Women's Group celebrates 100th year of service
Published on October 14th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - It was early 1899 when a group of 85 "congenial ladies" in Stoneham got together and formed the Stoneham's Woman's Club.
Since then, that number has both swelled and dwindled. On Tuesday of this week, the group hit a milestone. It opened the first meeting of the club's 100th year. Despite the less than 20 members attending the meeting, the cordial group of women chatted, lunched and took care of business together, while welcoming their guests and the Melrose Senior Chorus.
It has been an interesting and productive century for the women who have participated through the years, as well as for the town of Stoneham which has benefited in countless ways from the community-minded programs that the group has initiated.
In the early 1900s, Stoneham was a small rural town. The Stoneham Woman's Club, which is part of the State's Federation of Women's Clubs, began leaving its mark by addressing the needs of both the town and its citizens.
Postal delivery, trash pick-up, lights in the Square, the first Girl Scout troops and what is known today as the Visiting Nurse Association were all programs that the Stoneham Woman's Club brought to town.
Today, that same group, whose membership has grown older and smaller over the years, continues to leave its mark on the community.
One popular program that the club created is the Student-of-the Month program where a junior or senior girl from Stoneham High School is recognized at a club meeting each month.
At this week's meeting, Stoneham High School senior Maura McCusker was chosen by her peers for the group's award. She and her mother, Helen, were treated to lunch with the group at its meeting place, Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church. The club won an award some years ago for the program by the Federation.
In 1986, the club started its "Adopt-a-Teacher" program which continues today. Over the last 12 years, South School teacher Karon Meuler has been the recipient of the club's generosity. The program is associated with the Humane Society which furnishes Meuler with materials to teach her students about animals.
"She looks forward to it," stated club member Natalie MacLean. "We've always continued with her."
The club also lays claims to originating the story time sessions in the junior room at the Stoneham Public Library.
An annual scholarship to a Stoneham High School senior is another program that the club works hard to sponsor. The $1,000 scholarship originated through a history award which was granted annually to a student back in the 1930's. The scholarship has grown over the years from $100 to $1,000.
Club member, past president and one of this year's acting presidents Gertrude Cray stated that the club has always been community minded. In recent years, however, with a smaller membership, it has been difficult for the members to take on any additional programs in addition to maintaining existing ones.
"It's all we can do to keep the scholarship going...We can't do what we once did," she explained.
For another of this year's acting presidents and a past president, Bernice Lobdell, Tuesday's meeting marked a milestone: Lobdell's 60th year with the club.
Currently a Reading resident who taught school and resided in Stoneham for many years, Lobdell understands the reasons behind the clubs dwindling membership.
"People are working these days," she said, making it is hard for many younger women to get together during the day. "Many of us can't go out at night for meetings...We're not sure how long the club can continue."
MacLean described the change in the club from when she first joined in the early 50's. At that time, there were 200 members and a two or three-year waiting list.
"The hall only held 200 people," she stated, which is why a waiting list was needed. "When I was working, I always took off the second Tuesday of each month."
The club boasts many prominent guest speakers who have addressed the women in the past, among them Booker T. Washington, Fannie Farmer, Julia Ward Howe and Marion Longfellow, daughter of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Despite all their accomplishments and good work, members of the Stoneham Woman's Club have little time to dwell in the past. There is much to be done in this anniversary year.
A special celebration is scheduled for the club's 100th anniversary in March of 1999. Regular business continues, however. Next month's meeting will feature a program called "I Love Chocolate" with the owner of Winfrey's Candy scheduled to appear.
"It's an active group...a friendly group," stated Cray. "Practically all the members are at least 25-year members, some are 50. I'm 17 years and I feel like the new kid on the block."
Stoneham's Woman's Club meets the second Tuesday of each month, from October to April. The meetings include refreshments, entertainment and business.
The club's motto has served them well over the past 100 years: "We cannot all serve alike, but we can all serve well."
For Cray, Lobdell, MacLean, and all the members, the ability to serve the community and each other in various capacities and in varying degrees throughout the years, has been the reason for their participation in the Stoneham Woman's Club.
"We would more than welcome new members," stated Cray.
Any woman interested in joining this wonderful group of women can call Cray for more details at 438-6209.
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