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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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