USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
Mrs. W. S. Fawcett was elected as the third president of the W. T. T. Club. Her reign of two terms, from 1913 to 1915, was characterized for its brilliant social life, an important factor in a rapidly-growing community. And, it having been determined that the site first purchased for a club home was valuable as a business location, a new club house site on the corner of Seventh and Olive was purchased.
250
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
Numerous benefit days were given by the merchants, strengthening the bond between the women's organization and the business interests of the city.
Mrs. A. H. Griswold was elected to succeed Mrs. W. S. Fawcett as president, serving the club in that capacity from 1915 to 1917. Her ad- ministration was characterized by the establishment of a Lyceum course, which was, after the second year, merged into a week's Chau- tauqua. Better babies contests, extending over a week of activities, were held each year, and the work of the Social Service committee was enlarged in scope, the young ladies of the city on two occasions giving a most successful charity ball, thereby raising the funds with which the club carried on its humane work.
In November of 1915 the Woman's Ten Thousand Club had the great privilege of being hostess for the Imperial County Federation to the Southern District Convention, C. F. W. C. This convention was de- scribed by the state president, Mrs. Edward Dexter Knight of San Francisco, as "unique in its setting, unique in the hospitality which it offered, unique in the pioneer spirit which characterized its delibera- tions. The women of Imperial Valley met at the cross roads and or- ganized that they might contribute more forcefully and fully to the work of the brave pioneers who had transformed a great desert of in- terminable sand into a productive and picturesque dwelling place. Their influence is recognized in their wonderful Imperial Valley. It will be felt and appreciated by the federation." Also, on February 22, 1917, the Woman's Ten Thousand Club had the distinctive honor of enter- taining the general federation president of women's clubs, Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles, at the largest gathering of club women ever held in the Valley.
Mrs. W. S. Fawcett was again elected to the presidency of the club, serving in that position one term, from 1917 to 1918. During her ad- ministration the club has gained largely in membership, the gain being more than double that of any other year. Also the club debt has been materially reduced. This is all the more noteworthy as the club has given no "money raising" entertainments during the year. Its member- ship being intensely patriotic, and wishing in every way possible to stand behind the government, it has given way to the Red Cross and other money-making activities incidental to our country being at war.
251
IMPERIAL COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
The social service work of the club has been merged into Red Cross work, about three hundred and fifty dollars having been raised through the efforts of the club women for carrying on this splendid work. The present administration will end in May of this year.
At the last meeting in March the following were elected to serve as officers of the Woman's Ten Thousand Club for the year 1918-1919: President, Mrs. F. B. Fuller ; vice-president, Mrs. M. F. Kepley ; re- cording secretary, Mrs. Wm. Fleming; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Ernest Poston; treasurer, Mrs. Chas. J. Ritz. Directors: Mrs. J. F. Seymour, Jr., Mrs. E. E. Clements, Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. War- ren Currier.
THE BRAWLEY WOMAN'S CLUB
This club was organized one afternoon in July, 1904, under the name of the Brawley Woman's Literary Club. The first meeting was held in a little adobe school-house. Later the club branched out into other lines of work and dropped the "literary" from the name, leaving it as it is at present. The club was the first women's club in Imperial Valley, was federated with the district in 1906, and is also federated with the Na- tional Federation of Woman's Clubs.
At present the club is much interested in Red Cross and war work of all kinds and is strongly agitating a club house.
HOLTVILLE WOMEN'S STUDY CLUB
was organized October 31, 1908, with Mrs. Lee Sargent as president. The presidents following 1908 are as follows: Mrs. G. M. Vermilya. 1909-1910; Mrs. M. A. Kendall, 1910-1911; Mrs. G. M. Vermilya, 1911-1912; Mrs. W. B. Richards and Mrs. Vaughn Francis, 1912- 1914; Mrs. Karl Fahring, 1914-1916; Mrs. W. L. Huebner, 1915-1916; Mrs. O. C. Harris, 1916-1917; Mrs. R. W. Hoover, 1917-1918.
The activities of the club have been devoted to civics and literature, such as study of American writers, Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" and "Taming of the Shrew," George Eliot's "Adam Bede," Meredith's "Di- ana of the Crossways," Barry's "Little Minister," and Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter." Money and time have been devoted to civic better- ment, and in 1918 a War Savings society has been organized.
252
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
IMPERIAL WOMEN'S CLUB
Was organized in February, 1909, with forty members. Mrs. Mott H. Arnold was the first president and Mrs. W. A. Edgar recording secre- tary. The following have served as president since : Mrs. Edgar Nance, Mrs. S. E. De Rackin, Mrs. Otto Storm and Mrs. J. A. Bishop. When the Imperial Valley Federation was organized in El Centro, February 22, 1910, the Imperial Club was the largest club in the Valley, having a membership of over 70. The first reciprocity day was observed in Imperial, the club having as guests 125 women from the four clubs then just beginning club life-Brawley, Calexico, El Centro and Holt- ville.
Among the first efforts of the club was the Ellen Beach Yaw con- cert, given February, 1910, at which $400 was realized from sale of tickets. The activities of the club were directed along civic lines, and many uplifting and beneficial undertakings were espoused in those early pioneer days.
THE IMPERIAL VALLEY COLLEGE WOMEN'S CLUB
The Imperial Valley College Women's Club owes its existence to Mrs. E. D. Stuart of Imperial, who, when she first came to the Valley, missed the pleasant associations of the Riverside branch of the Asso- ciation of Collegiate Alumnae. In October, 1914, Mrs. Stuart invited the women whom she knew to be college graduates to meet at her home, and the organization was formed by the thirteen women who accepted the invitation. It was decided to become affiliated with the national or- ganization as the Imperial Valley Branch of the Association of Colle- giate Alumnae.
At first the membership of the club was largely composed of teach- ers, but now less than half the members are teachers ; a few are office workers, the rest are married women, many of whom live on ranches. There are now fifty-one members, representing thirty-three colleges and universities. Membership is of two kinds, regular and associate. The regular members are graduates of the colleges which belong to the As- sociation of Collegiate Alumnae ; the associate members are women who have had at least one year of academic work in an institution which has a four-year course leading to an A. B. degree.
253
IMPERIAL COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
The club meets eight times a year, at least once in each of the six towns from which its members come. The programs, besides being lit- erary and musical, deal with such topics as parent-teachers associations, child welfare, household economics, woman suffrage, vocational guid- ance, peace and war. Members have been very active in the work of the Red Cross and food conservation organizations in their various towns. The president, Mrs. C. F. Turner, is chairman of the Junior Red Cross committee in Calexico, and is one of the four-minute speakers on food conservation.
In 1915 the College Women's Club became affiliated with the Im- perial County Federation of Women's Clubs, and the next year it co- operated with other clubs in the national Baby Week movement, pre- paring an exhibit of models, charts and maps, which was displayed in some of the Valley towns.
The club has enjoyed visits from several distinguished people from outside the Valley. Miss Mary Wilson and Miss Ethel Moore came as vice-presidents of the Pacific section of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. Miss Moore brought with her Dr. Aurelia Reinhart, president of Mills College, who gave an inspiring talk on the college woman and the commonwealth. At one meeting Reverend Omsted gave a lecture and showed an exhibit relating to the Indians of Alaska, among whom he had lived and worked. At the fourth meeting held after the entrance of the United States into the war, Prof. Frederick Monsen gave a lec- ture on Germany, giving personal observations made during a visit there just before the war.
Naturally this club is interested in the educational matters of the county. This interest has manifested itself in two very tangible ways, a petition which resulted in the appointment of a college club member to the position of truant officer for the county, and the establishment of an annual scholarship of one hundred dollars to be given to help an Imperial Valley girl through her first year at college. One such scholar- ship has been awarded already and another will be given this year.
The College Women's Club labors under difficulties involved in the fact that the members live in so many different towns, and at such dis- tances from each other, but by many this is felt to be an attraction. The members derive much benefit and pleasure from the opportunity to know women from every part of the county. As the club grows older
254
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
and its policies more settled it will increase in influence in the com- munity.
HEBER PROGRESS CLUB
On January 14, 1914, a few ladies of Heber and vicinity met and or- ganized the Heber Progress Club. The constitution of the Federation of Women's Clubs was adopted and Mrs. J. E. Brock was elected presi- dent. The first business transacted by the new club following the elec- tion of officers, was to instruct the corresponding secretary to apply for membership in the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs, thus at once taking a part in the club life in the Valley. The club also belongs to the district and state organizations. During the fall of 1915 this small club had two red letter days. First, on October 16th, the an- nual conference meeting of the Imperial Valley Federation was held at Heber; in November of the same year the club had the pleasure and honor of entertaining the members of the district convention at lunch- eon, served in the beautiful rose garden of the Fawcett ranch home near Heber. This was an occasion long to be remembered.
In the year 1916 the Heber Progress Club had the honor of furnish- ing the president and recording secretary for the I. C. F. W. C., Mrs. L. A. Barnum having been elected to the office of president upon her removal from the Valley. Mrs. W. S. Cummings was elected to serve out the term, with Mrs. A. G. Young corresponding secretary.
Probably one of the best things done by the club was the exhibit, The Model Dairy, furnished for the "Better Babies" week, and an open meeting for all the mothers of the locality for a better babies program has been made an annual feature of the club program. A bird day pro- gram for the last week in March has also been made a permanent fea- ture.
During the current year the activities of the club (in common with all similar organizations) have been directed toward war work, and the programs have been upon patriotic subjects, noteworthy among which have been days devoted to an outline of the map of the fighting line, showing the position of the trenches and troops, and a day devoted to a study of our flag, its origin, meaning, and the proper manner and regu- lations for its display.
The Heber Progress Club has responded nobly to all calls upon or-
255
IMPERIAL COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
ganized service for war work, and the Red Cross membership drive, the Liberty Bond sale on woman's day, the Hoover food pledge cam- paign and the Y. W. C.A. work were all undertaken and accomplished under charge of the club.
Altogether it is worthy of record that the banding together of this small number of women under the federation charter has done much both for themselves and the community.
CALIPATRIA WOMEN'S CLUB
In February, 1915, Mrs. C. W. Brown and several other women, be- lieving that the needs of the women of Calipatria for social life and culture could be filled in a measure by organizing a women's club, brought the matter before other women, with the result that a club hav- ing thirty-five members was found. It was named the Calipatria Wom- en's Club. Mrs. C. W. Brown was the first president, and besides the social affairs given that year, which were the most elaborate in the his- tory of the club, the club was largely instrumental in passing the $40,- 000 bond issue for the Calipatria Grammar School, which carried unan- imously.
In 1916 Mrs. W. J. West was elected president. A series of social dances brought to the club a substantial bank balance, to be turned over next year to be administered by Mrs. Brown, who was again elected president.
A Liberty bond was bought, garbage cans-paid for by the women's clubs-were placed on the main streets. A donation was made to the Y. W. C. A., and every Thursday has been set aside by club members to assist at the Red Cross work-room. The club actively assisted in organ- izing the Red Cross and have donated largely to its support.
The first year it was organized the club joined the County District and State Federation, and has always followed more or less closely the work outlined by the federation for its programs.
Calipatria is a new town and has all its civic and social problems to work out, and the Calipatria Women's Club is doing its share. It has not always been able to accomplish all it planned, but its members are unselfish workers, always giving generously service for the betterment of their club, their town and their country.
256
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
THE EL CENTRO MOTHERS' STUDY CLUB
Organized as a local unit of the National Congress of Mothers in March, 1917, with a charter membership of thirty-five, the El Centro Mothers' Study Club has for its primary object the study of the great- est of all professions, that of parenthood. The science of child training is making wonderful progress, and the intelligent, progressive mother realizes this and wants to avail herself of the full benefits of all that is being discovered on the subject.
The members of this club are all mothers of young children and are earnest and enthusiastic in their systematic study of the child along prescribed lines, using as their course of study text matter prepared by the National Congress of Mothers.
The club became affiliated with the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs two months after its organization, and being the young- est club in the federation it has hardly had time to finds its bearings in the club world, yet the members feel that under the able leadership of its first president, Mrs. B. C. Leich, and Mrs. Jack Spencer, the pres- ent leader, they have all gained mutual help and inspiration.
WOMEN'S IMPROVEMENT CLUB OF CALEXICO
The Woman's Improvement Club of Calexico was formed on June 3, 1908, with twelve members. The club was federated in January, 1910, and now has a membership of sixty. The work of the club has always been along civic lines, for the betterment of the town. A reading and rest room has been maintained for a number of years, with park ad- joining. A new Carnegie library has just been completed, which was a project fostered by the Woman's Club. In 1916 a park site and civic center was planned and a number of the members were active in seeing these things carried to a successful finish. Some literary work has also been accomplished each year, so that members who are not interested in civic work find scope for work along other lines.
CHAPTER XIX
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION BY MRS. C. ANGIE MILLER
WHEN Imperial Valley was still a part of San Diego County, a few white ribboners came to this desert land to make their respective homes. No temperance work having been done here, a National Woman's Christian Temperance Union organizer, Mrs. Bailey of New York, was invited to enter this new field and endeavor to organize; some prepara- tion was made for her coming, and Brawley was the scene of the first organization, with a membership of thirty-five charter members, Janu- ary 20, 1906. Imperial was second to respond, having a charter mem- bership of forty-two persons. Calexico was third with forty-three charter members. Mrs. Bailey said that the latter was the largest W. C. T. U. she had ever organized.
Being San Diego County, we became locals of San Diego County W. C. T. U. Geographically we were so separated that it was impossible to work to any advantage under their jurisdiction and our environment required special lines of work. In November, 1906, a general insti- tute was held at Imperial. Mrs. Mae Tongier, a national W. C. T. U. lecturer, being the guest of honor, was invited to lecture and organize locals wherever she thought wise throughout the Valley. The institute unanimously requested Mrs. Tongier to present a petition to the State W. C. T. U. executive, asking that we be separated from San Diego County W. C. T. U. and form an independent federation. In due course of time the request was granted. At this time Mrs. Tongier made a tour of the Valley and organized El Centro W. C. T. U., also Silsbee, lo- cated about six miles to the northwest of El Centro.
Miss G. T. Stickney, president of the State W. C. T. U., made an official visit and organized the forces consisting of five locals into an Imperial Valley W. C. T. U. on April 2, 1907, at Imperial. This was the first organization of federated forces formed in Imperial Valley. Officers elected were : C. Angie Miller, of Brawley, president ; Mrs. S.
258
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
T. Bixby, of Imperial, vice-president ; Maybel Edgar, of Imperial, re- cording secretary ; Florence Buttress, of El Centro, corresponding sec- retary ; Lizzie Kramar, of Silsbee, treasurer.
Miss Margaret Wiley, state organizer, toured the Valley in the in- terest of medal contest work in 1908, and organized a union at East- side school house with nine charter members, called the Alamo W. C. T. U. At every. annual convention an effort was made to hold a county gold or silver medal contest. These contests are popular in the locals and medals are quite fashionable. In 1911 a memorial window was con- structed in the Christian Church edifice at El Centro, in honor of Mrs. Ida Tout, a pioneer temperance worker of Imperial County, much loved by her associates. Drinking fountains were installed on the streets by the local unions, in all the incorporated cities of the Valley, i. e., El Centro, Imperial, Calexico, Holtville and Brawley. A formal dedica- tion of each of the fountains to the city trustees by the local W. C. T. U. was instituted. The local president presenting the fountain and the mayor receiving it for the city with the appropriate exercises, gave to our cities filtered ice water for the thirsty.
Imperial Valley was organized into a county in 1908 and imme- diately our Valley W. C. T. U. took on the dignified name of Imperial County W. C. T. U. Through continued effort the county was born white and the first legal act of the first supervisors was a strong pro- hibition ordinance, adding a truly prohibition county to our fair state of California. The pioneer temperance workers labored under difficul- ties. The County W. C. T. U. sustained a detective fund and purchased an apparatus for ascertaining the per cent of alcohol in liquids. Many gallons of so-called soft drinks were never drank, leaving the dispenser wiser but not richer.
On February 5, 1909, Holtville was organized, with twenty-eight charter members, by C. Angie Miller, county president.
Mary Stewart, state secretary of the Young People's Branch, organ- ized the Jasper W. C. T. U. at the school house, near Calexico.
Verde W. C. T. U. was organized by C. Angie Miller seven miles southeast of Holtville at the Verde school house; Mrs. L. Strain, presi- dent.
Heber W. C. T. U. was organized with Mrs. M. A. Ritter as first president.
259
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
Mary Stewart introduced young people's work and organized sev- eral classes throughout the county, explaining essay contest work based on scientific temperance instructions, laid down in the state school law of California. Essay contest work is a department to encourage instruc- tions along scientific temperance lines, and several of our young people have received state recognition as the best essayists on the given topic, receiving $10 as state prize in the grades and $20 as state prize in the high school course, in California.
The Dry California campaign was special for 1914, and was very strenuously conducted. A County Temperance Day on October 6, 1914, was celebrated at Calipatria by the temperance forces of Imperial Val- ley, under the auspices of the County W. C. T. U. Free barbecue din- ner, submarine band, parade, program and cantata, "The White Re- public," were some of the attractions of the day. A thousand people were entertained.
Bard W. C. T. U. was organized in October, 1914, by the state vice- president, Mrs. Hester T. Griffith.
Election on November 3, 1914, showed Imperial County to be the banner county of the state of California. One per cent against two and one-half per cent for the prohibition amendment. Every townsite in the county has a strong temperance clause in its deeds, ever forbidding the giving away of liquor on the premises.
The W. C. T. U. work is divided into departments numbering as high as fifty. We believe in temperance in our cooking and have a de- partment that handles cooking flavors and toilet articles, far superior in every way to the alcoholic preparations, but without alcohol, called No-Als.
Local funds are also raised under this department, by the sale of these articles. The pledge stimulates the members to eliminate the $1,000,000 annually spent in the manufacture of ordinary extracts and toilet articles.
In 1915 North End W. C. T. U. and Magnolia W .C. T. U. were organized by Mrs. C. Angie Miller, county organizer.
At the annual convention of 1915 Mrs. Aten presented each of the local unions with a beautiful gavel, made from the natural mesquite wood, grown on her ranch near Calipatria.
Mrs. Maggie Newby, county superintendent of mothers' work,
260
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
brought from the state convention banners for Imperial County on sev- eral occasions, and organized a Mothers' Club at Brawley that is doing a great work.
Parliamentary Usage has been a county movement, a local and county contest being held. Mrs. Feldman of Holtville was a winning contest- ant for a state prize. Imperial County has brought home the state par- liamentary banners several times. Much efficient work has been done by every local union in the county in this department.
The Trysting Hour or noontide prayer is a custom among the white ribboners that is certainly uplifting. This word of prayer at twelve o'clock noon constitutes a prayer circle that extends around the globe.
Life membership was presented by the County W. C. T. U. to the following ladies in recognition of efficient service rendered : Mesdames C. Angie Miller, Brawley ; Imogen Aten, El Centro; E. J. Curtis, Holt- ville ; M. A. Ritter, Heber ; Mrs. Kramar, Silsbee; Mae Webb, Calexi- co; Amande Mackey, Imperial ; Mae Plush, Brawley ; Mary E. Vencill, El Centro; May C. Best, Holtville; Mary E. Royce, El Centro.
At the 1915 county convention County President C. Angie Miller withdrew her name from the list of candidates for county president, having served in that capacity for eight consecutive years. Mrs. Imogen Aten served as county vice-president for four years. Mrs. Mae Plush as county corresponding secretary three years; Mrs. S. T. Bixby as county vice-president for two years; Mrs. E. Abbott corresponding secretary for two years ; Mrs. W. Edgar secretary for two years ; Mrs. Carrie Rapp vice president for two years; Mrs. Lois Hogan secretary for one year; Mrs. M. Carlisle was secretary for one year ; Mrs. M. Hoyt secretary one year ; Miss Cote corresponding secretary for three years; Mrs. Lizzie Kramar served as county treasurer for nine con- secutive years; Mrs. Imogen Aten served as county president for one . year and six months, Mrs. Amande Mackey completing the year ; Mrs. Wilson county treasurer for two years; Mrs. Grace Ruth, present in- cumbent; Mrs. Webb, corresponding secretary, present incumbent ; Miss Florence Yarnell, county president at the present time.
Work for soldiers and sailors has occupied the attention of every local in the county since the war was declared. The national organiza- tion being recognized throughout the world, assumed her quota of sol- diers' and sailors' supplies, and the locals throughout the nation do
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.