Watsontown Women’s Guild
February 13th, 2012
WATSONTOWN WOMEN’S GUILD
In the autumn of 1907, a few young women from the Reformed Church decided to sew for some of the needy children in the Sabbath School classes. They had no money or organization, but a great desire to help others. Their stock in trade was some old clothing and a great enthusiasm. Their first contribution in cash was $5 made by William Curtis Wagner. Later an appeal was made for funds through the Watsontown newspaper, The Record and Star. The response was most gratifying. Soon the demand for clothing was so great that more workers were needed and some of the young women from the Presbyterian Church were invited to join in the work. In 1908 an organization was effected and The Watsontown Guild was formed. First members were Emeline Sturgis (Mrs. W.G. Thomas), C. Mae Morgan (Mrs. Roy Beagle), Helen Hilliard (Mrs. L.G. Harrod), Anna McCormick, Edith Wagner, Bessie Wagner (Mrs. Jay H. Wagner), Sara McFarland, Reba Vincent (Mrs. Charles McDowell), Helen McClure (Mrs. Edward F. Rabe), and Belle Burr (Mrs. Percy W. Hastings). As the demand for clothing increased,
members representing other churches were invited to join the organization. Membership has always been by invitation.
Anything that would benefit the welfare of the community interested the Guild. It has been instrumental in placing many children in proper homes, providing glasses, crutches, wheel chairs, tonsillectomies, and milk for under-nourished children. Finally, through the TB committee, a school nurse was secured. At first the Guild helped pay her salary. Later the work of the mass X-ray was undertaken and many cases of incipient and active turberculosis were discovered in time for help. During World War I, a local Red Cross was organized through the efforts of Guild members. This later became an auxiliary of the Milton Red Cross. The Guild sponsored the Girl Scouts and raised a quota of $1,100 toward a Girl Scout Camp.
Money for the work of the Guild has been raised in numerous ways ~ dues paid by the members, card parties, rummage and food sales. Each year a major effort was made to raise money ~ from this and contributions, funds were always available for anything undertaken. As the government extended its assistance in the form of unemployment compensation and social security, the Guild has had few calls of actual need, but it continues to find ways to create a more loving and beautiful community to raise a family.
Presidents that have served:
1908 1944 1980
1909 1945 1981
1910 1946 1982
1911 1947 1983
1912 1948 1984
1913 1949 1985
1914 1950 1986
1915 1951 1987
Miss Esther Bucher 1916 1952 1988
1917 1953 1989
1918 1954 1990
1919 1955 1991
Miss Esther Bucher 1920 1956 1992
1921 1957 1993
1922 1958 1994
Miss Margaret Allen 1923 1959 1995
1924 1960 1996
Miss Emma Jacoby 1925 1961 1997
1926 1962 1998
1927 1963 1999
1928 1964 2000
1929 1965 2001
1930 1966 2002
1931 1967 2003
1932 1968 2004
1933 1969 2005
1934 1970 2006
1935 1971 2007
1936 1972 2008
1937 1973 2009
1938 1974 2010
1939 1975 2011
1940 1976 2012
1941 1977 2013
1942 1978 2014
1943 1979 2015