Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/166

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES of the State. Beautiful in themselves* they are most elaborately furnished* and excite the admiration o f all who have ever seen them. T h e membership is large and fast growing. E v e r since (he club came into existence it has taken a prominent jpart in the social life of the town, its annual Christmas dance is the prin­ cipal social event o f this part of the State, while its ladies' day has become popular with those ladies o f town eligible to enjoy the hospitality of the club. The E lk s W ith a large number o f Bloomsburg's repre­ sentative business and professional men in­ cluded among its membership* the E lk s lodge o f Bloomsburg has exceptionally attractive clu brooms in the Hartm an building, purchased a few years ago. T w o of the floors devoted to their own use arc handsomely furnished and arranged. T h e firM floor is a large and hand­ some store room, and the third noor contains the IcKlge rooms. A janitor and an expert chef are in constant attendance. T he charitable acts o f this organization are among its leading characteristics. T h e Century Club In the autumn o f 1893 Dr. J. P. Welsh, prin­ cipal o f (he Normal ^ h o o ], w as the prime m over of the "U niversity Extension," held in Bloom sburg fo r several years. It was well reccivc<I by the jKopIe of the town who were inclined to the .study o f literature. A t the second lecture of the first course it was sug­ gested by the lecturer that a number of the people club together to study the author for the next lecture, one of the English poets, .^ fter the second lecture seven young women cam e down Normal Hill together. Before separating at Center street they had decided to meet the following F rid ay evening at the home o f one of the party. W^hcn the seven young women had hccn holding their meetings for some time, some one su ^ cste d that it would be w ell to have a name. One of the members very happily suggested "T h e Pleiades.” In when others were added to the list, it became necessary to change the name of the club. T he name "Century Club o f Blooms­ burg” w as selected. M rs. J. L. Dillon was elected the first president, which m sition she very ablv filled for five years. The original object of the Century Club was for social and literary w ork and fo r (he establishment o f a library. T h e last twenty years have been

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spent in the study o f literature* several foreign countries, miscellaneous programs* the Bible* and the "R acial Element in the Formation of the People of the United States,” under the title o f "O u r G reat Republic.” T he club has the following active members* honorary mem­ bers and associate members: M rs. O. H. Bakclcss, M rs. W. H. Brooke* M rs. R. C But­ ler* M rs. R. F. CoUcy, Mrs. S. C. Creasy* Mrs. J. L. Dillon* Mrs. K. E. Hartman, M rs. G. H. Hemingway, Mrs. S. J. Houk, M rs. R. R. Little. M iss Helen Ix)w. o f Lim e Ridge, M iss Georgia Pursel, M rs. J . L . Richardson* Mrs. L. P. Sterner, S irs. I L M. Smith* Miss Mary Tustin, M iss Mar)* Unangst, M iss Sarah V'an Tassel, M rs. R. K. Zarr, Mrs. J. S. Grimes* Mrs. E. B. Tustin, M rs. J. K. Miller* Mrs. C. A. Caswell and M iss M ay Sharpless. The present officers a r e : M rs. S. J. Houk, president; M iss M ay Sharpless, vice president; Miss MacY Unangst. treasurer; Mrs. Carlton .. Caswcfl, sccretar)*. The Iv y Club E arly in the nmetics M iss Helen John, Miss Ida Bernhard, Dr. E v a Rawlings. M rs. E d­ ward E ver (M iss Emma Townsend) and Miss Stella l.owcnbcrg held weekly meetings for reading and discussion, in NWcmbcr, 1894. this reading circle organized a literary society known as the A. .A. r . Club. It remained as such until March 6* T897, when it w as reorganize<1 as the Ivy Club with a ineinliership o f eight persons. T he main objects of the Ivy Club are to aid in maintaining the Public Librar>* and the advancement o f its members. T he club was admitted to the State Federation o f Women's Clubs in 1898. T he ot^nization has fi fleen members and the officers a r e : Pres­ ident, Miss M aigaret W aller; vice president, Miss Helen Jo h n; secretary, Mrs. D. S . Hartline; treasurer. M rs. J . W . Bruner. T h e IVedfiesday Club T he Wednesday G u b, of Bloomsburg, was organized as a reading circle in the h of taking for its first work "T h e Discovery o f Am erica,” by John Fiske. There were fifteen members of the club at that time. In Januar> i8o^. M iss E v a Ruficrt was elected president. The same year the name of the reading circle w*as changed to the Mosaic Club. In Jan uary, 1898, the Slosaic found that the pUKhase o f books would be necessary to en­ able (hem to do the work that they had pbnned. It w as decided that these books should form