MS-255
THE COUNTRY COMFORT CLUB COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
The Country Comfort Club Collection was accessioned into the Piqua Public Library Archives and Special Collections as a donation from Mrs. Opal Holfinger on April 12, 2017. The collection is housed in a single Gaylord 1215 box containing 40 files. The rights to these materials have been transferred by Deed of Gift to the Piqua Public Library and there are no known restrictions on the use of these materials.
The club began very informally in February 1913 when a group of seven ladies living in the area of southern Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, along Washington Pike and adjacent roads got together to aid Miss Mertie Mowery and her brother establish a farm home on the Troy-Sidney Road. The ladies contributed bedding to the brother and sister. The ladies so enjoyed themselves that they met again the next week to make comforts to give away to families that needed them. During the 1913 flood and after, the ladies tied comforts to give away to families who had lost everything. The number of ladies involved increased to 15 and in 1915 they decided to form a club and elect officers. The first officers were: President Ada Drake; Vice President Osa Licklider; Secretary Mary Fessler and Treasurer Nellie Jones. At the same time they decided on the name “Country Comfort Club” for the organization and that they would meet regularly on the third Thursday of each month. In 1921 a committee of seven member was selected to draw up a formal constitution for the club. By 1922 the club had grown to 42 members all living in the area of Washington Pike, Bausman Road, Drake Road, Brown Road, Holfinger Road and Farrington Road. The original dues were 5 cents per month or 60 cents per year. In 1922 the dues were raised to $1.00 per year. A new constitution in 1932 put a limit of 50 members to the club and raised the dues to $1.20 per year or 10 cents per month with 5 cents going to club expenses and 5 cents going to fund floral tributes. The club continued to make comforts and quilts until 1946 (1945 minutes are the last to mention making comforts). The club had always been a social gathering with good conversation. In 1929 it was decided to have a program at each of the meetings and a committee was appointed to make out a yearly program calendar [the first program calendar (1929) is part of this collection (File 35)]. The materials in this collection continue up to 1993 when the club had 14 active members. By 2015 the club had ceased to exist having been in existence for approximately 100 years.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Country Comfort Club Collection is divided into the following eight series:
SERIES I: Club History – Box 1, Files 1-7
SERIES II: Country Comfort Club Constitutions – Box 1, Files 8-10
SERIES III: Minute Books – Box 1, Files 11-17
SERIES IV: Attendance or Roll Books – Box 1, Files 18-21
SERIES V: Treasurer’s Records – Box 1, Files 22-23
SERIES VI: Photographs and Newspaper Clippings – Box 1, Files 24-31
SERIES VII: Miscellaneous – Box 1, Files 32-34
SERIES VIII: Yearly Club Program Calendar booklets – Box 1, Files 35-40
CONTAINER LIST
SERIES I: Club History
BOX 1
File
1 A handwritten history of the Country Comfort Club from its beginning in February 1913 through 1936. The History was written by Mrs. Osa Licklider.
2 “History of the C. C. Club” (taken from the history compiled by Osa Licklider and Evelyn Wintrow). This is a history from 1913 through 1973. Included in this history is a list of club members in 1973 and the number of years each has been a member of the club. Also in this history is a list of the names of all past club members (as of 1973) and a copy of the 1966 club constitution.
3 “More of Club History” – notes extending from May 1949 through February 1988.
4 “More History: March 1983 to July 1988” (2 copies) and the C. C. Club membership list from 1983 to July 1988 (2 copies). In addition there is a list of members for the 70th year (1983) including the year they came into the club and their total years as a member.
5 “The C. C. Club Observes Its 80th Year,” a brief history written in 1993 by Evelyn Wintrow. Also included is a list of members in 1993 with the year they entered the club, their number of years in the club and their status in 1993.
6 A club history and membership list 19136-1993 compiled by Evelyn Wintrow.
7 Miscellaneous club history notes.
SERIES II: Country Comfort Club Constitutions
File
8 Constitution, c. 1934 – early constitution with the dues still listed at 5 cents per month for club expenses and 5 cents per month for floral tributes. This constitution also lists an April 1934 addition to the By-Laws.
9 Constitution dated 1958 – dues are raised to $2.00 per year.
10 Several versions of the constitution adopted in March 1966.
SERIES III: Minuet Books
File
11 Minutes: September 16, 1913 through September 21, 1922
12 Minutes: January 26, 1923 through November 19, 1925
13 Minutes: December 17, 1925 through August 10, 1944
14 Minutes: September 21, 1944 through December 20, 1957
15 Minutes: January 16, 1958 through March 26, 1969
16 Minutes: April 17, 1969 through June 16, 1977
17 Minutes: July 21, 1977 through December 15, 1989
SERIES IV: Attendance or Roll Books
File
18 Roll Book: 1926-1941 – In this book is recorded attendance (present/absent) and dues paid.
19 Roll Book: 1941-1954 – In this book is recorded attendance (present/absent) and dues paid.
20 Roll Book: 1955-1969 – In this book is recorded attendance (present/absent) and dues paid. [The sticker on the front of the books reads “1955-1970” but there are no records for 1970.]
21 “C. C. Club Floral Secretary Roll Book: 1926-1938” – In this book, on page 1, is written Article VI, Sections 1-5 of the club constitution governing the functions of the Floral
Committee. Next is recorded the members and the floral dues paid per month for the years 1926 through 1938. On the last pages are recorded the expenditures of the Floral Committee by date, by recipient of the flowers and by the amount spent.
SERIES V: Treasurer’s Records
File
22 Treasurer’s Book: 1922-1953 – a record of receipts and expenditures. The names of the treasurers who signed the yearly reports are: Osa Licklider, 1922-23; Edith Schulz Holfinger, 1924; Edith Wilson, 19255; Nora Favorite, 1926; Ann Oda, 1927; [The treasurer is not named in 1928 and 1929.] Bertha Houser, 1930-31; Sadie Grant, 1932; Thelma Hecker, 1933; Nannie Honeyman, 1935; Flora Favorite, 1936; Lora Kiesewetter, 1937; [No records for 1938.] Dora Dick, 1939-40; [No records for 1941.] Naomi Miller, 1942; Nannie Honeyman, 1943; Nora Sheafer, 1944; Sadie Grant, 1945; Lucille Franke, 1946; Naomi Miller, 1947; Dorothy Favorite, 1948; Edith S. Holfinger, 1949; Dorotha Hiegel, 1950; [No records for 1951.] Edith Kiser, 1952; Katherine Billingsley, 1953.
23 Piqua National Bank & Trust Company savings account passbook for account number 10464 held by the C. C. Club – December 21, 1935 to November 6, 1943.
SERIES VI: Photographs and Newspaper Clippings
File
24 Club luncheon or banquet – 8 x 10 black/white glossy photo of 46 ladies and one man in a banquet room. The location is not determined. The date on the back of the photo is 1943 and the photo is by Ken Rarich Inc., Cincinnati, OH. This photo was owned by Nora Sheafer.
25 Mock wedding photos – three 3 ½” c 5” black/white glossy photos of a mock wedding put on by the club at their meeting in June 1953. The participants are not identified.
26 Panoramic photograph of the club members on September 16, 1926 at the home of Mrs. Osa Licklider. The photo is 39” wide by 7” high, black/white, in a black wood frame 40 ½” wide x 8 ¼” high. The photo was taken by Ethan Huntzinger, photographer of Piqua. The photo is located in Drawer 25 of the Local History map case. The following ladies are identified in the photo from left to right: Elsie Ginn, Angie Morrow, Claudia Craft, Myrtie Mowery, Bertha Houser, Dora Licklider, Nannie Holfinger, Edith S. Holfinger, Anna Oda, Florence Rutledge, Carrie Schulz, Blanche Bartel, Ethel Morrow, Nora Favorite, Edith W. Holfinger, Susan Brown, Alma Stump, Nannie Honeyman, Hanna Hecker, Sallie Kendell, Osa Licklider, Conna Lytle, Adda Drake, Jennie Drake, Hanna Elliott, Kate Billingsley, Laura Holfinger, Flora Favorite, Eva Morrow, Edna Epperly, Edith Wilson, Stella Holfinger, Nell Ingle, Jennie Hauschild, Fannie Morrow, Nancy Wilhelm, Bertha Reichman, Laura Russell, Esther Craft.
27 Newspaper clipping – account of the “Annual Picnic of C. C. Club” at Fountain Park. The clipping is not dated but probably Piqua Daily Call in the 1920’s.
28 Two newspaper clippings concerning the Country Comfort Club’s 50th Anniversary. One clipping is from The Piqua Daily Call and the other one is from the Troy Daily News. Both clippings are dated February 8, 1963.
29 Newspaper clipping – “C. C. Club observes 70th year” – The Piqua Daily Call, March 15, 1983.
30 Newspaper clipping – “C. C. Club notes 75th anniversary” – The Piqua Daily Call, February 13, 1988.
31 Two newspaper clippings concerning the C. C. Club’s 80th anniversary in 1993. The specific dates of the articles are not given. One clipping if from The Piqua Daily Call and the other is from The Dayton Daily News.
SERIES VII: Miscellaneous
File
32 Two letters written at the time of the 80th Anniversary in 1993. One is from Edith Holfinger and the other is from Nancy Lyons Puthoff.
33 Two copies of the C. C. Club’s song: “Scatter Sunshine,” words by Lanta Wilson Smith; music by E. O. Excell; copyright 1892. The club took the song from a hymnal which is not identified.
34 Miscellaneous poems and games written by club members.
SERIES VIII: Yearly Club Program Calendar booklets
File
35 1929 – officers are not listed.
36 1930’s Program Calendars
36-1 1930 – Officers:
President – Edith S. Holfinger,
Vice President – Edith W. Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Nora Shaefer
Floral Secretary – Ethel Morrow
36-2 1931 – Officers:
President – Nora Favorite
Vice President – Helen Hecker
Secretary Treasurer – Bertha Houser
Floral Secretary – Carrie Schultz
36-3 1932 – Officers:
President – Ruth Peters,
Vice President – Anna Oda
Secretary Treasurer – Sadie Grant
Floral Secretary – Sallie Kendall
36-4 1933 – Officers:
President – Nora E. Shaefer
Vice President – Edith W. Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Helen Hecker
Floral Secretary – Katherine Billingsley
Note: 1934 is not part of the collection.
36-5 1935 – Officers:
President –Mary Longendelpher
Vice President – Gladys Lyons
Secretary Treasurer – Nannie Honeyman
Floral Secretary – Bertha Rhoades
36-6 1936 – Officers:
President – Carrie Schulz
Vice President – Hattie Freeman
Secretary Treasurer – Flora Favorite
Floral Secretary – Susan Brown
36-7 1937 – Officers:
President – Edith Wilson
Vice President – Kathryn Billingsley
Secretary Treasurer – Lova Kiesewetter
Floral Secretary – Gladys Lyons
36-8 1938 – Officers:
President – Bertha Housen
Vice President – Martha Warner
Secretary Treasurer – Ruth Peters
Floral Secretary – Dorothy Favorite
36-9 1939 – Officers:
President – Anna Oda
Vice President – Nora Shaefer
Secretary Treasurer – Alma Stump
Floral Secretary – Lucille McMaken [2 copies]
37 1940’s Program Calendars
Note: 1940 is not part of the collection.
37-1 1941 – Officers:
President – Bertha Rhoades
Vice President – Gladys Lyons
Secretary Treasurer – Susan Brown
Floral Secretary – Ruth Hecker [2 copies]
37-2 1942 – Officers:
President – Katherine Billingsley
Vice President – Dorothy Favorite
Secretary Treasurer – Naomi Miller
Floral Secretary – Helen Hecker [2 copies]
37-3 1943 – Officers:
President – Edith W. Holfinger
Vice President – Ethel Morrow
Secretary Treasurer – Nannie Honeyman
Floral Secretary – Anna Oda [2 copies]
37-4 1944 – Officers:
President – Lova Kiesewetter
Vice President – Nora Favorite
Secretary Treasurer – Nora Shaefer
Floral Secretary – Dorothy Favorite
37-5 1945 – Officers:
President – Ethel Morrow
Vice President – Alma Stump
Secretary Treasurer – Virginia Favorite
Floral Secretary – Sadie Anthony
37-6 1946 – Officers:
President – Gladys Lyons
Vice President – Ruth Hecker
Secretary Treasurer – Lucille Franke
Floral Secretary – Edith S. Holfinger [2 copies]
37-7 1947 – Officers:
President – Pauline Drake
Vice President – Helen Hecker
Secretary Treasurer – Naomi Miller
Floral Secretary – Alma Stump
37-8 1948 – Officers:
President – Laura Favorite
Vice President – Elsie Jackson
Secretary Treasurer – Dorothy Favorite
Floral Secretary – Evelyn Wintrow
37-9 1949 – Officers:
President – Katherine Billingsley
Vice President – Bertha Rhoades
Secretary Treasurer – Edith S. Holfinger
Floral Secretary – Bertha Miller [2 copies]
38 Program Calendars – 1950-1955
38-1 1950 – Officers:
President – Nora Shaefer
Vice President – Edith W. Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Dorotha Hiegel
Floral Secretary – Ethel Morrow [2 copies]
38-2 1951 – Officers:
Officers not listed in the program
38-3 1952 – Officers:
President – Helen Stump
Vice President – Opel Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Hannah Elliott
Floral Secretary – Elsie Jackson
38-4 1953 – Officers:
President – Evelyn Wintrow
Vice President – Gertrude Penny
Secretary Treasurer – Katherine Billingsley
Floral Secretary – Gladys Lyons
38-5 1954 – Officers:
President – Edith S. Holfinger
Vice President – Edith W. Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Ethel Kiesewetter
Floral Secretary – Lova Kiesewetter
38-5 1955 – Officers:
President – Bertha Rhoades
Vice President – Ethel Morrow
Secretary Treasurer – Opal Holfinger
Floral Secretary – Evelyn Holfinger
Note: Program Calendars for the years 1956-1961 are not part of the collection.
39 Program Calendars – 1962-1963 and 1968
39-1 1962 – Officers:
President – Lois Benning
Vice President – Opal Holfinger
Secretary Treasurer – Evelyn Wintrow
Floral Secretary – Evelyn Holfinger
39-2 1963 – Officers:
President – Edith Edsall
Vice President – Virginia Favorite
Secretary Treasurer – Bertha Rhoades
Floral Secretary – Naomi Brumbaugh [2 copies]
Also in this envelope is the Golden Anniversary Luncheon Program – February 7, 1963
Note: Program Calendars for the years 1964-1967 are not part of the collection.
39-3 1968 – Officers:
President – Evelyn Holfinger
Vice President – Alma Rike
Secretary Treasurer – Lucille Franke
Floral Secretary – Gladys Lyons
Note: Program Calendars for the years 1969-1985 are not part of the collection.
40 Program Calendars – 1986 and 1988
40-1 1986 – Officers:
President – Frances Hiegel
Vice President – Evelyn Holfinger
Secretary – Naomi Brumfield
Treasurer – Edith Edsall
Note: Program Calendar for 1987 is not part of the collection.
40-2 1988 – Officers:
President – Lois Benning
Vice President – Edie Edsall
Secretary – Launa Favorite
Treasurer – Nola Hines
END OF COLLECTION