Freeborn County, Minnesota - Chapter 28: Social and Intellectual Life, 1911

In the early pioneer days the settlers would gather together at the different homes, where friendly greetings were exchanged, good cheer and hospitality were dispensed, and the weather, the crops, and all the little neighborhood events were discussed. In those gatherings the embryo club life commenced. That long¬ ing for comradship has developed into the characteristics of the club member of today, who, with others, wishes to belong to an association for the promotion of some common object.

In this way Albert Lea may be called a club town. There are the many fraternal organizations; dancing and card clubs in¬ numerable ; and the small social coterie found in every block. Each of our churches has its own particular societies, where mem¬ bers may enjoy the social life which the church furnishes.

Shakespeare clubs and reading circles exist for a longer or shorter time, depending upon the characteristics of their members. The Cooking Club and Home Economics Club are always in a flourishing condition. Some clubs have been organized for the abatement of a temporary evil; the object accomplished, they have been allowed to die out.

The Cream Club, whose members were a social company of ladies, flourished some twelve and fifteen years ago. A pitcher of cream arriving at the home of one of its members foretold the advent of the club. One of the enjoyable events of this club was the gathering of the families of its members July 4 of each year on the lawn of W. A. Morin for a supper, the gentlemen furnishing the fireworks for the evening. Both this and the AVaverly Club are of the past.

woman's organization in Albert Lea, and, with the exception of a few years interim, has had a continuous existence to the present day. On March 30, 1877, fourteen women, pledged to total absti¬ nence, organized a W. C. T. U. to "work for the suppression of intemperance in our midst." Mrs. D. R. P. Hibbs was the first president, Mrs. J. W. Smith secretary, and Mrs. W. P, Sergeant treasurer. Other prominent workers in the early days were Mrs. E. C. Stacy, Mrs. J. Barden, Mrs. Laura Fixen, Mrs. J. D. Prince, Mrs. W. Buel, Mrs. W. S. Krebs and Mrs. R. B. Skinner.

Later presidents have been Mrs. Teeter, Mrs. A. A. Barck,- Mrs. M. F. Armstrong and Mrs. Mary Ellickson. At present Mrs. Mary A. Petran is president, with a membership of forty-five in the union.

In an existence of thirty-four years the activities have been varied. Regular meetings have been held twice a month, a study of topics of vital interest to the home has been made ; union gospel meetings have been held in churches and in the park. Many prominent lecturers have been procured ; boxes of literature have been maintained at depots, and barrels of good reading matter sent to men at the lumber camps; a booth and rest room Ins been supplied at the county fair. City and county temperance campaigns have been assisted by the union with work and money, and contributions have been made to state and national W. C. T. U. work.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Unions of the county were organized in 1890 into a county union, holding annual con¬ ventions. Mrs. Mary Aldrich was for many years a leader in the work at Freeborn; Mrs. T. E. Noble and Mrs. Ben Whittemore were the chief factors in making the Armstrong union famous, and Mrs. H. C. Cottrell has long been prominent in the Glenville union. She lias also served many years as president of the Free¬ born County W. C. T. U.

The City Relief Society, whose members are doing a noble work among the worthy poor of Albert Lea, was organized some twenty-five years ago. Mrs. J. W. Smith, now of Minneapolis, was the first president, and retained that position until she left Albert Lea. Mrs. Walker was president for the following year, and Mrs. Day, the present president, has held the office ever since.

In the years since its organization this band of women, work¬ ing together, have helped a great many families, not only with clothing and food, but have given them encouragement by the interest taken in them. They have many times aided and assisted the family while the husband, just recovering from illness, was obtaining work.

This organization receives gifts of clothing and anything use¬ ful. Some people, recognizing the good they are accomplishing, donate money liberally to the cause, and thus they are enabled to give all needy ones a good and substantial Christmas dinner, as well as something for other dinners.

Woman's Relief Corps. One of our city papers, dated Febru¬ ary 7, 1894, contained the following: " Robson Post, No. 93, W. R. C. The meeting at G. A. R. hall Wednesday evening, January 31, 1894, to organize a W. R. C., was very largely attended, and why should it not have been, when there was a fine supper to all who were there? Four long tables were filled with eatables and fully 150 partook, and in no half-hearted man¬ ner either. After supper the tables were cleared and a social time enjoyed, after which Mrs. Dr. Rice, of Fairmont, invited the gentlemen to retreat to the rear. The movement was performed in an artistic manner, showing that many were familiar with that kind of action. Mrs. Rice then proceeded to muster in the corps, forty-five being the number of charter members. The officers elected are as follows: President, Mrs. Anna Hibbs, senior vicepresident, Mrs. Nancy Payne; junior vice-president, Mrs. Jennie Frost; secretary, Mrs. Elva Wannamaker; treasurer, Mrs. Frances Farnsworth; chaplain, Mrs. Hulda Colvin; assistant conductor, Mrs. Nancy Randall; guard, Mrs. Mary Fobes; assistant guard, Mrs. Sarah Peck. They mustered in the largest charter member¬ ship of any corps in southern Minnesota, an unusual number, so the mustering officer and the state treasurer declared. The brass of the G. A. R. will be the brighter, now that the AY. R. C. are enlisted for their assistance."

In the years since then they have faithfully assisted the G. A. R., not only in visiting with them the graves of their departed comrades and leaving their floral offerings, but also in remember¬ ing their comrades in the Soldiers' Home with some of the lux¬ uries as well as the substantials of life.

The officers at the present time are : President, Mrs. Harry Weeks; senior vice-president, Mrs. J. R. Dunbar; junior vicepresident, Mrs. Dell Converse; chaplain, Mrs. Myron Reynolds; secretary, Mrs. Martha May ; treasurer, Mrs. Mercy Rogers ; con¬ ductor, Mrs. Cora Thomas ; assistant conductor, Mrs. H. W. Lukins; guard, Mrs. Elizabeth Kruse; assistant guard, Mrs. James Peterson.

Travel Class. In the year 1890 a number of the earnest and progressive women of Albert Lea, desiring to improve themselves and extend their knowledge, especially in history and literature, conceived the idea of the organization of an association for per¬ sonal study, intellectual growth and mutual improvement.

At a preparatory meeting the following committee was ap¬ pointed to draft a constitution: Mrs. Prentice, Mrs. Jacobns and Mrs. Hazelton. The constitution presented by this committee was adopted at the next meeting, November 17, and the following officers elected: Mrs. Hibbs, president; Mrs. Merrill, vice-presi¬ dent ; Miss Mary Gates, secretary, and Mrs. Day, treasurer. The association was, by the constitution, named "The Travel Class."

The meetings of this class are at the homes of its members on alternate Monday afternoons from October to June, a short vaca¬ tion occurring during the holidays.

As the name indicates, the course of study of this club has been along the line of travel; taking some country, and with the aid of the great writers and travelers, obtaining knowledge of its geology and geography, and becoming familiar with the history, government, religion and literature of its people. In this way the class has studied, not only the United States and its possessions, but England and most of the other foreign countries. Two papers descriptive of the country being studied and a character sketch, followed by a general discussion of each, are given at every meeting, also a budget of current event items. Fines are imposed for failure to do the work assigned, and also for nonattendance.

In the early days of this club the reference books, when not obtainable in private libraries, were purchased by the organiza¬ tion, and later, when the Public Library was a reality, the books were donated to that institution. Now our Carnegie and the State libraries furnish all needed material for reference.

At different times there have been given lectures, with illus¬ trations, of the country being studied. This club federated with the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs in 1895. A banquet and a picnic are the social events during the year.

This last year - 1910 - being the twentieth anniversary of the Travel Class, the members celebrated the event by inviting the charter members to a banquet at the home of Mrs. D. R. P. Hibbs, who was president of the class for the first ten years. Twelve of the charter members responded to the invitation, either in person or bv letter. Two - Mrs. E. L. Jacobus and Mrs. R. B. Skinner -

The present officers of the class are: President, Mrs. T. F. Thurston; vice-president, Mrs. Alice I. Todd; secretary, Mrs. Earl Dominick ; treasurer, Mrs. H. H. Cook.

Beethoven Club. On the evening of January 6, 1901, an in¬ formal musicale was held at the home of Mrs. C. D. Cowgill, and later a club was organized to study music. The ladies com¬ posing this organization were : Mrs. AY. C. Farrington, Airs. Nora Rodli, Airs. C. D. Cowgill, Airs. E. Osborne, Airs. ATrginia Skinner, Airs. H. C. Carlson, Airs. Eugene Chrisler, Airs. Hattie Smith Fuller, Airs. Charles Howe, Airs. Lora Nelson, Airs. R. B. Thomp¬ son, Airs. AYinnifred AlcAllister, Aliss Jessie Simms, Aliss Virginia Blair, Aliss Alice Hibbs, Aliss Lottie Elleckson, Aliss Laura Koontz, Aliss Frances Geissler, Aliss Vera Olberg, Aliss Henrietta Emmons, Aliss Pederson and Aliss Grace Blair.

Beethoven was chosen as the name of this club and the officers elected wTere. Mrs. Hattie Smith Fuller, president ; Airs. C. D. CowTgill, vice-president, and Airs. Charles Howe, secretary and treasurer.

From its organization until February, 1907, the club met at the homes of its members. At that time an upright piano w^as purchased and placed in Library Hall, where the meetings of the club have been held every two wreeks, from the first Alonday even¬ ing in October until the last Alonday in Alay.

The Beethoven has been instrumental in bringing many musi¬ cal attractions to the city. Among the artists brought here are : Air. and Airs. Reidelsberger, Airs. Jessie L. Gaynor, Airs. Aland Ulmer Jones, Aliss Gertrude San Souci, LT. S. Kerr, Aladame Langendorff, Baxter Perry, Holmes Cowper, Lilia Ormund, Enrico Palmetto ; and the Alinneapolis Symphony Orchestra has been here three times.

Through the indefatigable efforts of the president, Airs. Fuller, the growth of this club has been steady, and increasing until it now numbers fifty-four members.

The present officers are : Airs. Hattie Smith Fuller, president ; Airs. M. P. Fuller, vice-president ; Aliss Ella Hove, secretary ; Airs. Al. L. Robbins, treasurer, Airs. J. R. Nannestad, critic.

Study Club. In the year 1902 seven ladies, wishing to benefit themselves by study, and realizing 4 'As iron sharpeneth iron, so are the wits edged and brightened by friction with other minds," formed an organization for this purpose.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the name of the Albert Lea Study Club chosen. The ladies signing this con¬ stitution were : Mrs. Anna Barragan, Mrs. Ella Johnson, Mrs. Elva Wannemaker, Mrs. Jennie Frost, Mrs. Martha May, Mrs. William Homrig and Mrs. J. E. Fitch. From this number Mrs. Ella Johnson was chosen president; Mrs. William Homrig, vicepresident; Mrs. Elva Wannemaker, secretary, and Mrs. Anna Barragan, treasurer.

"Neglect not the gift that is within thee" was the motto selected by this new club. It was decided to adopt green and white as the club colors.

The regular meetings of this club are held every alternate Monday, beginning on the first Monday in October and con¬ tinuing until the last Monday in May.

The study of the United States was first taken and continued for four years. The remainder of the time has been given to the British Isles and Germany.

The strength of union and the power of co-operation may bring about results from which every club may realize direct good, so this little club, in 1904, affiliated with the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs, for the purpose of strengthening itself.

While not a social organization, the Study Club holds its annual open meetings and a yearly picnic, to which the family of each member is invited. The present officers are*. President, Mrs. Harry Weeks; vice-president, Mrs. P. H. Muus; secretary, Mrs. G. R. Scott ; treasurer, Mrs. L. R. Burton.

The Albert Lea Science Association was organized November 11, 1890, by a number of gentlemen interested in scientific sub¬ jects and the discussion of them. The promoters of this associa¬ tion were the late D. G. Parker, R. B. Abbott, D.D., and Clint L. Luce.

The meetings were held in the old Presbyterian Chapel, on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month, from September to June. One paper on a scientific subject was read, and a thorough discussion of it followed.

The growth of this club was remarkable. In 1897 there were sixty-nine active and four honorary members. The interest in the meetings was earnest and exceedingly strong, but through the illness and absence from the city of some of its most interested members this association was allowed to disband.

Fortnightly Club. This club is an organization of gentlemen only, for the purpose of discussing ethical, social and economic questions of the day.

It was organized March 5, 1907. The membership is elective and limited to twenty-four, and is composed mostly of gentlemen from the different business and professional interests in the city.

The meetings are held in Library Hall on alternating Tuesday evenings from October to June. Two or three banquets during the year, to which the ladies are invited, are the social features of the organization.