Lincoln Woman's Club celebrates 125 years service

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[July 31, 2021]    In this year, 2021, the Lincoln Woman’s Club celebrates its 125th anniversary. The club was founded July 7, 1896, and over the years has continued to fulfill its goal of community improvement through volunteer service.

Lincoln Woman’s Club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. When founded in 1896, it had 86 charter members. Currently there are 67 members from Lincoln and surrounding communities in the club.



The first President was Mrs. John A. Lutz. Since then, there have been 72 Presidents including current President Darla Rohrer.



To celebrate the anniversary, a box luncheon was held at Latham Park on July 7. Past Presidents in attendance at the celebration included Burnetta DePuy (1980-1981, 1983-1984, 1992-1993 and 1994-1995), Alexis Asher (2003-2005), Marcia Howen (2005-2007), Ruth Sloot (2014-2016), Carol Mills (2017-2018), and Susan Rohrer (2019-2020).

Current board members include President Darla Rohrer, 1st vice President Terri McDowell, 2nd Vice President Cindy Aussieker, Recording Secretary Patti Becker, Treasurer Barb Sahs, Corresponding Secretary Marla Williams, Parliamentary Advisor Judy Rader and Directors Jan Bicknell, Lynn Corley, Ellen Dobihal, Mary Gleason, Becky Maxwell, and Nancy Wrage.

The 125th Celebration Committee members are Ruth Sloot, Lynn Spellman, Alexis Asher, Judy Rader and Susan Rohrer.



Darla Rohrer said, “I am honored to be President of Lincoln Woman’s Club during our 125th Birthday Celebration. I’m so proud of all of our past and present members for what we’ve done and will continue to do together to enhance our community and to improve the lives of others.”

Volunteer work done by the Lincoln Woman’s Club

As club member Ruth Sloot researched the history of the Lincoln Woman’s Club this year, she compiled a list of several projects the club has done over the years.

Among early projects of Lincoln Woman’s Club were the introduction of manual (tool) training in the schools and the erection of a public drinking fountain in the courthouse square.

One of the earliest projects was in 1905 when the county asked the women to spearhead the Indian Maiden statue project. The statue was then placed on Logan County Courthouse lawn in 1906.

Many projects the Lincoln Woman’s Club has worked on have involved the beautification of Lincoln. For example, in 1907, the club planted 250 hardy shrubs and plants on the lawn of the new library.

From 1951-1953, the group continued workings on beautification plan for Lincoln at the GM&O railroad station. Around 1955, the club donated $650 to place a circular bench on the grounds of the train station in addition to planting trees, shrubs, and flowers on the train station property, referred to the area as the Centennial Garden.

Several projects have included charitable work and fundraising.

For instance, in December 1897, the Lincoln Woman’s Club distributed 100 dolls all dressed and ready for their little mothers to needy families at Christmas.

Around 1932-1933, the women met one day a week in the winter to sew clothes for the needy with the Red Cross providing 20 yards of fabric per family.

In 1955, the woman’s club organized the Polio Mother’s March.

From 1955-1956, the club raised $12,000 of the $25,000 needed to purchase 60 acres of land from the Lincoln Elks Crippled Children Trust to establish Memorial Park.

Between 1977-1978, the Woman’s Club donated $250, which was matched by the Park District, to buy concrete molds to make tables and benches for the parks.

In 2004 or 2005, they purchased a Lincoln portrait and donated it to the local library.

Around that time, the group also donated to Main Street Lincoln for a sign to be erected on Sangamon Street commemorating Lloyd Ostendorf.

More recent projects have included helping local veterans, helping women in domestic violence shelters, and creating and filling stockings for active military and veterans. They have supported environmental centers including Campbell Creekside Center for Environmental Education, and Shawnee National Forest, plus supported the local food pantries and Operation Smile.

In 2012-2013, they partnered with Logan County Solid Waste to host a glass recycling event the second Saturday of the month from April to October.

Additionally, the club donated a library filled with free books for children at the Logan County Health Department and gave small stuffed animals to the Illinois State Police. They hosted the Moms Who Care, Prom Dress celebration and awarded academic scholarships to high school senior girls from Logan County. The group also hosts a blood bank during the year.

These are just a few of the many projects the Lincoln Woman’s Club has done over the years. Throughout its history, the club has supported community and state projects that benefited the community in the areas of arts and culture, civic engagement and outreach, education and libraries, the environment, health and wellness, legislation, and women’s history.

 

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Susan Rohrer said, “Our projects have changed over the years, but our mission is the same: to improve and enhance the lives of others through volunteer service.”

This past year, Lincoln Woman’s Club was recognized for their service. They were ranked in the Top 10 of 159 Illinois Federation of Women’s Club organizations in nine project categories and rated first in the state for its “Make a Difference Project.”

Notable programs held by the Lincoln Woman’s Club

In addition to many projects the Woman’s Club has held numerous programs.

Occasionally, a well-known speaker has come to speak to the group.

For example, progressive social reformer and Activist Jane Addams was one notable speaker brought in for a program years ago.

Abraham Lincoln Biographer Carl Sandburg was another speaker brought to the community.

Around 1950, Mr. Everett Dirksen, member of the House of Representatives, spoke to the club on “The Way to Freedom.”

Various speakers from ISU and U of I have also been brought in for programs.

There have been various programs for the community too.
 


For instance, four times a year, groups like the Rotary, Lincoln Women’s Club and Delphi would bring in speakers for the community.

In 1965-1966, the woman’s club hosted a Children’s Theatre performance by the Pinocchio Traveling Playhouse from New York for elementary school children.

In 1978, the club participated in an outdoor historical pageant on the lawn of the Postville Courthouse celebrating the town’s 125th birthday.

Around 2007, the woman’s club began ice cream socials in Latham Park during summer band concerts.

Some history of the Lincoln Woman’s Club

At one point in the mid twentieth century, membership for the Lincoln Woman’s Club was around 250 members.

Initial meetings were at City Hall. Next, they met at Grand Army of the Republic Hall, which would later become Avery and Comstock, until 1903. From 1903 until 1927, the Lincoln Woman’s Club met at the Carnegie Library.

 

 



Since 1927, the Lincoln Woman’s Club has been located on North McLean Street near the downtown area.

This building is a key building in Lincoln History with the land being purchased from Margaret Maxwell in 1909. Built in 1910 for the Beth-El congregation by J. L. Deal, it was the only Jewish Temple in Lincoln. When the congregation dissolved in 1927, the building was sold to the Woman’s Club for $5,000. The Star of David over the front entrance offers testimony as to the original intent of the building.

The pews, the altar, chairs, furnishings for a church and stained-glass windows around the sides were soon removed and sold to Cornland Methodist Church, which had been destroyed by a tornado.

Club member Sue Beaver said renovations were then done to prepare the building for use by the Woman’s Club. To raise funds for renovations, the women put on plays.
 


As they made changes, the stage was rebuilt and stage footlights and lights around the arch were added. Cabinets were added in the kitchen. The balcony stage and kitchen were plastered. The bathrooms had oak floors put in. A new side door was added on the north side of the building.

The total cost for making the building ready for use by the club was $9,500. Beaver said the building debt was paid off by 1938 with diligence and hard work.

The building has been carefully maintained since that time by the Woman’s Club. Over the years plaster has been repaired and the front steps were replaced. A deck staircase that goes out the side door was added. The furnace was replaced this year.

The building’s interior features a balcony over the front entrance that shows off a beautiful stained- glass window that is original to the building. The club applied for and received $7,500 in grant funding from the city for the restoration of the stained glass. Recently, a company from Jacksonville removed the stained glass to restore it.
 


Lincoln Woman's Club celebration continues this year

To celebrate the anniversary, a box luncheon was held at Latham Park on July 7.

Lincoln Woman's Club was honored with the signing of a proclamation by Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch naming July 7th as Lincoln Woman's Club Day.

In September, Lincoln Woman’s Club will continue to celebrate their 125th year. At their fall membership meeting past presidents will be honored, and new members will be introduced. The program for that meeting will highlight 125 years of Lincoln Woman's Club.


[Angela Reiners]

 

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