sartoris. He composed the piece “March Internationale” and dedicated his composition to the city’s forty-eight different nationalities.
In February, a “Parade of American Music” program was held and followed by a tea. It was open to the public with about seventy people in attendance.
Many Club members cleaned the old Grand Theatre when the Drama Section organized the Rock Springs Civic Theatre and put on the play “You Can’t Take It With You.”
The most important aspect of Mrs. Robert Bunning’s (Mary) year in 1958-59 was the inauguration of the Rheumatic Fever Throat Swab program in the elementary grades. It was a tremendous organizational project with club members actively working in their children’s schools as swabbers and assistants. The program involved examining all grade school children and taking a culture from those whose throat indicated that the streptococcus germ might be present. The culture was then taken to the hospital technician who did a 48-hour test on it. Those children who had a positive culture were sent to their physicians for treatment. It had been proved that this cut down rheumatic fever by as much as 80% and absenteeism by a very large percent.
The Woman’s Club provided the throat depressors and swabs for use in the program and took care of all the clerical work being done as well as supervising the organization of the program.
Work on the cemetery project continued with over fifty bushes located around town and transplanted at the cemetery. Paint was furnished by a local Boy Scout troop and the fences were all painted and a new entrance built.
The Welfare Committee supervised the Wyoming Tuberculosis Chest X-ray Unit getting workers for two weeks and carrying out the publicity. This project was very successful as over 2,000 people were x-rayed in Rock Springs.
Mrs. W. H. Buchanan was chosen Publicity and Advertising Chairman for the Wyoming Clubwomen for the Southwestern District.
A delightful one-act play “Cut Throat Bridge” was given by the Drama Section for the general meeting at the Rock Springs High School. On request, it was also presented to the P. E. O. Sisterhood on March 21.
In1959-60, Mrs. Robert Mottonen (Betty) ably supervised the club’s civic activities by conducting the annual Easter Lily Drive (Crippled Children Society). Proceeds from the Milk Fund Drive supplied all dairy products and cookies for the six weeks the Crippled Children Speech Clinic was held in Rock Springs.
Through donations for the door prize (a fur stole) the Club earned enough money to sponsor two $100 scholarships to the newly established Junior College in Rock Springs.
A new record player was given to the Children’s Library at the Carnegie Public Library. It had four speeds and was completely automatic.
During Mrs. Ray Rynio’s (Mary) term in 1960-61, the philanthropic project for the year was a hugely successful “Fashions and Music” luncheon and card party with 248 guests attending and earning a net profit of $422.69. The money realized from this project provided two scholarships to Western Wyoming Junior College.
Mrs. Rynio and Mrs. Hansen attended the city council meeting and requested that the “Keep Off the Grass” signs be removed so that the residents would have a place to take their families for an outing without committing a misdemeanor for stepping on the lawn. The council was all for removing the signs, and “the parks are free for people to romp and play on the grass.”
“Let’s Put Our College On the Map,” was the theme for the open house that was held by the Club in January for the Western Wyoming Junior College at Reliance, Wyo. More than 200 people attended.
Mrs. W. H. Buchanan was selected as State Fine Arts Chairman.
At the general club meeting during December, members hung mittens on a gold metallic Christmas tree. The mittens and gloves were later sent to one of the State Children’s Homes.
A hot school lunch program was being pushed by WCRS.
A contest to choose the “Outstanding Clubwoman” of 1961-62 was conceived with the winner being honored at the May general club meeting. That custom was followed for years to come with many capable, outstanding club women being chosen for the honor.
The club members worked long hours on the Heart Fund Drive.
A St. Patrick’s motif was used in the table decorations when the Drama Section hosted the general meeting. Three members of Western Wyoming Junior College related the “Adventures of Archibald, the cockroach, and Mehetabelle, the cat.”
For the first time a “Men’s Night” evening dinner meeting was enjoyed with door prizes being given to “Men Only.”
Stepping into the role of president was enjoyable for Mrs. Jack E. Hansen (Dorothy) in 1961-62, as many successful luncheons and dinners were held. Highlights during the year were two evening dinner meetings. Friday, the 13th of October was “Men’s Night,” and the Arts and Crafts division hosted a second evening meeting. While dining in an atmosphere of a Paris sidewalk cafe, members viewed works of art by Art Guild members and Arts and Crafts members.
Mrs. Hansen took a special interest in the Lending Closet. A fund drive was organized to bolster the depleted Lending Closet. The business district was canvassed; a silent hat auction was held; members gave parties and charged nominal fees; and individual donations were encouraged. Much publicity generated public interest and more donations were gathered. Finally, new equipment was then purchased.
A Christmas tree decorated with mittens and hats designated for a Children’s Home was again displayed at the December general luncheon.
Arts and Crafts was organized September 9, 1962 with the first workshop session held at the Western Wyoming Junior College in Reliance.
The fund raising project was a Magician Show at the high school for grade school and junior high pupils.
Many were the accomplishments of the Club in 1962-63 when Mrs. W. Z. Wenneborg (Peg) was in office. The Past Presidents group poured tea for the open house at the Mental Health Clinic, and they were also hostesses when the Club celebrated its fortieth anniversary. Costumes of 1922 vintage were worn by the hostesses.
The theme of the Drama Section that year was a discussion of “husband and wife’ teams on stage and screen.
The Music Section was always responsible for music at each general meeting, plus being in charge of one general program. Section members anticipated with great pleasure the Christmas party with the exchange of gifts and singing of carols, the Parade of American Music, and the spring bridge luncheon.
The Music Section had two projects to which they donated during the year: a walking frame for the Lending Closet and the Karen Parker Fund.
The Karen Parker Fund was on behalf of the young girl sponsored by the Club who was a Girls’ State Delegate and who was chosen as a member of the school band of America. The band, composed of 85 high school musicians chosen throughout the United States, was to tour Europe in the summer. The Club donated toward her expenses with each division choosing their own way of earning money to give her. Over $100 was given to Karen by the Club.
The Heart Fund Drive almost doubled the previous drive.
Each month the “Hotflash” monthly publication gave highlights of years past, taken from the minutes of the meetings.
For the first time the Club entered a float in the County Fair parade. The Lending Closet equipment was shown with patients in bed, in wheelchairs, and walking frames.
The sections listed were Arts and Crafts, Drama, Garden Literature, Music and Past Presidents.
Five dollars was given for Radio Free Europe.
Mrs. Mike August (Jennie) 1963-64 also felt that giving service to the needs of the community was top priority.
It was the twenty-eighth year that Woman’s Club sponsored the Milk Program and the year that the club honored Mrs. August Slott, a specialist who had worked many years with retarded children.
The new Arts and Crafts section helped Mrs. Slott’s special class with a project whereby each child made a piggy bank.
The Drama group assisted Mrs. Slott’s class of retarded children by donating $10 for costumes that were worn for a Washington Day skit. Several members attended. The Music Division also attended the patriotic occasion. Their aid to this group of special children was the purchase of a record of minuet dances, miniature flags, and the gift of a costume for the program.
Garden section sponsored a flower arrangement class for beginners with the public invited to join. Funds from the small fee charged were to be used to start a city beautification program to plant shrubbery and trees in a designated playground and park area in Rock Springs.
The Club won $500 in the Shell Oil Contest at State Convention. The honor was won because of the Club’s outstanding support to education through scholarships to students at the University of Wyoming for nine previous years and to the students at Western Wyoming Junior College for the past four years.
The public library needed to be enlarged and remodeled. A bond issue was presented, and club members sprang into action with chains of phone calls, encouraging and urging people to vote. With the bond issue approved, WCRS purchased a 16mm Bell and Howell sound projector to be used by the library for special audiovisual studies by students and adults.
City beautification for a park was started, and the Club entered the GFWC contests sponsored by the Shell Oil on Education and Community Improvement by Sears and Roebuck.
Mrs. Jack Hansen was elected State Fine Arts Chairman, and Mrs. W. H. Buchanan as State Family Life Chairman.
The list of civic activities is extensive, but all was not work. The Club members dressed in the costumes of foreign countries for the International Smorgasbord and served the native foods on tables decorated with dolls dressed in beautiful regional costumes.
A “Hats and History” program was presented showing replicas of hats dating back to 1890. Miniature hats graced the tables.
A “Pageant of Shawls” program displayed shawls from a very old collection. The story of their origin and history was narrated as they were modeled by the women.
After meetings and discussions between a WCRS committee and the Bureau of Land Management, three picnic tables were purchased and placed at “Three Patches” in 1964-65 when Mrs. Douglas Wasson (Jo) was president.
Accomplishments in the “Rock Springs Beautiful” project were listed by the Garden Division. Over one hundred residents bought 526 trees and 1,062 shrubs. Some of these trees were also purchased by the group to be planted by the city in the future new Palisades Park.
The Club met at the Sage Room of the Park Hotel for the general luncheon meeting, and a play entitled “Save Me a Place in Forest Lawn” was presented by the Drama Division.
This seemed to be the year that marked the end of the Music Section. It had been created the first year of the Club’s existence, and for forty-three years the women in the section had provided outstanding performances and programs.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Raymon Aho (Loy) 1965-66, the Club received many awards at the WFWC Convention, including first in the state in the GFWC Community Improvement contest. For the first time the club received the “Outstanding Club Award.” This Shirley Boice Award is the highest the State Federation gives to a club our size.
Later, Mrs. Aho advanced in the State Federation to become president in 1970-72 and was the second member of WCRS to attain this distinction.
The Club’s city beautification plan under the chairmanship of Mrs. Aho, was to be beautification of the proposed new city residential park from land donated to the city by a local developer, Wm. R. Dickson.
Drama Section seems to have been phased out during this period. This wonderful, energetic and talented group had entertained the Club from 1934-35 to around 1965-66, a period of at least thirty-two years.
Mrs. Aho, Mrs. George DeBernardi, and Mrs. W. H. Buchanan attended the GFWC Convention in 1966, where Mrs. Buchanan was honored as “Wyoming’s Living Jewel.”
The year of 1966-67, with Mrs. George Morphy (Audene) as president, was the first “Rock Springs A’Rockin’” musical. The proceeds of that captivating revue went toward the purchase of playground equipment for the Palisades park and others, and for landscaping the traffic islands in the downtown area. This fund raising project was semi-professional musical and variety show. The “first production played to capacity and a wildly enthusiastic crowd” and made a net profit of $800.
By the end of October, 1966, city trucks were busy hauling soil to the new park which was now ready for the installation of the sprinkling system which was already purchased by the Club at a cost of $252.77 and was on hand and waiting.
The Chamber of Commerce had also asked for aid in landscaping their newly remodeled office building, and money was to go for that purpose, too.
The Club supported and worked hard to have a permanent Fire Arts Center which was the first in Wyoming. After opening in November, 1966, over 8,000 people had visited the center by the end of the year 1967. “Timely Garden Tips” was published by club members, and the Iris Show was again presented. The Milk Fund was still functioning, and in addition to public schools, the parochial school children were also recipients of the fund.
An entirely new community service, the Volunteer Services Organization, with the guidance of the Southwest Counseling Center Director, and under the sponsorship of the Woman’s Club, was organized. There were many community needs for volunteers and many volunteers available, but the trick was to get the two together in an orderly manner. This was the purpose of the VSO.
Winners in the Southwest District Sewing Contest for members of Wyoming Federation of Women’s Clubs were judged at a luncheon and fashion show at Little America with more than eighty people in attendance.
The Club members dedicated their support for a bond issue for a new college campus along with the appropriate college buildings. The bond issue passed.
CIP chairman, Loy Aho, helped get the Girl Scouting program reactivated by obtaining new leaders and girls and finding a Scout Chairman. The Club president felt that it was one of the most commendable projects which the Club sponsored that year.
By this time, the responsibility of each section being in charge of a monthly luncheon was being assumed by the six state departments composed of International Affairs, Fine Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, and Public Affairs. During the summer months, Club officers reorganized the departmental responsibilities to provide a more functional organization. As a result of the organization, chairmen of each department were give full responsibility for organizing and carrying out money-making and civic programs.
Mrs. John Herink (Dorothy) was president for three years from 1967 to 1970, and in that time the Palisades Park project was well underway. Memorial trees purchased with the proceeds of loved ones around a drinking fountain and playground equipment.
In May of 1968, Rock Springs took third place in CIP and received a check for $100. The Club project was to reach girls from financially and culturally disadvantaged families who represented potential dropouts, delinquents, and failures, but who could improve themselves and make a respectable place for themselves in the community. The assisting title was “Little Women.” Club members gave 784 hours to the program. The award money was called the High school Aid Fund and was made available to the principal for use by the economically deprived youth at the high school.
In 1968-69 of her term, the sale of Rock Springs City Centennial coins made a $2,000 profit with money still coming in. The third production of “Rock Springs A ‘Rockin” made a net profit of $1,705.75, and 1,000 beautiful Centennial note cards that were ordered had so far earned $300.
Mrs. George DeBernardi, Jr. and Mrs. Louis Dansart were chosen as stat chairmen fo the WFWC Scrapbook and WFWC’s president’s scrapbook.
Under Mrs. Herink’s guidance the Club was arded coveted Shirley Boice trophy twice. Much of her success came from her thoughts that “The attraction of new members to the Club depends mainly upon the enthusiasm of regular club members and impression which the Club as a whole leaves with the community.”
Mrs. W. R. Taliaferro’s (Mary) 1970-72 term of office began with an installation luncheon and style show, and each officer was presented with a rose. The preview of high fashions for the fall of 1970 included the mini, midi and maxi look as well as the longuette, the pant suit and midi vest, and stressed the trend toward the fabulous fake fur coats. Many shoe fashions including high boots were shown.
The Drum and Bugle Corp was reactivated by the Club along with the help of other civic groups, and the members pledged $300 toward an annual contribution.
Work was continued on the Volunteer Services Organization development in cooperation with the Southwest Counseling Service.
In March, the feasibility of acquiring a clubhouse was again discussed as it had been in the early Club years. It was decided that proceeds from two annual Easter Monday Luncheons would be added to the building fund.
Luncheons were going up – Park Hotel, $2.00 a plate; Howards, $2.25; and Outlaw Inn, $1.70.
The Milk Fund money was donated to the throat culture program. Records were kept on the fund until 1971, but the minutes read the Fund had been closed out on the books. It served a worthy purpose from 1934 to 1971 – a span of 37 years of dedicated service.
President Mrs. H. L. Crawford (Helen) 1972-73 devoted time to reading and libraries. The Large Print collection of books for the visually handicapped continued to grow. It was initially started by the WCRS with a check for $200. The Outreach Program, a service for the Visually and Physically Handicapped, homebound and senior citizens was put into operation. It was still functioning in 1991.
Twenty-seven memorial trees were planted with the hope of establishing a memorial park.
A Public Affairs Department was organized, and Club membership stood at 117.
In April of 1973, the Club held a city shrub contest with Margie Buchanan as chairman, and lilac was chosen as the city shrub.
Over the years the Garden Section was kept busy with other projects also. It had continually planted bushes, trees, flowers, and bulbs in many areas throughout the city including parks, the cemetery, and around various institutions.
Mrs. W. R. Taliaferro (Mary) was elected State Chairman of the Mary N. Brooks State Education Fund.
A sparkling Christmas tree with gift-wrapped primary level books to be used in the special education class was the decorative focal point of the December luncheon.
The 16 MM film projector that was given to the library by WCRS was still in use with nearly 2,900 children seeing films that summer throughout the county. The Club’s ESO reading program was growing.
The 50th anniversary of the Club was recognized at a luncheon on October 19th.
Mrs. Crawford informed Club members in her Shell Oil Conservation report that questionnaires were sent out to 3,600 residents of the city on how to improve living conditions in a boom town that was undergoing a population explosion. The Woman’s Club coordinated their efforts with the Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Power and Light. The club members tabulated the questionnaires and then commenced on an ambitious city beautification plan such as cleaning up, and planting flowers, trees ans shrubs. In addition, the Club worked on having a full scale, long-range clean up of junk cars.
Helen Crawford thanked board members and officers for their great help in winning first place place in the state Women’s Clubs competition. The Shirley Boice award had now been won four times by the Club.
In 1973-74, Mrs. Paul Grasso (Suzanne) commenced her term of office by narrating her excellent resume on the history and functional activities of Woman’s Club.
Under her competent direction, the Club sponsored the Utah Symphony Orchestra which performed on May 9, 1974.
After a pageant was performed by college students, members of the club sponsored a tea.
Mrs. Mary Rynio, Southwest District President, served as the judge for the Evanston Ladies Literary talent show.
The Holly Day Boutique was the money maker for the Club. Profits from this year’s boutique were over $900.
The entry in the Business for Beauty Contest, the Arctic Circle, was one of the top six in the nation. The Club won $500 from GFWC and $100 from WFWC.
The annual “Spring Tree and Shrub” sale was still in effect. Over 3,000 trees and shrubs had been sold since the inception of this idea of presenting to the community the trees and shrubs recommended for growing in this area. When first instigated, many of the older residents felt it was a waste of time and money to try to raise anything in this mining town located in the middle of a desert. Gradually, persistent efforts of the Woman’s Club and some interested citizens had paid off, and each year the tree and shrub sales increased.
The annual International Affairs Smorgasbord was opened with a Finnish prayer, and favorite foreign dishes were made and brought by members. Foreign exchange students from the junior college were guests. This traditional luncheon was always a success as Rock Springs was generally considered the melting pot of Wyoming with many nationalities in the population. Therefore, anything with an international flavor was welcome in the community.
Mrs. Margie Buchanan was selected state chairman for Art for Youth, and Mrs. Ray Aho was chosen WFWC Bicentennial Chairman and WFWC History Chairman.
The Club was given considerable space in the local press with 2,769 columns, and 56 pictures, twenty-four of which were on the front page.
The Arts and Crafts Section hosted the tea and reception for the Miss Western Wyoming Pageant held in October.
The Past Presidents were in charge of the May luncheon. Once again our Club was honored with the prestigious Shirley Boice Award with Mrs. Grasso as president.
We read from the scrapbook of Mrs. Gilmor Dupont (Elaine) 1974-75 that the Garden Section still sponsored the Flower Show. The annual tree and shrub sale continued, and the “Spring Flower Luncheon” presented a hat collection for the prettiest hat.
Work was begun on promoting an alcohol and drug prevention program in the school system and was orchestrated by Muff Gettel. A pottery school for the Junior College was initiated with Club member Annilese Domhoff supervising the work.
It was the nation’s Bicentennial, 1776-1976, when Mrs. Robert H. Johnson (Helen) took office in 1975-76.
The ongoing Sweetwater County Drug and Alcohol Prevention program officially received a sub-grant from the federal government. SCDAAP, as it was called, was spearheaded by Muff Gettel, a Club member who had dedicated much time to this Community Improvement Project. Little did Mrs. Gettel realize that she had formulated an enterprise that in the future was to be called DARE and is the drug program used in today’s elementary schools.
The pottery school project started earlier was finished in 1976. Many of the women did hard physical labor in order to build the kiln that was used to bake the pots. The proceeds from two money-making projects were used to purchase equipment to build the kiln and to buy a pugmill that was used in mixing the clay. Mrs. Annalise Domhoff was both a club member and the pottery instructor at the college.
The acceptance of the pottery class was not accomplished without problems as the college president was reluctant to include it in the college program, but once accomplished, it was an immediate success and remains very popular even now. Happily, too, our public schools in this area have pottery programs in the high school, junior high, and in some grade schools.
A total of fifty-six plates were sold by Elaine Dupont for the nation’s Bicentennial observance and earned her an award at the state convention. She also had the honor of being selected to attend the very important Crime Reduction meeting held in Washington, D. C.
The year marked the completion of the Library-Fine Arts Center, and Club members helped at the grand opening by serving the punch and refreshments. Six hundred dollars was given to the library to furnish a Listening Room with stereo record player, tapes, earphones, and records.
Special commendation was given to Margie Buchanan for her outstanding job in organizing and handling the Woman’s Club Radio program the last four years.
Instead of continuing to save for a club house the women felt the money would be better utilized by being put into certificates of deposit and savings to be used for civic purposes.
Mrs. West and Mrs. Johnson attended a hospital board meeting with a request to have some Lending Closet space in the future new hospital. Due to high costs, the board was unable to help, but Commissioner John Yerkovich in attendance at the meeting said the Club could almost certainly be assured of having storage space, plus acquiring additional medical equipment at the present hospital when it was taken over by the Sweetwater County Commissioners.
Mr. Yerkovich also asked Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. West to serve on a committee that will decide what to do with the old hospital building and grounds after it had been vacated by the present hospital.
Seven members served in offices on the state level of the Wyoming Federation of Women’s Clubs in eleven different capacities with Mary Taliaferro as Custodian of the Educational Fund; Mary Rynio as Chairman of Home Life, Consumer Concerns, and Business for Beauty; Irene Melchar as Chairman of Gerontology under Home Life; Tillie Pemberton as Chairman of Health under Home Life; Margie Buchanan as WFWC Youth Art Month Chairman; Loy Aho as WFWC Bicentennial Chairman; and Elaine Dupont as Crime Reduction Chairman under Public Affairs and Chairman of Brighten the Night.
The Club bylaws were revised and given to all Club members.
The-Meals-on-Wheels project of delivering food to home bound seniors was carried out by Mrs. Eileen Zanatian and several other clubwomen.
Elaine Dupont was selected to be Southwest District President, but she resigned because she was moving to California.
Once again, for the sixth time, the Club earned the distinguished Shirley Boice trophy, plus a Gold Seal Award for achieving the highest rating ever by any winning club in the state and was named for a sweep of First Place awards in all categories.
Woman’s Club continued to donate funding toward scholarships and civic projects under the capable direction of Mrs. Larry Caller (Jane), in 1976-77. The various sections promoted worthwhile programs. The Garden Section also had a small plant case installed in the library and changed the floral display once a month. Work continued with the six departments.
The money making project that year was a Christmas Open House. Three of the homes of the club women were opened to the public, an event that was enjoyed by all.
Most importantly, the Club’s main object was to build up the membership.
During the “boom” years of the 70’s when business was flourishing because of oil and gas expansion, the Woman’s Club was undergoing a transition. New business groups and organizations had materialized along with the large influx of people. The two-member family workers was increasing. Many women now had professional jobs to which they devoted their time and energies. They did not feel the need for socialization and civic goals that WCRS promoted. Instead they formed groups that were more closely aligned with their work. Interestingly, the National Federation of Women’s Clubs was founded on the idea of women’s rights and equality in the work place.
The Club year of 1977-78 was a difficult one. The president, Barbara Geck, resigned in January due to a heavy work load both at home and in her business, so Mrs. Charles Zanatian (Eileen) assumed the responsibility, and smoothly directed the Club through trying times.
Club members did not want to pursue a money-making project, so each member was assessed $5.00 in order to meet expenses. There were no departments because no one wanted to chair them. However, the Garden Section, the newly-formed Public Affairs Section, Bridge Section, the Arts and Crafts Section, and Literature Section did continue.
WCRS did not sponsor the Flower Show at the Sweetwater County Fair this year – the first time in over 40 years and the last time the Club sponsored it.
For several years the Garden Section held an auction of plants, shrubs, and bulbs donated by club members. The money was set aside for various civic purposes, planting trees for city beautification, and planting memorial trees and giving memorial books to the library.
The members devoted many volunteer hours working with Meals-on-Wheels (a special concern of Mrs. Zanatian’s) and the school throat culture program.
Mrs. H. L. (Helen) Crawford again took over the presidency in 1978-79. The Club had apparently exhausted its members energies because they still did not want to chair any committees or hold any money-making projects.
Nevertheless, the women agreeably pitched in to make it a pleasant year and hosted a style show luncheon in October at the First Congregational Church. The tables were decorated in the club colors of shades of purple and topped with bouquets of purple flowers from the women’s gardens.
“A Different Look at the Holidays” was the theme of the Christmas meeting. For the first time in 38 years, the Jewish observance of the Chanukah fell on the same date as the Christian Christmas. Commemorating the occasion was Liesel Shineberg.
For a number of years, when the tree and shrub sales were in effect, small trees were distributed by Club women without cost to children in various city schools. Many of the trees are fully matured and have been beautifying numerous yards over a long span of time.
A Home Show with four homes open for public viewing made a nice money-making event.
In 1979-80, Mrs. Edward Shineberg (Liesel) had a series of small fund-raising goals including white elephant raffles at each general meeting and a series of bake sales. Donations continued to be made to worthy groups.
The past few years had been difficult ones as many members no longer wanted to be part of the Federated Women’s Club. The question was: do we feel we are getting enough out of the association for the effort we are putting into it? The Club was weary of large projects, obligations, rules, and paper work.
That year the yearbook was typed by two members who have asked to have their names left out of this document, with Sharon Gardiner assisting them.
In November of 1980-81 the President of the Club continued to be uncertain about remaining in the Federation. The members did decide to take a year off from Federation work. Iras Trover, the state president and guest speaker, outlined the Federated history to club members. After much debate and discussion by individual club speakers giving the pros and cons of remaining in the Federation, the final and most important decision was in staying with the Federation. The president thtough diplomatic guidance charted the way toward a united Woman’s Club.
In the meantime, many fine meetings were held. The Club members were involved in civic projects, the Club sections, and volunteer work. The Arts and Crafts was renamed Craft and Needlework. The First Security Bank generously paid the Club $500 for sponsoring the open house tea for the opening of its new bank building.
As of April 8, 1980, membership stood at 58.
At the beginning of Mrs. Jerry Gee’s (Carol) term in 1981-82, she decided that the first priority would have to be a rejuvenation of the club. One worthy project was the development of the Friendship Basket. A food basket of gifts of food to the needy was not new to the Club, but it was given grater emphasis with definite guidelines. That year fourteen food baskets were distributed to needy people at Christmas. The baskets included foodstuffs and home-baked items plus a Christmas card containing five dollars in cash for each box. From this, the “Friend of the Month” friendship baskets began with a basket given to a needy, shut-in person once a month.
On the fun side, Club members chartered a bus to Salt Lake City in December to see the “Festival of Trees,” and they also decorated the tree in the library.
Under the tutelage of a member who asked their name be left out of this document in 1982-83, the Club had something representative of each of the six state departments included at each luncheon program. Almost every general meeting included a short music program either vocal or instrumental.
The September luncheon was the annual membership luncheon. Each table was centered with a birthday cake—one for each month of the year with members and guests seated at the table according to their birthdays. The Club also celebrated its sixtieth birthday with another specially decorated birthday cake and singing. (All cakes were decorated by a group of members instructed by Carol Gee).
Craft and Needlework Section worked on favors for “Fun Night Dinner” of the Wyoming Federated Women’s Club Council meeting as part of the convention which meets in Rock Springs once every ten years.
Twenty-three clubs were represented when the Club hosted the 78th WFWC Council Meeting.
Mrs. June Hunstiger, 1983-84, continued basing each luncheon program on the six departments, one assigned each month. Craft Section enjoyed a buffet breakfast, and later, constructed decorative wall hangers. Garden Section held an indoor picnic for the September meeting. Literature Section had fun talking about summer vacations and literature they had read during the summer.
In December, Christmas gifts were collected and sent to a veterans’ hospital in the state.
Club members met with Mayor C. Keith West to discuss the possible uses of the old city hall building. The Woman’s Club was interested in preserving the building as a city museum. “Much of Rock Springs’ heritage was being destroyed by throwing away or selling items that could go into a city museum,” Club members commented. The proposal was favorably met, and not too much later, the old city hall was transformed into an outstanding museum that draws thousands of visitors. Some of our members still continue to work there.
The membership continued to rise. Five new members were initiated in November bringing the total membership to 81.
The Club donated $650 to the Child Developmental Center for a new dishwasher and gave two tuition scholarships plus two $75 book scholarships to the Junior College.
During Mrs. William O’Neal’s (Lois) term in 1984-85, the Club emphasized its humanitarian efforts by increasing the number of Friendship Baskets to cover both families and individuals and continued aiding people through the Lending Closet.
The September general luncheon meeting was designated as the membership meeting. It was potluck with each member bringing food. Guests and new members were encouraged to attend.
Members were devoting more interest and energy in the Sections and were enjoying harmonious monthly luncheons featuring well-planned programs.
Mrs. O’Neal felt that community service along with pleasant get-togethers were a source of satisfaction to all Club members, thus her theme “Friendship, Fun, and Philanthropy” became her goal. Today the Club still continues to perpetuate that thought.
Mrs. Robert Chase (Jo Ann) served from 1985 to 1987. During that time the Club channeled much of its energy and funds in long-standing hometown ventures including the Lending Closet, the Friendship Baskets, scholarships, and section projects. She resumed the traditional six WC/WFWC Departments, with various educational and entertaining programs and activities pursued within the departments.
The three special section groups were active. Bus trips were taken to Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah , and the number of volunteer hours that the women worked on within the community continued to rise. The Club had six fund raisers during 1986-87, and Club membership was up to ninety-one members.
At the end of her busy term, Mrs. Chase remarked, “We keep our fingers on the pulse of our community and keep aware of its needs.”
It was another productive year for Woman’s Club when Mrs. Yvonne Arnoldi presided in 1987-88. The Club had decided to compile a cookbook as its major financial fund raiser. The end of the summer brought the cookbooks to culmination. T The project took a year to accomplish and included over 2,500 volunteer hours. They were put on sale in January with $2,000 being made. With some cookbooks left, the Club continues to sell them.
Membership stood at 91.
Longtime members, those with twenty-seven to fifty-one years of service, were honored as were the Past Presidents. The women continued to plant memorial trees in honor of deceased members.
Education was a high priority when Mrs. Ellie Bradley took over in 1988-89. The Club gave a $500 book scholarship and two full tuition scholarships to Western Wyoming College students.
With WCRS cookbook sales and some small fund raisers, the Club earned over $3,700 in 1988. An additional $72 was earned on the sale of the General Federation Centennial Cookbooks.
Almost 6,000 volunteer hours were devoted to the community. The Club participated in a wildflower planting project sponsored by the Governor’s wife, Jane Sullivan.
Mrs. Jo Ann Chase was elected as Southwest District President.
WCRS concentrated most of its energy in projects beneficial to the community when Mrs. Ronald Noble (Stella) was president in 1989-90. The Lending Closet and the Friendship Baskets were the chief services.
One successful large fund raiser was the “Holiday House.” The home of Lois O’Neal was beautifully decorated with craft items for sale, and the kitchen full of home-baked items. Craft and food sales generated $3,291.80.
The Club also participated in the Spring Bazaar at the local shopping mall. The members made Easter eggs decorated with beads and sequins, as well as many other handiwork items. The $261.30 earned was used to purchase a wheelchair for use at the shopping mall.
Mrs. Robert Freeman (Ann) has presided this year of 1990-91. She has continued the monthly delivery of a Friendship basket and has stressed the importance of the Lending Closet which has been in existence for forty-one years and has grown to the extent that it now requires three women to work on it.
A beautiful Baldwin Console piano and bench was a gift to the White Mountain Library for use in the community room. At the time of the presentation, a community tea was held with Club officers as hostesses.
Five days before Christmas, there was a fire in the local Food Bank, and all the Christmas baskets which had been prepared for the needy were destroyed. WCRS contributed $1,000 to help defray the cost of replenishing this food supply.
Additionally, funds were given for the purchase of a printer for the computer in the Respite Care Unit of V.I.R.S.
Mrs. Ron Noble, (Stella) was the new Southwest District President for 1990-92.
This was the second year the Holiday House was used as the major fund raiser. The home of Lola Newman was decorated with many handcrafted items, and an excellent variety of baked goods and candies was also for sale. Net earnings were over $4,000.
The general monthly luncheons featured programs relating to the six state departments, with music or entertainment adding an agreeable note The cost of the lunches had escalated to around $6.50 a plate, including tax and tip.
The Club’s savings had been gradually accumulating, and at the present year of 1991, it has a savings of $14,239.20. With such a large sum the women have been able to give substantial contributions to the community in various ways.
Mrs. Jo Ann Chase became State Chairman of the Art Department.
The Club is essentially a civic-minded organization, but along with work must come enjoyment and laughter, and the three sections of Craft and Needlework, Literature, and Garden provided the added congeniality. Present membership is eighty-six.
In 1991, Club members were very active in community affairs outside the Club, donating over 5,000 volunteer hours assisting at the hospital, schools, the manor, the museum community concerts and other charitable organizations. A past president and still energetic Club member, Imogene Bardtrief, has to date crocheted 24 lap robes for members of the Sage View Center and had worked 373 and ½ volunteer hours since 1989. This impressive list of hours demonstrates what Club women do in caring and helping others.
The Woman’s Club has its own library – of sorts! The scrapbooks and journals are housed in a small area in the basement of the old Carnegie Public Library on C Street, and all other materials are stored in the Lending Closet storage space in what used to be the laundry room of the old hospital, which is now transformed into a county court building.
At least thirty women throughout the years have served in different capacities on a state level – two as president – one as vice-president – one as recording secretary – and others in different chairmanships. Four women have served as Southwest District president.
Our Club has submitted many CIP programs to the state and has won a number of CIP awards, but exact figures are hard to state because of lost records and time limitations.
This spring of 1991, under the presidency of Ann Freeman, WCRS once again won the highest state award for a Club of its size, and that is the Shirley Boice award. This is the seventh time that the Club has won it.
Over the years the Club has been a respected organization beneficially providing for its community. This has been the philosophy that each clubwoman proudly recognizes.
Woman’s Club of Rock Springs is still a gathering of women who care and who share a mutual concern about their community and each other. They endeavor to maintain their leadership qualities by keeping a balance between tradition and innovation.
Next year, the Club will celebrate its 70th anniversary, and most assuredly, after the long years of service and fellowship, it has good reason to celebrate.
Helen M. Johnson
Club President 1975-76
April, 1991
