Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Gem City Lodge No. 272, was organized Sept. 20, 1888, with 16 members. The charter members were: M. Griffin E. L. Hagaman D. G. Hankin H. Hobelan J. S. Harbolt E. H. Hite W. C. Harris C. B. Miller D. Marsh P. McDermott J. D. McConn H. W. Oatman R. Pritchett H. Richards J. B. Snyder G. Williams W. R. Darr, president Joe Embree, vice president W. A. Brownlee, local chairman L. L. Eitel, secretary-treasurer

American Red Cross

The Marceline Community has received assistance and supported the Red Cross by finances and volunteer services in all phases of their program. A Red Cross Canteen under the supervision of Mrs. Sig Steiner in World War I. In May 1942, a Red Cross work room for the making of surgical dressings was opened in the basement room of the Carnegie Library. The dress¬ings were shippedtothe war front all over the world where American boys were fighting for the continu¬ance of the American Way of Life. Mrs. W. L. Klein, Mrs. Albert Petska and Miss Olive Barrett were in charge of this service.The citizens of Marceline community made five trips to Kansas City, one trip to Cameron and Chillicothe and sponsored the St. Louis Blood Mobile Unit, to contribute one pint of blood each time for the Red Cross Blood Bank. Red Cross officials in Kansas City commended the Marceline group for its fine patriotic spirit and said no other community over the middle west made a better record in contributing blood to save the lives of our boys. These trips were made in private cars of our people who sometimes used their own “precious” gas stamps to make the trip.Mrs. Albert Petska has been in “Home Service” work of the American Red Cross since 1936 working with the late Wade Patrick of Brookfield, a World War I disabled veteran, and assuming full responsibility in 1951. “Home Service” is the connecting link between the servicemen and their families as authorized by the Adjutant General for all branches of military service. During the WWII and Korean War the calls for services were about 150 each month for various types of services given; such as, emergency leaves, verification of illness or death, financial assistance, etc. The Linn County Chapter American Red Cross has supplied the instructions for the swimming lessons each year in Marceline, has had two classes in First Aid and one class in Home Nursing. They have assisted in several family disasters, such as fire and flood destroying homes. Two ladies from Linn County have taken the “Grey Lady” course and served at the Veterans Hospital at Kansas City, Missouri. They are Mrs. Rex Wickizer of Brookfield, Missouri and Mrs. Albert Petska of Marceline.

Marceline Community Canteen

In May 1944, after several weeks of planning, a group of ladies whose sons or daughters were serving in the Armed Forces, and desiring to do something for the servicemen passing through Marceline on regular or troop trains banded together under the name of Marceline Community Canteen under the leadership of Mrs. Martha Erdman. Any person wishing to assist in serving the food or supplying some were most welcome. The canteen ladies and men would meet the train and serve drinks, sandwiches, cookies and whatever they would have to the servicemen. In July a building was acquired and placed north of the Santa Fe station. The War Dads bought a new-ready-built brooder house and painted and screened it.When the Fourth of July came the canteen was ready to serve the servicemen and a total of 376 were served fried chicken and all the trimmings along with 25 gallons of lemonade and 12 gallons iced tea. It was truly a “homecooked meal just like Mom’s” for all of them. At Christmas time a total of 280 men and women were served a full meal of baked chicken and dressing. Most of the service personnel served that day seemed to be returning to camps rather than to their homes so it was a sober group of boys and girls on the trains. However, many of the persons helping serve the food were parents of boys overseas. “And,” as several of the workers explained it, “We felt so much nearer our own boys by bringing cheer to other boys in uniform.” Many clubs and organizations helped in this worthy project as well as people from all over the community and rural areas. In the period of May 1944 to December 1944, a total of 56,842 servicemen and women were served by the canteen. A total of $1,176.06 cash donations were made to the canteen. The Marceline Community Canteen received many letters of thanks from those service people served as well as from some of the mothers of the men and women.

Sans Souci Sorority

The eight members of Beta Sigma Phi in Marceline, realizing their chapter was in danger of disbanding due to lack of new members, decided to discontinue their association with International. However, wanting to keep in touch with good friends, these girls formed a new organization. After much discussion, many meetings and grateful help from their two sponsors, the “Sans Souci Sorority” was born in September, 1961. Charter members of Sans Souci Sorority are Bonnie Abeln, Helen Fadler, Trudy Floray, Sondra Lake, Margaret Level!, Pat Powell, Harlene Stanley, Maxine Smith, and sponsors – Thelma Cruze and Fleeta Rodgers. The motto of this organization is “Bon Vita”; flower, the “Mum”; and colors, bronze and white. The opening Ode of Sans Souci was written by sponsor, Fleeta Rodgers. Sans Souci is a cultural and social organization. The past president is Bonnie Abeln; the present president is Maxine Smith. This organization now has 18 members and two sponsors.

The American Association of University Women

The association was founded in 1882 to open doors of education for women and to widen opportunities for women to use their training. “Practical educational work” is its objective. AAUW members are widening their own horizons, helping to build better communities, and fostering a more intelligent approach to world problems. All women who hold degrees from colleges and universities are approved for AAUW membership and are invited to join the Association. AAUW members number more than 145,000, organized in over 1,400 branches. AAUW is a member of the International Federation of University Women which unites associations in 49 lands. The Marceline Branch of AAUW was organized in September 1959. They received their charter in February 1960. The meeting time is the fourth Monday of the month. There were 29 charter members who were as follows: Miss Eulah Stanley, president Mrs. George Coulson Mrs. Eugene Crippin Mrs. Jessamine Flower Mrs. H.H. Frisby Mrs. Edwin Gambill Mrs. E.L. Hathaway Miss Clara Holvey Mrs. LeRoy LaBar Mrs. Orland Lake Mrs. Dorothy Lewis Mrs. Gene T. Malone Mrs. Helen McSparren Mrs. G. A. Miller Mrs. Margaret Miller Mrs. Edgar Myers Mrs. Myrl Oldham (deceased) Mrs. James Parkey Mrs. Charles D. Payden Miss Paula Perino Mrs. Harry Porter Miss Shirley Porter Miss Marie Reynolds Mrs. H.W. Rodgers Mrs. Adolph Royer Miss Ruby Simpson Mrs. R. W. Smith Mrs. W.W. Washam Miss Vernal Wells This organization varies from year to year with old members leaving and new ones joining. The reason for this is that most of the membership is made up of our teachers. The present membership is 22. Mrs. Gene T. Malone is the president.

Rural Home Circle

On a very muddy day in early March, 1910, a small group of women met at the home of Mrs. Dave Haley, at the invitation of her daughter Maude and Alice Haley, an in-law niece. The purpose was to organize a club to relieve the monotony and dreary weeks of a long cold winter and spring in the country. Cars were not common in those days, and if anyone had a car it could be used only during the summer when roads were usually passable. Then, when winter came, they were housed up until after the roads settled in the spring. Maude, just graduated from High School, and Alice, a young housewife, had been in the habit of getting together one afternoon a week. Deciding it might be a good idea to form a club, the invitations were sent out and, as a result, these women, some young and some old, were glad to try it out. The day was balmy and the roads very muddy, but they were all used to mud so that didn’t stop them. The club was organized and Alice Haley was elected president and Maude, vice president. It was decided that the next meeting was to be with the president and all present were to have in mind a name for the new club. Several suggestions were presented, but the name RURAL HOME CIRCLE was finally selected. It was decided at this time that the Club would meet on the last Friday in each month at 2:30pm. The dues were ten cents when you were present, and it had to be something very important to cause one to be absent. The age limit: from 16 on up to as old as one was able to attend. The meetings were purely social. At first no programs of any kind were planned, but gradually some light entertainment was provided by various members of the group.There were dire predictions, by the men, that the Club wouldn’t last — “Those old hens” will get into a squabble and that will be the end of the Club. But the fact that we are celebrating our 53rd Anniversary proves how wrong they were. Gradually more members were added to the original few, and it has been the policy of the Club to invite the daughters of members to join us at the age of 16, and if the sons, when they marry, decide to live in the community, their wives are invited to become members. The children have always been welcome at the meetings so no mother has to stay home for the lack of a baby sitter. The two highlights of the year are the CIRCLE PICNIC in the summer and the BANQUET in midwinter. The whole family and guests are expected to attend, and these get-togethers are eagerly anticipated. In the early years the banquets were held in the homes of members and a real home-style dinner was served, but as the membership grew this had to be abandoned. Then it was decided it would be much easier to rent a big hall and make it a covered dish meal. For the past several years the “Veterans Hall” in Marceline has been the meeting place where there are available plenty of table room and chairs, and kitchen equipment to make coffee. For many years Kelly’s Grove was the spot where the picnic was held, and it was a delightful place, but that has changed too. First we went to the Marceline Country Club grounds, but for several years now the picnic has been held at the South Brookfield Park where it is usually cool with plenty of shade, and a grand place for the children to play without the parents being worried for fear the youngsters will fall in the lake.The earlier Secretary’s books evidently have been lost, and the first available is for the year 1919 and those following until 1944. From studying these books we find that during the war years the Club did some Red Cross work, and in one place it is noted that a quilt which the “Circle” had made was bought by Mrs. M. A. Coffman. In several places is the statement that a wedding gift had been bought for a certain bride, and that has been the custom all through the years. Early in the first year of the Club, the first Circle baby to be born was Helen Shermuly, now Mrs. John Washburn. She was presented with a gift, but we haven’t been able to keep that up, for at ten cents a month for each member, we just couldn’t afford it. There have been so many children that at some of the Club meetings they have almost out-numbered the adults. A list of the President during the years 1919 to 1944 — Mrs. Nora Williams, Mrs. Roy Burch, Mrs. Dave Haley, Mrs. Pearl Patrick, Mrs. Lulu Jobson, Mrs. Ruth Hardin, Mrs. Ruby Burch, Mrs. Anna Taylor, Mrs. Winnifred McAllister, Mrs. Ethel Hustead, Mrs. Eldredge Hayes, Mrs. Ruth Bigger. It was noted that in 1924 the average attendance was 16, which for widely scattered country ladies is very good. In looking through the old secretary books we found that during quite a number of years, the youngsters presented the programs for the meetings; such as in May 1923 Fred and Lois Bigger gave recitations. Then in May, 1932 the McGregor girls (Gertrude, LeElla, Georgia and Barbara) sang a song. And at other times there were piano solos and vocal solos by the Jobson girls, Williams sisters, Marjorie Taylor – to name a few. After 53 years there are 4 of the original members who are still active in the Circle, and they have many happy as well as sad memories of happenings through the years. Others who have come and gone, some have moved to other parts of the country, and many have gone to their eternal homes. But not many who have been members have left the membership because

Mother’s Study Club

Marceline, Missouri – Organized 1934Third District Federated – 1937 Early in the year 1934 a group of young mothers in Marceline interested in child care and training read in the Parents’ Magazine of study articles that could be obtained from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Child Raising Department. They sent for the monthly article, which was priced at 75 cents. These articles also told how to form the study groups into clubs and the University sent a woman representative to help them get organized. The first meeting of the Mother’s Study Club was held the second Wednesday in October, 1934. “Parental Responsibility” was the first topic of discussion. Mrs. Catherine Diekroeger was the first president, Mrs. H. E. Lillingston, vice-president, and Mrs. Doris Hise, secretary. Other charter members were: Mrs. Leona Downing, Mrs. Virginia Embree, Mrs. Curlette Foster, Mrs. Lucille Myers, Mrs. Myron Redd, Mrs. Cecilia Craighead, Mrs. Iva Cantwell, Mrs. A. Dorman, Mrs. Lewis Adair, Mrs. Joe Burnside, Mrs. Denzil Bunch, Mrs. Hurst. In the club year of 1936-37 the Club affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Eight of the members went to Kansas City that year to attend the Triennial Convention of Federated Clubs. In 1936 the Mother’s Study Club sponsored the first hot lunch program in the Marceline schools. Mrs. Doris Hise and Mrs. Freddy Redd worked together with the WPA who provided the labor. Government food was obtained and cooked in the home economics room in the high school by Mrs. Edna DeLong, WPA Supervisor. The custodian, Joe Oliver, distributed the food in large containers to the 3 schools where the club members were responsible for serving in dishes they had begged, borrowed, or purchased with money they had raised. In 1948-50 Mrs. Lucille Myers was president of the District. During the World War II years. War Bonds were purchased by the club with money raised from rummage sales, etc. The club members also assisted in taking surveys of sales of War Bonds sold in this area. From its beginning, the Mother’s Study Club has always cooperated with teachers in the local schools to provide clothing and hot lunch money for those pupils in need. Also to provide holiday baskets of food and clothing for needy families and to assist in any way for the betterment of Marceline, our state, and country. A complete list of past presidents are: 1934-35, Catherine Diekroeger; 1935-36, Virginia Embree; 1936-37, Mrs. H.E. Lillingston; 1937-38, Doris Hise; 1938-39, Cecilia Craighead; 1939-40, Leona Downing; 1940-41, Iva Cantwell; 1941-42, Dorothy Bond; 1942-43, Lucille Myers; 1943-44, Tessie Boddy; 1944-45, Fidelis Lohmar; 1945-46, Barbara Machen; 1946-47, Thelma Murray; 1947-48, Mildred Putman; 1948-49, Deloma Houser; 1949-50, Melva Schutte; 1950-51, Rosalind Malone; 1951-52, Veronica Wampler; 1952-53, Frances Embree; 1953-54, Dorothy Kelly; 1954-55, MaryJune Robertson; 1955-56, Fonda Gucker; 1956-57, Florence Leach; 1957-58, Frances Coen; 1958-59, Bettie Smith; 1959-60, Marjorie Milliron; 1960-61, Laverne Sage; 1961-62, Hannah Adair; 1962-63, Mary Betty Dorrell.

The Ladies’ Home Culture Club

The Ladies’ Home Culture Club was organized October 3, 1901. The club had its beginning as four friends sat around a card table at the home of Mrs. Grace West. The date was September of 1901 and the other three women were Mrs. Bird Sweet, Mrs. Yocum, and Miss Nine Kendrick. Conversation turned to the need for more social life in the then comparatively new town of Marceline. As a result, seven ladies – Mrs. Sweet, Mrs. Yocum, Miss Kendrick (later Woodworth), Mrs. Murray, Mrs. White, Mrs. West, and Mrs. Shelton – became charter members and gathered together 24 ladies who met with Mrs. Sweet on October 3, 1901, for the purpose of organizing a club. Mrs. Olive Shelton became the first president. Her suggestion for a name and motto were adopted. Programs at each meeting were suggested and arranged for the following meeting. Several years later, yearbooks were introduced. On October 12, 1951, the Home Culture Club celebrated its 15th anniversary. The occasion was observed at the Christian Church reception room. Two charter members were honored at this meeting, Mrs. Murray and Mrs. White. Four former members from out-of-town were present and greetings were read from many others. It was a gala occasion. An outstanding event through the years was the annual New Year’s Feast which was the high point of the year’s activities. This was enjoyed by the families of members and eagerly anticipated from year to year. Probably the most colorful event in the history of the Club took place in the earlier days when the husbands of the Ladies’ Home Culture Club members staged a surprise party for them aboard a private Santa Fe dining car. The dining car was attached to Santa Fe Train No. 10, arriving here about 9 o’clock at night. A Harvey House Chef and a full corps of waiters served a ten-course dinner. Cut flowers decorated the tables and the women were in formal attire. There were toasts to the ladies and many speeches. Among the husbands who proved ability as orators were Senator B. L. White, Clarence Kendrick, George Early, C. U. Murray, W. N. Wheeler, and E. W. Taylor. Through the years the membership has been limited to twenty-four women. The purpose of the Club remains chiefly social, and the motto continues to be “”EACH FOR THE OTHER AND ALL FOR TRUTH.”

P. E. O.

The P. E. O. sisterhood was founded January 21, 1869, by seven college girls, students at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Although established as a college sorority, campus chapters were discontinued when emphasis was placed on the organization of chapters in towns and cities. The P. E. O. Sisterhood is now an international organization with a membership of more than 142,000 women. Almost 3,900 chapters have been organized during its 94 years of growth. The purposes of the P.E.O. Sisterhood are educational and charitable. For many years the major objective of the organization has been to provide increased opportunities for higher education for women. The first educational project of the P. E. O. Sisterhood was its Educational Fund, established in 1907 for the purpose of assisting qualified women students desiring to become self-supporting, to attain an education beyond the high school level. The Fund is a revolving one of over $975,000 from which loans amounting in total to more than $6,205,735 have been made available. Annually approximately 2,000 students are serviced in this way. Founded in 1884, Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, has been owned and supported by the P. E. O. Sisterhood since 1927. This college, accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and by the National Association of Schools of Music for Junior Colleges, will begin its 79th year in September 1963, with dormitory capacity for 350 students who come from the United States, Canada, and many foreign countries. Believing that education is fundamental to world peace and understanding, the members of P. E. O. established the International Peace Scholarship Program in 1949. Voluntary contributions by the members are providing scholarships for selected women from other countries for graduate study in universities in the United States and Canada. Since the beginning of the program in 1949, 720 scholarships have been given to 458 students from 63 countries, for a total of more than $579,488 to attend colleges and universities. Through these scholarships, P. E. O. is providing these women opportunity for specialized training so they may return to their homelands to serve their own people with greater skill and broader understanding. Chapter AQ, P. E. O., Marceline, was founded April 27 , 1906, and has an active membership of 41. Through more than fifty years, Chapter AQ has supported the educational and charitable projects of P. E.O. on both a national and local community level and feels privileged to have so served.

Sorosis Study Club

The Sorosis Club was organized in 1928 as the first Junior Federated Club in Third District M. F. W. C. under the sponsorship of Sorosis, the first Senior Federated Club in Marceline. At that time a Sorosis member, Mrs. Sig Steiner, was president of Third District and it was through her efforts that club plans were started. A tea was held in the home of Mrs. H. V. Jones to acquaint prospective members with Federation work, and through a Sorosis committee of Mrs. W. B. Couch, Mrs. Wilbur Johnson, and Mrs. Fred Lancaster, the club was organized and known as the Junior Sorosis Club. For the first two years the club sponsors were Mrs. Wilbur Johnson and Mrs. Newcomb Smith. This sponsorship was continued by Mrs. Ola Putman for many years. The following twenty girls were charter members: Vernetta Brown (Slaughter), George Rae Cochran (Murray), Hazel Dieterich (Stover), Maxine Hayden (Buck), Wilmuth Moorman (Reed), Alice Flanner (Gray), Mona Lee Olin (Patrick), Marcelle Patterson (Green), Dorothy Patterson (Morton), Virginia Ramsey (Imlay), Roberta Stanley (Embree), Louise Stanley (Murphy), Wanda Whitney (Wilson), Kathryn White (Bruss), Virginia Williams (Byers), Helen Willian (Earl), Virginia Webb (Green), Vinita Toops (Smith), Marguerite Williams (Knox), Elise Zurcher (Rivera). Of this original group, three are still members: Maxine Buck, Marcelle Green, and Wanda Wilson.During the first twenty years of organization, Junior Sorosis sponsored one of the outstanding social events in Marceline, the annual Spring Formal. In the late 1940’s Junior Sorosis became a Senior club and its name was changed to Sorosis Study Club. Sorosis Study has been active not only in federated work but also in community and welfare service. The club through the years has sponsored Girl Scout Troops, has helped with school projects (purchased the recording machine for Special Education, provided band uniforms, helped buy the stage curtains, assisted at health and dental clinics), has donated to library (books, purchase of water cooler), and helped with contributions to welfare work. The present club project is the hanging of flower baskets in the business section. One of the members, Lucille Myers, has served as president of Third District M.F. W.C. and has also served in many capacities on the State Board. Another member, Marcelle Green, is at this time president of Third District M. F. W. C. Other members have been appointed as district chairmen. The membership is limited to 24, and meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday.