USA > Kentucky > Madison County > Glimpses of historic Madison County, Kentucky > Part 21
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"Not for ourselves alone" has been the motto through the years for the Richmond Juniors, and hopes are high for outstanding achievements again in 1955-1956 under the presidency of Mrs. James Purman .- Mrs. Hubert L. Cornelison, Jr.
BEREA WOMAN'S CLUB
The Berea Woman's Club was organized in 1919 with forty- five charter members. It is a civic and social organization, the object of which is to bring the women of the college and town into a united effort for improvement in the general welfare of the community.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
The Richmond Branch of the American Association of Univer- sity Women was organized at the Madison Country Club October 16, 1924. The founding of the branch was due largely to the efforts of Dr. Anna A. Schnieb, member of the faculty of Eastern Kentucky State College. Dr. Schnieb had been an active member of the branch in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and missed the asso- ciation with A.A.U.W. Mrs. Frances Jewell McVey of the Lexing- ton Branch had heard of Dr. Schnieb's active participation in Missouri; and urged her to join the Lexington branch. This did not seem feasible. In 1924 Mrs. Elizabeth Hume Harney, a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky, entered Eastern to earn a Teaching Certificate. She was enrolled in Dr. Schnieb's classes. She too was interested in forming a Richmond Branch of A.A.U.W She cooperated whole-heartedly in perfecting the organization.
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A tea was planned at the Country Club, and Mrs. Harney in- vited all of the local women who were eligible to belong. After the tea, Mrs. Harney presented Dr. Schnieb who gave a brief history of A.A.U.W. and presented the need for and possibilities of having a local branch.
The organization was perfected that afternoon with the follow- ing charter members: Mrs. Elizabeth Hume Harney, Miss Mary Bennett, Miss Edna Zellhoefer, Dr. Anna A. Schnieb, Miss Jamie Bronston, Miss Lorna Bressie, Miss Pearl Buchanan, Miss Laura Isabel Bennett, Miss Isabel Bennett, Miss Mary Louise Coving- ton, Miss Sue Chenault, Miss Mabel Ruth Coates, Mrs. Homer Cooper, Mrs. J. P. Chenault, Mrs. Murison Dunn, Mrs. Charles Keith, Miss Mary Frances McKinney, Miss Nancy Myers, Miss Winnie Davis Neely, Miss Mae Powell, Miss Ruth Perry, Miss Mary Louise Stallings, Miss Curraleen Smith, Miss Margaret Turley, and Miss Emma Watts.
Officers elected were, President, Mrs. Harney; Vice President, Miss Mary Bennett; Secretary-Treasurer, Miss Zellhoefer.
With the exception of a few months in the years 1930-31 the branch has been active since its founding. In February, 1940, a Founders Day program was presented at a dinner meeting. At that time, Mrs. Murison Dunn gave the history of the organiza- tion, and a special tribute was paid to the founder, Dr. Anna A. Schnieb. The branch has just rounded out its thirtieth year. It was founded on Thursday and that has become the regular time of meeting through the years.
The Richmond Branch of A.A.U.W. has been ably led by the following presidents: Mrs. Elizabeth Harney, 1924-1926; Mrs. J. T. Dorris, 1926-1928; Miss Mabel Pollitt, 1928-1930; Mrs. J. Lester Miller, 1931-1932; Mrs. Virgil Burns, 1933-1935; Mrs. Janet Murbach, 1935-1937; Miss Edith Ford, 1937-1939; Miss Ellen Pugh, 1939-1941; Mrs. J. T. Dorris, 1941-1943; Miss Margaret Lingenfelser, 1943-1945; Miss Annie Alvis, 1945-1947; Mrs. Salem Moody, 1947-1949; Mrs. Mary E. Barnhill, 1949-1951; Mrs. Gentry McIlvaine, 1951-1953; Miss Elizabeth Collins, 1953-1955; Mrs. Brack Maupin, 1955.
Two members have brought distinction to the branch by serv- ing as state president. They are Dr. Janet Murbach, who served 1939-1941, and Miss Edith Ford, who served 1949-1951.
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At the National Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1941, a long desired goal was attained when the women graduates of Eastern Kentucky State College were recognized as eligible for membership in A.A.U.W. Dr. H. L. Donovan, then president of Eastern, cooperated whole-heartedly in making it possible for Eastern to be included on the eligibility list of colleges and universities.
During its entire history the Richmond Branch has actively sponsored and carried out many worth-while projects. The Fellow- ship Fund of the National A.A.U.W. has been supported by gen- erous contributions.
For a number of years it was the custom to give a tea or tea dance for senior women at Eastern. Occasionally Madison High senior girls were included.
When the Richmond City County Library was founded, the A.A.U.W. was most active in supporting the venture. Book showers were made by the members, and money was donated for the pur- chase of books.
When the Telford Community Center was established, the branch donated twenty-five dollars a year to the work. That dona- tion has been continued down to the present time. For a time the branch took an active interest in sponsoring a group of young people at the Center, being responsible for one recreation period a week.
Since 1947, the Richmond Branch of A.A.U.W. has cooperated in the organization of and sponsoring of two Girl Scout troops at Madison High. Mrs. N. B. Cuff, an active member, has been a leader in the local girl scout work, and has coordinated the work of the local branch with the scout troops.
One of the outstanding projects of A.A.U.W. has been the work done by the Education Committee. From 1933 until her re- tirement in 1952, Dr. Anna A. Schnieb was chairman of that com- mittee. Under her leadership a twelve year accumulative achieve- ment program was planned and carried out in the four Madison County high schools. The county superintendents and high school principals gave this program high praise. Some of the goals to be achieved were: beautification of school grounds, laying walks, securing additional playground equipment, neatness and cleanli- ness within the buildings, the addition of books and periodicals to
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the libraries, the formation of clubs with worthwhile programs, and a safety patrol. The A.A.U.W. provided three chapel pro- grams a year for each high school. A series of talks by leaders in the different professions gave vocational guidance. Art exhibits were sponsored in the schools. Each year a framed certificate was given to the schools achieving the goals. Each year a new goal was added. In addition subscriptions to good magazines were presented in recognition of achievement.
Before the completion of the Student Union Building, A.A.U.W. provided and furnished a room for off-campus girls.
During the years of and since the Second World War the com- mittee of International Relations has sent care packages, boxes of clothing, and food to areas in special need. Packages of food were sent to the London group for resale, the proceeds to be used in refurnishing Crosby Hall. Clothing and money was sent to Berlin to help girls from behind the Iron Curtain who were studying in the University of Berlin.
The Ways and Means committee has sponsored benefit movies, benefit bridge parties, and white elephant sales to provide money for these projects. In cooperation with the Little Theater Club of Eastern plays were presented for local school children. These were well attended and were successfully given.
The programs of the meetings have been varied. Many na- tional officers and chairmen have been guest speakers. There have been panel discussions, talks by foreign students, and mem- bers of faculties of Berea College and the University of Ken- tucky have been among those appearing on programs.
RICHMOND ALTRUSA CLUB
The Richmond Altrusa club was organized June 4, 1941. The charter was presented to the then Third District Governor, Cleo Dawson Smith, of Lexington, Kentucky, at the 19th convention of Altrusa International, at Roanoke, Virginia, on July 12, 1941. The first president, Mrs. Charles A. Keith, and Mrs. Frank Clarke, represented the Richmond club at this conference.
First officers of the Richmond Club were Mrs. Charles A. Keith, President; Mrs. Arnim Hummel, Vice President; Mrs. James N. Culton, Secretary; Miss Edith McIlvaine; Treasurer. Mrs. J. B. Arnett and Mrs. Frank Clarke were elected as directors to
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serve one and two years, respectively.
Succeeding presidents have been Mrs. Donald Estes, Miss Edith L. McIlvaine, Mrs. James N. Culton, Mrs. Arnold Bach, Mrs. J. B. Arnett, Mrs. Lucien McCord, and Mrs. Fred Day.
Charter members were Mrs. J. B. Arnett, Mrs. Arnold Bach, Miss Pearl Buchanan, Mrs. C. M. Canfield, Mrs. A. K. Caywood, Mrs. Douglas Chenault, Mrs. Frank Clarke, Mrs. Robert Collis, Mrs. James N. Culton, Miss Daphne Doster, Mrs. Joe S. Head, Mrs. Arnim Hummel, Mrs. Charles A. Keith, Miss Orpha Kendall, Mrs. Lucien McCord, Mrs. J. R. McKee, Miss Edith L. McIlvaine, Mrs. W. F. O'Donnell, Miss Annie Shaw.
When the charter was received, the Richmond Club became a member of Altrusa International, Inc. which was first organized in Nashville, Tennessee on April 11, 1917, as the first national organization of business and professional women, either classified or unclassified. Membership in Altrusa is by classification. Altrusa is a service club and is patterned somewhat after Rotary Inter- national. There are now some 500 clubs with more than 11,000 members.
The first project of the Richmond Club was the organization of the City-County Public Library, which was formally opened August 22, 1942, with 2000 books. The Library was located on South Third Street in the building now occupied by James Anderson & Son. Mr. Anderson made this room available at the low rental of 15.00 per month because of the nature of the project, and the Richmond City Council, under the direction of Mayor Wm. O'Neil, paid the rent. Miss Rebecca Rice was the first Librarian, and the City of Richmond is indebted to many persons who have given freely of their time and money and thus made the survival of this Library possible. In 1944, through the combined efforts of the Altrusa Club and many of the good citizens of Richmond, the Madison County Fiscal Court and the Richmond City Council agreed to assume most of the financial responsibility for the Library. Today, according to a recent report from the Librarian, Mrs. J. Q. Snow, the Library contains 5000 books. In addition, the Bookmobile in use since 1949 is operated on a regular schedule every two weeks throughout Madison County, serving all grade schools, both white and colored, with a nucleus of 1500 books. Up to May 21, of this year the circulation for Library and Book- mobile combined has reached 22,000.
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The Altrusa Club has also made other contributions to Rich- mond and Madison County. Since 1943 the Club has sponsored and furnished a room at the Pattie A. Clay Infirmary. It has worked with, and financially contributed $60 annually to the Tel- ford Community Center. It has given three scholarships to out- standing students of commerce at Eastern. It supports and regularly contributes to the recreation program for youth in Richmond.
The Club gives regular contributions and service to "Faith Children's Home," a mountain orphanage. In 1949, the Altrusans participated in a children's safety campaign. They also sponsor a Girl Scout troop.
The project which is nearest to the hearts of the Altrusans is the annual "Cancer Fund Drive," which it has sponsored since 1945, when the quota for Madison County was $820. That year it raised $692.54. Each succeeding year, through the splendid co-operation of many faithful workers, the amount has been in- creased until this year, 1955, under the direction of Mrs. Fred Day, president of the Altrusa Club, the total has reached the sum of $3,752.55. Although the Altrusa Club president is always chairman of Madison County Cancer Fund Drive, it gratefully recognizes the continued support of numerous individuals: the Colored Division, the Blue Grass Ordnance Depot, Local Clubs and organizations, and the hard working Berea Unit, who under the direction of Mrs. J. W. Armstrong, this year raised more than $1,100 of the above amount .- By Mrs. J. B. Arnett, Secretary of the Richmond Altrusa Club.
THE BEREA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
The League of Women Voters was organized soon after the Eighteenth Amendment was adopted. After a time interest lagged either because of lack of local leadership or insufficient state and national support. About 1935 the league was reorganized and has been very active in encouraging registration and voting. It keeps its members informed on the policies of candidates for office and keeps in touch with state and national legislative representatives and urges them to support approved measures regardless of party lines. Berea Citizen Anniversary Number, June 30, 1949.
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THE SATURDAY MATINEE MUSICAL
On September 10, 1926 the following music lovers met at the home of Mrs. Alex Denny on Lancaster Avenue to discuss the organization of a music club: Mrs. M. C. Kellogg, Mrs. T. H. Collins, Mrs. S. J. McGaughey, Mrs. James Leeds, Mrs. Dean Squires, and Miss Olivia Baldwin. These ladies, together with Mrs. T. C. McCann, Mrs. Charles Orttenburger, and Miss Alice Robbie James, had been holding informal meetings twice a month during the years 1923 and 1924 but for various reasons had not met during 1925, therefore, the meeting at Mrs. Denny's was, in fact, for the reorganization of a music club. They named it "The Saturday Matinee Musical" with Mrs. Denny, president; Mrs. Squires, vice president; and Miss Baldwin, secretary-treasurer. The object of the club is to encourage the appreciation and interpreta- tion of music in the community. They joined the National Federa- tion in 1926. The membership is not limited. The first year they had nineteen members while twenty-five years later they had thirty-three members and ten Juniors. The Junior memberships are to encourage gifted young musicians.
They have sponsored a great many concerts and brought several artists, both vocal and instrumental, to town without charge to the public.
For many years they have given annually a scholarship to a deserving music student at Eastern Kentucky State College. They have two meetings each month and their programs are of the highest order.
THE CECILIAN MUSIC CLUB
A group of women came together one day in 1886 for one of those "spend-the-day" at the home of Mrs. Jason Walker and while there organized the Richmond Music Club limiting their membership to twenty-five. In 1898 they changed its name to the Cecilian Club. It became affiliated with the National Federa- tion of Music Clubs in 1907 and with the State Federation in 1921. The Cecilian Club has the honor of being the oldest music club in the state and for many years Mrs. George W. Pickles, one of its oldest most active members, was honorary president of the Kentucky Federation of Music Clubs.
For a number of years the club held local contests in piano,
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giving the winner a scholarship for the summer at some nearby conservatory. In more recent years they have been giving an- nually a scholarship to a worthy and promising student of music at Eastern Kentucky State College.
The Cecilians have two meetings each month of the club year, the members themselves contributing programs of the highest quality.
CHAPTER XX
Civic Organizations
THE RICHMOND BOARD OF TRADE, INC.
The Richmond Board of Trade was organized in 1945 by a group of community minded business and professional people of Richmond for the purpose of advancing the commercial, agri- cultural, industrial, civic and general interests of the city of Rich- mond and County of Madison. The Board in its activities is non- partisan, non-sectarial and non-sectional.
After its forerunner the Richmond Chamber of Commerce had been dormant for a number of years the need for a central clear- ing house for community activities was felt by the community leaders.
The membership of the Trade group is made up of business and professional individuals and firms grouped into twelve classifi- cations for the various groups with one director from each class.
The government of the Trade group, the direction of its work and control of its property is vested in the Board of Directors consisting of the twelve members. Four directors are elected each year to serve for three year terms. The officers of the Trade Board are elected annually from the members of the Board. The chief administrative officer of the Board of Trade is the Executive Secretary who is elected annually by the Board of Di- rectors.
The work of the Board is carried on by the Executive Secretary together with various committees appointed by the president to serve voluntarily.
Within the frame work of the organization any number of mem- bers who so desire may be associated together as a Bureau or Division for the purpose of promoting more effectively a special business interest or profession in which they are interested. An example of such Division is that one known as the Retail Division which is concerned primarily in retail trade and the expansion of the trading area.
The Richmond Board of Trade worked closely with the Westing-
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house Corporation during the development period when the local lamp plant was being established.
During its existence it has worked closely with the Westing- house plant, the Blue Grass Ordnance Depot and Eastern Ken- tucky State College in their various activities and community in- terests.
The Trade Board has been alert to projects of civic and com- munity interest and has supported such projects as the Sewer Bond Issue, which was carried through for the purpose of ex- panding the sewer and disposal plant system.
Work of the Trade Board has been concerned with Highway and Street Improvement and a Safety Program. Improvements in streets and highways have been accomplished through the co- ordinated efforts of the Trade Board with governmental agencies. Fire prevention and safety have been carried on throughout the years by a special committee appointed for that purpose and since 1948 each year the Trade Board has been presented an award by the National Fire Waste Council for Community Service in Fire Prevention and Conservation Activities.
In order to stimulate improvement and increased activity in community affairs the Trade Board has participated in the Com- munity Development Contest of the Kentucky Chamber of Com- merce in its various activities and has been awarded a certificate in recognition of such efforts.
In its coordinated community efforts it is the purpose of the Trade group to keep complete files on facts and information about Richmond and Madison County and in this effort it is presently engaged in completing a new and revised Economic and In- dustrial Survey of the area in conjunction with the Agricultural and Industrial Board.
The predecessors of the Richmond Board of Trade were the Richmond Chamber of Commerce which functioned during the period of the thirties and the late twenties and other Chamber group which functioned during the early part of the nineteen hundreds particularly in the development work with the state government when the then Normal School and Teachers College (later the present Eastern Kentucky State College) was established here.
THE ROTARY
Seventeen years after Rotary International was founded by the
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late Paul Harris in Chicago, the Rotary Club of Richmond, Ken- tucky, was founded and recognized by the mother organization. This club, having followed the strict Rotary classification mem- bership law, has become one of the city's leading bodies of busi- ness and professional men dedicated to community service and betterment.
On March 14, 1922, a group of men met at the Glyndon Hotel and when they adjourned and hour later they wore the famous Wheel of Rotary in their lapels. Eighteen names were signed to the charter granted by Rotary International. Sponsoring the or- ganization of the Richmond Rotary Club was the Lexington or- ganization, and on hand that night for the ceremony was Frank Carter, special representative of the president of Rotary In- ternational. Carter resides in Lexington and is still an active member of his club.
Dr. H. W. Carpenter was the first president of the local club and served two years. He and Dr. F. N. Tinder are the only two men who have served it in that capacity more than one year. Other officers elected at the first meeting were R. E. Turley, vice- president; S. M. Saufley, secretary; E. C. Stockton, treasurer; T. K. Hamilton, sergeant-at-arms, and James W. Hamilton, Allen H. Zaring and J. Hale Dean, Directors. Other charter members in- cluded T. J. Coates, Z. T. Rice, Lewis Neal, E. W. Williams, J. S. Sewell, D. J. Williams, E. W. Powell, D. W. Kennedy, E. L. Price, W. W. Broaddus and J. Howard Payne. Five of the eighteen are living-Dr. Carpenter and Powell, Louisville; Hamilton and Sewell, Richmond, and Rice, Lancaster.
Much to the embarrassment of the club, its charter has been misplaced and efforts to find it have been in vain. It was possibly lost in the series of moves the organization has made to various meeting locations.
During its thirty-three years of existence the Richmond Club has been responsible for the activation of four other Rotary clubs -- Lancaster, Harrodsburg, Mt. Vernon and Hazard. And from its membership has come one governor of Rotary District 235- Bert E. Willis.
The club has taken part in many civic functions. Its members cannot claim all of the credit for the building of an addition to Pattie A. Clay Infirmary, but they contributed much of their time in soliciting funds for the cause.
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The club's principal project each year is the local sponsoring of the sale of Easter Seals for the benefit of Kentucky's thousands of crippled children.
For the past few years, the club has had the responsibility of selecting charity cases in Richmond and Madison County for the proper distribution of a sum of money turned over to it by the Keeneland Association of Lexington.
The club furnishes representatives to the Service Clubs Council and Telford Community Center Board, and its members participate in many other worthy community affairs by their own choice.
Each year, Richmond Rotary chooses two deserving high school students and pays their expenses at a World Affairs institute held in Cincinnati. During the recent presidency of Dr. Fred P. Giles, the local club had the distinction of listing all of its members as $10 donors to Rotary Foundation, a plan set up by Rotary Inter- national so that young people all over the world may attend foreign colleges and universities.
Another outstanding function of the club is the establishing of better relations between Richmond business men and Madison farmers. An urban-rural dinner meeting is planned for each fall. Also, the club often fetes award winners in farm youths' organiza- tions. The club has always taken an interest in Boy and Girl Scout work and in young people's recreation programs.
With Richmond's population inereasing and its business section expanding, Rotary membership has steadily increased. Its roster now adds up to 40 members .- By a member.
EXCHANGE CLUB
Thirty-three years ago, June 22, 1922 to be exact, thirty-one business and professional men met and organized the Richmond Exchange Club. These men banded together to exchange ideas and ideals for the betterment of their community, the state and the nation. Long before Richmond had a Board of Trade or local chamber of commerce this group saw the need for many of the im- provements we have today. Every worthwhile function of civic pride had its beginning around the dinner table of these men.
Twenty-five years ago this group raised sufficient money to install electric street lights on Main Street. It was such an improvement over the old lights that it was known as the "White Way." Several
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years later this same Exchange Club wanted Madison County and the city to have a permanent Board of Health with a resident physician in charge. This came about after the people had been ex- periencing annual epidemics of diseases. At that time this program was going to cost about $5000 but not to be dismayed the Exchange Club used their influence and sold the idea to the city council and the fiscal court. Since the establishing of the health unit not one epidemic has shown its ugly head in this area.
Today only nine of the original 31 members survive, namely Paul Burnam, Dr. H. L. Donovan, H. Bennett Farris, George Fawkes, Vernon Leer, B. Z. McKinney, William O'Neil, Jack Pushin and Grant Robinson. Of this group only one, H. Bennett Farris, is still an active member.
One of the Exchange Club's biggest money makers was the sponsoring of a week of the Chautauqua. A varied program of plays, other types of entertainment and notable speakers-this was a week that all of the county looked forward to seeing. With the advent of talking pictures and radio this famous spectacle lost out to modern innovations. Today the Exchange Club has taken on different projects, one of importance is the Sunshine Special. Once each year the members gather a group of needy children and take them on an outing of feasts and pleasure. The president this year is a young lawyer and city attorney James Chenault. Mr. Chenault has plans for honoring the "Man of the Year." Some outstanding citizen whose services to the community are of immeasurable value will receive this award. During the past few years Richmond has the good fortune of having four service clubs and at times it is expedient and forceful to have all of them aid in a worthwhile project that needs immediate action for the welfare of the com- munity.
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