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Rockville Woman’s Club Started Sixty Years Ago By Rita Elliott Sixty years have passed since a group of Rockville ladies, hav ing heard of the emancipation of women from the humdrum routine of domestic duty decid ed to form a cultural club. Mrs. William Wallace Welsh, well known to all as “Aunt Mag gie,” had the first meeting at her house with six ladies and formed the Rockville Woman’s Club. This was strictly a cul tural club for the intellectual growth of its members. Present at this first meeting were Mrs. Welsh, Miss Belle Kongdon, Mrs. Theodore Mason, Miss Daisy Hege, Mrs. Frank Spen cer, Miss Sophie Higgins and Mrs. Otho Talbott. There are no available rec ords of the early meetings. In the beginning meetings were held once a week, later once every two weeks and still later, once a month. Some of the high lights of the by-laws as record ed in an early 1904 program were: “Any member not being able to fulfill her part shall herself find a substitute or pay a fine of 50 cents.” “Webster shall be the ac knowledged authority for pro nunciation.” “The yearly dues shall be 50 cents temporarily.” “Any lady coming in after roll sail shall pay a tardy fine of five cents.” Object of Club Under the constitution “The object of the club shall be to promote the intellectual growth of its members, and to quicken a deeper interest in civics among the people of Rockville.” “The active membership shall be limited to 30; the honorary membership to 10.” In the early days about the only committee was the calen dar. Later there were commit tees on music, entertainment, transportation, museum, and Bookmobile Schedule Friday, Aug. 26—Colesville, 3:15 to 4:30; Rock Creek Gar dens, 3:15 to 8:30, and Connec ticut Avenue Estates, 3:15 to 4:30. Saturday, Aug. 27—Darnes town, 9:15 to 10:15; Poolesville, 10:30 to 11:30; Hyattstown, 12 to 1; Damascus, 2 to 4, and Woodfield, 4:15 to 4:45. Monday, Aug. 29—Bamesville, 3:15 to 4:30; Alta Vista, 3:15 to 4:30, and Piney Branch, 3:15 to 4:30. Tuesday, Aug. 30—George town Village, 3:15 to 4:30; Brookmont, 3:15 to 4:30, and Oakview, 3:15 to 8:30. Wednesday, Aug. 31—Brooke ville, 3:15 to 3:45; Unity, 4 to 4:45; Maryvale, 3:15 to 4:30, and Northwest Park, 3:15 to 8:30. Thursday, Sept. I—Harmony Hills, 3:15 to 4:30; Chevy Chase, 3:15 to 8:30, and Glenmont, 3:15 to 4:30. Area Teachers Wins Seminar Fellowship Mrs. Alma E. Davidson of Kensington, a social studies teacher at Montgomery Blair High School, has just complet ed an intensive five-week Amer ican studies seminar at Eastern Baptist College, St. Davids, Pa. Mrs. Davidson was selected to receive a full fellowship for the seminar which included tuition, room and board, according to Dean George S. Claghorn, di rector. The fellowship was pro vided by the Coe Foundation. Fifty teachers participated in the seminar, which was de signed to provide fuller under standing of the American heri tage. The session featured guest speakers, special forums and visits to Winterthur, Independ ence Hall and Valley Forge. M Now ... Ceramic jg B <^C\> Tile for y H Homeowners, r| □ Contractors U S an< * ® u *^ ers - A complete line of Ceramic Tile ... to kitchens, bathrooms, recreation rooms ... in a wideßß tt range of decorator colors. SEE US FOR MOSAICS. MARBLE AND li m SLATE SHOWER DOORS AND ENCLOSURES f* SEE US FOR YOUR NEEDS IN WALLS, FLOORS AND FIXTURES ... ALL PRICED RIGHT! S*v Money by Doing It Yourself U THE DOWELL COMPANY “ GA. 4-5857 or GA. 4-5858 W\ club house, village improvement and one on humane. The museum committee had articles which they preserved for a lady from Sandy Spring, and used the little office build ing once used by Dr. Stonestreet for a museum, and also as an early meeting place for the club. It is not known just what the duties of the Humane Commit tee were, but judging from one of the club members, Mrs. John Brewer, who was known for her gentleness and kindness, it can only be supposed that Its mem bers were chosen for exemplifi cation of their lives. When things became dull there was Gentleman’s Night. The evening was given over to musical and social entertain ment. The ladies who had hus bands brought them and the others brought a man they hoped would become their hus band. It seems that human na ture hasn’t changed too much over a period of 60 years. The Cultural Aspect The cultural aspect was al ways stressed. The early pro grams were on art, literature, travel and music. They studied the Standard Oil Company back in 1905. If their research had been of a more practical nature rather than a cultural one the members might be enjoying the fruits of this byway of a club house in which to hold meet ings. By the year 1910 they had so well covered the cultural field of art, literature and music abroad they had practically run out of material| they had to come back home and delve into the unexplored fields. To say the least, the programs covered diversified subjects. While these ladies were cul tural minded they were not un mindful of the needs of the town and were versatile enough to bring themselves from such lofty peaks as Shakespeare down to trash cans for the town. They were instrumental in getting such receptacles placed on street corners and helped defray part of the ex pense of having them emptied. Many projects were under taken over the years. The club was instrumental in having an ordinance passed requiring all marriages in Montgomery Coun ty to be performed by an or dained minister. Not the least of their projects was a “Kitchen Band,” which under the direc tion of Mrs. Rose Dawson, Attention Maryland Motorists I n ON TRAVELERS AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE 1 • New Low Rates 2. Safe Driver Savings 3* Local Agent Service See.,. OXLEY INSURANCE & BONDING AGENCY 24 S. Perry St. Rockville POplar 2-2334 IEFIESENTING THE TRAVELERS • HARTFORD toured the army camps dur ing the First World War. There were many projects but few of them were publi cized, due'to the critical atti tude toward women participat ing in civic affairs. Students’ Fund In later years the club pro vided a borrowing fund for stu dents, supplied necessities and Christmas boxes for the needy, and even adopted a boy and his family in Rotterdam, Holland, after the Second World War. In 1950 they raised their dues to $5, and paid SSO for the privi lege of holding meetings in a church due to increased mem bership. Their proudest accomplish ment that year was a Junior Woman’s Club which they spon sored and created, with Cissy Williams as the first president. With loving pride they watched the progress of their young girls. The club has branched out in welfare projects, lay health work, supporting hospitals and contributing widely to organiza tions and worthy causes. This year the members are planning to study French, begin an active Fine Arts program, carry out a widely publicized “Bicycle Safety” program, and are sponsoring a “Junior As sembly” which will teach chil dren the formalities of polite society, combined with the art of learning to dance. A thought in closing: In re viewing the early programs it seems the club gave one a liber al education. Today, with all the modern conveniences, time-sav ing devices and fast transporta tion, we seem to have less time for cultural activities than in the olden days, and perhaps it would be well for us to emulate these dear ladies of long ago. ifZjsS. Mwr * h y ,s Ujffl/Bqck-fo-School Needs! m Where You’ll Find Complete Selections l/r-rrs murphy's fkm hosiery ■OP<’ ."I™ 1 "™ , V* Vfor *•• ”BMo-ShooUn \ ■ -a“! u I * MRYIRKNT LAY-AWAT PLAR I NO-SEAM L ff\ i flf ”™ H Ir _ nylons iMly TEENAGE X f l I With flowered embroidery f regular stitch ... if TEEIfiT SOCICS and lined lower buff secfion. *** nylon from fop f / | Elastic gusset. Sizet 30 fo 36 ’ I 1° f °* j 7 V*.!?* / / t /fl I with "AA" and "BB" cum * CRAYOLA" | * • r ■• ***•■*< / f l I /I I I with AA and BB cupi. "SPACE SAVER" TOP OPENING ▲ YftklC Streak*! Fall Shades] / f I I Z-N-^WS* 1 1 MAGNETIC BINDERS „ ° NS ~. I "/>*”"• f j I A r wwww ww>w ww<# . 9x12-inch *i z ei/TcNIITX eeter* 25 C TEENAGERS* I f / /\ Straight up "Morpur ribbed COMPLETE hold* Bxlol/ 2 Off AA j , Ne-SCM Mlerefila / / 1l° P w j th *. *J*L tfe kniH * d W wIVirLE IC •in chi UUC Superior qualify crayons for I . JV| i I throughout! Soft spun whita I Line of sheet*. Flexible! J school, professional Me end 1 NYLONS / cotton with nylon reinforced CruA A| plettic cover. Nffl/ far coloring book. I T|| heel end toe. S 1 to 11. SCHOOL ; 9 j d ef c misses* white CQc fSMiMMfyMMe: -1 2•3 • I HOLE PUNCHER WmrW''* * 2 ’* v *'“* ! I fyster/k ojpj.. anklets ankle socks FILLER PAPER UHNIR 4 S I M "NmiM *. .* ort _ A.fo Md Norrdty p.Hanw „ 101-sheet pad) -h*t* ne t jK"< , 9" sweater* in red, an j **, .. . # won known name _EBE C i* better grede hose wash- /d dh a* NNfit. ... 37 • n 1 . AtetA 5T f alt rubber 4JP C * 221 sheets S-bet* ar nn. .—.mmtSmS* K '* eolor trim. Sizes 4,5 end 6. */> Missee 1 9 to IL I pt*. SMI tope. Size* 14 to 12. MJf I M 4 sheets 2-hete IRIS • ROCKVILLE congressional plaza twinbrook shopping center 2,4 * Montgomerv Ave PO. 2-2044 lAI3 I. Mentqemery Are.. Rockville 2100 Velrs Mill Reed, Rockville THE COMPLETE VARIETY STORE f:JO to S:2O Mondey thru Thundsy 10:00 ’til 1:50 Daily. Sat. 10:00 to 5:50 10:00 'til 0:50 Dally Status: Housewife By Agnes Vsghl Ads in the Old Sentinel Ads In the Old Sentinel What shopping was like for Mom in the sixties a hundred years ago can best be deter mined by a gander at the old Sentinel ads. Arriving at this conclusion, I hied myself out to the Rockville Library one hot evening last week and there with the capable assist ance of Rose Miller, the li brarian, we turned back the years into the mystical past on the microfilm and pored over one sheet after another of the Sentinel by merely turning a knob. Mrs. Miller and I speculated, we laughed, and wondered about many things, we looked up words that were sure teasers. Thus, the two of us reading the paper in this fashion were able to decipher with the aid of this modern rosetta stone what the customs, mores and fashions must have been like in old Rockville—the Rockville of only 2,000 popula tion during the ante-bellum period. The advertiser Identified himself as the “subscriber.” The first line of the ad usually began by saying "the sub scriber announces ..." It was a big deal, either a new store room on the second floor of some building with best select ed dry goods; original patents with new improvements vary ing from cough syrup to the Buckeye clotheswasher; or .“an inspection of his stock and prices is all he asks” (note the third person). Originality was ever present with the stylist who stretched his Imagination to the ultimate to compete with other ambitious dealers, agents, and merchants. If a merchant was advertis ing boats, a picture of a boat was drawn in the margin; there were other illustrations, such as, a fancy headdress for millinery, a piece of pottery for Queensware and a bottle for the liquor ads. Also in vogue was the use of repetition for emphasis similar to TV’s meth od of building on crescendo, especially with those headache ads. Fish Fish Fish Beef Beef Beef Piles Piles Piles a cure guaranteed Like TV, patented medicine and clotheswashing companies referred the reader to dealers in different towns: George town, Poolesville, Washington and Rockville. VISABLE RECORP OF ROCKVILLE’S PAST Balsam of Wild Cherry and Oxygenated Bitters The only known remedy for consumption - consumption - consumption - with a list of other cures as spitting up of blood, asthma and other res piratory ills. All patented cough syrups used the word Balsam for a preface. James W. Campbell of Rock ville advertised a new improved tub clotheswasher for $6.00. The ad said, “This tub combines in itself all the advantages of the best patented wash tub with out their defects, having 300 inches in length of smooth semi-cylindical rubbers. These rubbers are indispensable. They perform an essential work in rubbing the clothes, which they d h is oblique manner, but avoiding sudden or abrupt con tact which would be injurious. "It also possesses 168 pum mels or knuckles. It also has an improved action knuckling or pummelling the clothes, which they do most effectively. It contains also 96 squeezing angles. This feature is not possessed by any other tub and is considered to be the most im portant feature of this inven tion. “The clothes in this tub are rubbed, knuckled and squeezed all at the same time three movements essential to good washing. "Over 2,000 of these tubs are in use in Md. and adjoining states and give entire satisfac tion everywhere.” F. L. Kidwell on the corner across from the Sentinel office ran a good size ad (perhaps out of respect due to his prox imity to the Sentinel) featur ing everything from foreign and domestic dry goods to drugs and dye stuffs. The word cigars was spelled pho netically seegars. At the bot tom of the page: “His terms will be invariably cash.” Galt’s Silverware and Wil- SWIMMING I POOLS FOR YOUR BACK YARD EASY TERMS • 12 x 27 Masonry m with filter A 3 tt. walk j I'fK • 11 x 26 Fiberglass awap niter & 3 It walk 2IJO • 24 ft. dla. Round Pool 6AAQC Above ground model, 4 jyy 73 SWIM IN SUMMER SKATE IN WINTER C. Hanford Browning EfttAhlluhed 1942—Authorized dealer PURDOM ROAD—DAMASCUS CL. 3-2875 Ham E. Pumphrey*a Under takers were in existence then in Rockville. On the side, the undertakers indulged in a bit of carpentering and house joining. For the latest in women’s fashions, if Braddock’s didn’t carry it, then the ladies were forced to go by horse and buggy all the way to George town or Washington. This could have been a two-day journey. Braddock's handled black lace capes and shawls, Stella shawls, ducals, valentines, chal ie de laine, bereges lawns in piece or pattern, spring steel extension skirts 75c up, gloves and hosiery, parasols and umbrellas and first class groceries. E. Williams in Washington injected a personal note, A Salute to Montgomery County From One of Your Biggest Boosters! ) all economy minded motorists . . . YOU’LL / fernT/ ALWAYS ali u I / BE KIND / TO YOUR i VGAS / CAR AND V BUDGET SAVE! when Yp 1 _lriJ YOU FILL I —IT UP HERE! 200 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET, ROCKVILLE Operated by Geerqe Kelli Fast, Courteous Servicu Always at leal ft as! ;SENTINEL ■SunttTmd? Thursday, August 21, 1960 t ; “French goods selected by my self.” Zoave skirts embroid -1 ered with gold, cloaks for ladies, arabs, breton, Napoli tans, cloth gaiters, French bon nets, hairdress, flower wreaths, gold belts and braids, epaulets for cloaks, real embroidered cambric and swlss collars, French lace veils and opera fans. This Is just a sampling but for the most part the culture of the town can be assumed from this romantic thesaurus of goods. Georgetown was once one of the leading ports of the Eastern Seaboard. B3