The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 May 1986 — Page 41
CRC one of Milford's oldest organizations
Through research done by Chib Secretary Eudora Hurd, some interesting facts about the Milford Columbian Reading Circle were found. The CRC was organized in 1896, making the group 90 years old this year. Mrs. Laura Felkner is recorded as being the club’s first president. The CRC presently has 21 members, two of which are recent members and one who has been a member of the club for 50 years. It’s president for the 1986 year is Shirley Timmons. Vice president is Kate Doty. Eudora Hurd is secretary. Gwen Dewart is treasurer and Ruth Hoppus is reporter. During her research, Eudora found a letter written by Edith Baumgartner in 1965, which details the history of the CRC. It reads as follows: The club was organized in 1895 — who was the instigator is not known but presumably a few friends gathered together to exchange views on reading materials they had borrowed from the state library. For five years they met before printing their first book in 1900. That year’s president was Mrs. Ida Miles. The order of business was very much the same as of today. However, they had a critic committee which told your errors in grammar and English. This committee came down through the years, but was dropped in 1952. They met each Monday at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Each yearbook listed their required work and they used many quotations. The first being “Light is the task when many share the tod.” Everyone must have known the parliamentary rules because for two years at each meeting there were parliamentary drills and constitution for roll call. The membership limit was set at 25, which it remains at yet today. Annual dues of 25 cents were payable at the first of the year, which began on October 1.
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A TRIP TO TOWN — Charles and Bill McGowan, uncle and great-grandfather of Mrs. Gerald Martin of Milford, are shown on a trip to Milford in their horse-drawn wagon. The J. B. Hannah company is shown in the background.
School graded in 1878 In the year 1878 Milford’s school was graded. It was a twostory brick building with geometry, trigometry and Latin being among the subjects taught. An impossible job Sabastian (“Bass”) Gunderman was the man. who engineered the first road across the muck west of Milford. It was a job thought to be impossible. He used logs, laid crossways, then filled in.
The required work of the yearbook was a resume of the 19th century. In 1901 the frontispiece was “It is easier to be critical than correct.” They studied the ways of ancient Rome. In that year Mrs. Ernelia Whetten passed away. In 1902-1903 the frontispiece was “Great thoughts like great deeds need no trumpet.” Club colors were red and gold and the club flower was a red carnation. The cub motto was “Push on, keep moving.” In 1903-1904 the motto was “Pass therefore not today in vain, for it will never come again.” That year they had a meeting on the advancement of the colored race. In 1904-1905 the frontispiece was “Nothing is more terrible than active ignorance.” Miss Maude McLaughlin became a member. They lost by death Mrs. Jennie McDonald Groves. For her memorial they used “God’s finger touched them and they slept.” In 1905-1906 the frontispiece was “Home is the sacred refuge of our life.” On November 20, 1905, they had their anniversary party, changed the dues to 50 cents, joined the Indiana Federated Women’s Club, and used the phrase “Learning without thought is labor lost.” They studied courses on Russia and Japan. On November 25, Miss Maude McLaughlin gave a program on Russian music. From this time on there was always a period of music of some sort. This must have been a very busy year for they had great plans working. In 1907-1908, they studied the Roman kingdom and held paraphrased discussions on MaCaulay’s Lays of Ancient Rome and their responses were current news. This was the first of many four part programs. However, all did not run smoothly for in that year came a parting of the ways and several ladies left the club and formed one of the own called the Sorosis Club.
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In 1908-1908 Belle Pinkerton joined the dub. They studied the history of France. For their spring party they held a “Gypsy Tea” which ended with fortune telling. Arilla Arnold (Bowers) became a member that year. In 1909-1910 the German folklore year ended with a Kassie Klatsch. They joined the General Federation in 1910. The study course was Spain and Holland. In 1911-1912 they studied Greece. The frontispiece was “Let us all rejoice together, hosts and guests; since it is best so.” The welcome for the evening of the anniversary on November 13 was “We meet again with gladsome hearts, to prove that not happier apart. ” In 1912-1913 the dub changed colors to white and gold and the dub flower was a carnation. The dub held a Thanksgiving picnic and a Martha Washington Tea in which the program given was “Romance is the poetry of literature.” Sometime in here the dub put up a beautiful water fountain in front of Charles Brittsan’s store. The public liked this useful as well as ornamental fixture. However, the birds had no place to bathe and took it over. It became such a health hazzard that it was removed. In 1913-1914 the study course was American government. In 1915 it was the British Isles and the anniversary was celebrated with a picnic supper. The Club Collect appears for the first time. In 1916-1917 the group studied Indiana In 1917-1918 there was a lecture given by Donald Vanderveer, but no topics were given. In 1919-1920 they noted American women and current events. Dues were raised to one dollar. In 1920-1921 the CRC had some kind of music at each evening meeting. One night was “Victrola Night.” The 1921-1922 frontispiece was “It ain’t the individual nor the club as a whole, but the everlasting team work of
Wed., May 28,1988—THE MAILJOURNAL
every bloomin’ souL” In 1922-1923, on March 23, Arilla Bowers’ topic was “What a woman of 40 thinks about men.” In 1923-1924 civic duties of the small town woman were discussed. That year they had Bible study all year. 1924-1925 — US history, 1925- — 30th anniversary, 1926- — Greek literature, 1927- — Sunday school lesson, 1928- — study of the Bible, 1929- — started miscellaneous study courses, 1931-1932 — plays and music. In 1933-1934 was the story of salt-pepper-starch-cellophane and the Negro. The Club Collect appears in the back of the club book. In 1940 the By-laws were changed to every two weeks. On Nov. 11, 1940, was our 45th anniversary at Lucille Baumgartner’s. Mary B. Sharp read poems of the late Clara Postma, one of the early members of the club. In 1944 the reading club sponsored a story hour at the library. Irene Scott gave the first one. In 1949 Irene Scott, president, appointed a committee for a club project. Dues were raised to , $1.50. On Nov. 14, 1955, the CRC had its 60th anniversary party at Della Baumgartner’s. Dorothy Williams directed a play, “Mother’s Hidden Talent.” Judy
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Martin, daughter of Mabel Martin, sang “Brahms’ Lullaby.” Jane Schultz was president and gave the Welcome. Miss Maude Mela ighlin gave the response. Dovn through the years the CRC has been an active club and have sponsored and supported the blood program of the Ame ican Red Cross. In 1957 the CRC decided to have a tej for senior girls. This was held >n Baccalaureate afternoon, so they could wear their corsage (class flower) in the evening. The Sorosis Club was invited to help and i t has been followed up since then Since the writing of that letter, the Columbian Reading Circle has donated many hours of time, both as a group and individually to ommunity related projects. During the 1985-1986 year, it has toured and donated to the Kosciusko County Museum and Hist (rical Society, as well as domted money fw the bettermen; of the Milford Library. It has proclaimed a “Ronald McDcmald Month” and donate several times each year to “Our House” to help families with chile ren at the Riley Children’s Hosriital. Although not a service orgi nization, all of the members of tl e Columbian Reading Circle part .cipate and work together to mate Milford a better community.
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