Woman's Club of Beckley to Commemorate
100th Anniversary
from Beckley Newspapers 10/18/2009
written by Michell James, Register-Herald Reporter
In October 1909,
a group of 25 Beckley women gathered at the home of Sen. John McCreery on North Kanawha Street to organize a club with the
purpose of self-improvement in literature and music.
Tuesday night, the current members of the Woman's Club of Beckley
will gather for a re-creation of that initial meeting at the home of Susan Hambric, former Southern District Director of the
Junior Woman's Club.
It is fitting that the reception will take place in Hambric's
home, which is known to many as the "Hodel House," the former home of Beckley Newspaper's publisher Charles Hodel, whose daughter-in-law
Muriel was a club president.
Mary Abbott, current club president, said the "social event"
will include current and past members, community leaders, and friends of the club. Abbott said between eight and 10
new members will be inducted during the reception, and Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh is expected to declare 2009-2010 as "The
Year of the Woman's Club of Beckley."
Additionally, the club will unveil its new Ladies of Vision
Memorial Plaque, which will hang inside the organization's clubhouse on Park Avenue and feature names of current and
past members. Anyone who wishes to add a name to the plaque can do so for a $50 contribution to the club.
"We just feel like it is important to remember those who have
done so much for the Woman's Club," Abbott said, adding that the money will go toward the plaque. This is a good
way to memorialize them."
Abbott and Kathryne Williams, second vice president in charge
of membership, said Tuesday's event is just the first in what they hope will be a year-long monthly series of celebratory
events. "We're going to have different activities planned each month through next September," Abbott said, adding that
a parade and a May luncheon are in the planning stages.
Although the club's initial goals were greared toward literature
and music, Williams, a member since 1947, says its goals quickly expanded and its accomplishments and contributions to the
Beckley community are too many to count.
"The club has been a catalyst and has worked toward various projects and improvements
in the city," she said. Among those projects are a well-baby clinic, and efforts in establishing the Beckley-Raleigh
County YMCA, the Raleigh County Historical Society, and Theatre West Virginia, as well as providing asistance for the Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Williams said the club can also be credited with the first citywide
cleanup and with the formation of the Raleigh County Public Library. "The library started with the women bringing
books into their homes, then it moved into the Memorial Building and then into the new library," she said.
Both Williams and Abbott say they believe the club's dedication
to all its projects is the reason it is now in its 100th year. "The club has been involved in doing so many nice things
for the community," Williams said. "It has always had good volunteers and women who have put in the hours and worked
at it until they made it a success." Abbott agreed, "It's because of the efforts of all the women who have belonged
and the dedication to the causes that they are working on. I see it being here for the next 100 years!"
Anyone interested in nominating a name for the Ladies
of Vision Memorial Plaque can do so by contacting Patricia Meadows at 304-253-7980.
You may also print out a form from this website to mail in with your contribution. Mailing address is on the form.
