Hopewell Homemakers observe 75th anniversary
Hopewell Homemakers Club, one of only two left in Morgan County, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a luncheon meeting at the home of Ramona James on April 16.
Those in attendance were nine second generation members as well as a number of guests.
Each member brought family keepsakes such as hand-stitched quilts, doilies and wearing apparel, representing the handiwork of the club’s founders. These items filled three rooms in the James home and were the subject of much interest and conversation.
Despite changes in the role of homemaking over the years, club members continue to meet on every third Wednesday of the month. Rock Creek Homemakers is the only other active club in the county.
“We still do many crafts and have programs that focus on nutrition, health, clothing and charitable projects,” said Dorothy Martin, president. “We also enjoy going on trips and tours as a group. If anything in town is new, we’ll go check it out.”
The Hopewell Club held its first meeting in April 1939 at the home of Ethel Smith, who was elected the first president. Her daughter, Dorothy Martin, the current president, was three at the time.
The project at that meeting was making a cotton mattress for a double bed. For refreshments, Kool-Aid and teacakes were served.
Charter members were Mrs. Ethel Smith, Mrs. Bertha White, Miss Maude Roper, Mrs. Louise Hammon, Mrs. Bessie Smith. Mrs. Lucy Garner, Mrs. Zola Bennett and Mrs. Earline Orr.
The club motto is “The thing we do best is care and we aim to make a difference.”