Russia Township Farm Women's Club Records, 1923-2002

The Russia Township Farm Women’s Club was organized September 14, 1921 by Mrs. Anna Berg and Mrs. Kate McRoberts with 14 charter members.  Started as a social get-together, the club grew so quickly that it soon became too large to meet in private homes.  The club moved to Oberlin Grange Hall where it continued to meet on the third Wednesday of the month.  Meetings continued there until the steps became too steep for members, and the Community Center was selected for the Christmas, 1973 meeting.  Starting in November 1977 and up through 1980, meetings were held in the Hazel Johnson Room at the Center – a room made possible by the endowment from Hazel Johnson (a member of the club) of $5,000 for a room for senior citizens to enjoy with comfort and good decoration.

In 1926 the club affiliated with the State Federation of Farm Women’s Clubs and a constitution and set of bylaws were adopted.  Article II stated, “Its object shall be educational, and to bring together women of the community interested in promoting friendliness and mutual helpfulness.”  Along with 24 other clubs of farm women, Russia Township Farm Women’s Club was closely identified with farm extension work and encouraged by the Ohio Extension Service.  In 1939 the Home Demonstration Council was formed and Russia Township Farm Women’s Club had a representative; over the years two club women served as president of this council.  In 1966, however, the Extension Office reorganized the women’s clubs in Lorain County placing effort in the home economics field rather than crafts, and since then the Russia Township Farm Women’s Club no longer belonged to the Extension Service.  The membership present at the June 15, 1966 meeting voted to join the newly-formed Lorain County Craft Club.

The Russia Township Farm Women’s Club celebrated its 25^th Anniversary at the old Oberlin Inn in October 1948, with 48 members present.  The 40^th Anniversary was celebrated in September 1961, with a luncheon at the new Oberlin Inn with 52 members, two former members and two guests present.  In September 1971, the club’s 50^th Anniversary party was held in the Tappan Room at Oberlin Inn.

The Russia Township Farm Women’s Club tried its collective hand at making everything from cakes to cold cream, sponsored all sorts of money-making projects, and undertook other projects to strengthen the community.  There were courses in home nursing, girls’ sewing, fashioning dress forms, childcare, canning, furniture refinishing, sewing machine and electrical maintenance, good grooming, etiquette, planning family spending, consumer buying, a civics study course, and round-table discussions.

Projects included sewing for the Children’s Home and for victims of Lorain and Pittsfield tornadoes as well as making quilts for sufferers of fire loss; making cancer dressings; remembering the needy and shut-ins; purchasing milk for several seasons for a child; the 1934 cookbook with two printings of 500 and 200 and a reorder for 100 in 1946; purchase of a gas range; silver and dishes jointly with Oberlin Grange to be used by both organizations; cooperating with Allen Hospital bazaars; the purchasing of war bonds and American and United Nations flags; and the 1965 Extension Service Seminar at which time the club hosted approximately 30 international extension agents from different countries who wished to see how extension service worked in this country and to take ideas back to their people.  The club invited speakers on many subjects, including coin collecting, history of mirrors, travel, how to protect oneself from radioactive fallout in case of a nuclear attack and even birth control.

The club held a number of social events, including picnics, parties and pleasure trips to  Crystal Beach, Linwood Park, Euclid Beach, Kelly’s Island, Put-in-Bay, Millersburg, Nela Park,  Colonel Raymond Vietzen’s Indian Ridge Museum, Milan Museum, Dr. Merrick’s Clock Shop and Doll Collection in Berlin Heights, Stan Hywet Mansion in Akron, Piatt Castles at West Liberty, Lee Ward’s Store in Columbus, an overnight trip to Fenton and Viking Glass Companies in Marietta, Kingwood Gardens, Hough Bakery, One O’clock Club (Cleveland TV station) to see and hear Dorothy Fuldheim, the Mike Douglas Show, and Oberlin’s Carnegie Library.  Parties were held for Thanksgiving and Christmas, showers, dessert parties, family parties, “Luncheon is Served” and “Vanity Fair” luncheons.

Because of its continuous excellent leadership, many worthwhile projects and varied entertainment, the club continued to be very active with good attendance – 108 noted in attendance at one picnic down to a very few during gas-rationing days.  In 1980 the membership numbered 46, with approximately 25 attending regularly for “a social get-together.”  In 1991 the club celebrated its 70^th anniversary with a membership of 45.

The Russia Township Farm Women’s Club disbanded in December 2002.

SOURCES CONSULTED

Condensed from a history of the Russia Township Farm Women’s Club written by Ethel Gibson, President, and Juanita B. Schramm in 1980 (manuscript in case file).