MS-255

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