Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio by Gayleen Gindy

Author:Gayleen Gindy [Gindy, Gayleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781546200598
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2017-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

SYLVANIA LADIES LITERARY CLUB

According to Jane Eley, life-long resident of Sylvania, the Ladies Literary Club started in 1898, and in fact she held a collection of records to prove it. The records prove that they were organized in 1898 and were federated in 1911. The first book that the club members reviewed was “The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table” By Oliver Wendell Holmes. In 1964 the club still existed and continued to meet monthly with a membership of 30 women. The bi-laws said that meetings would be held monthly and membership was selected and recommended by a member and presented to the club for acceptance or rejection. Records said that the first 62 years the club met twice a month, and then in 1960 they started meeting monthly, with the minutes noting: “The pressure of so many organizations makes it difficult to attend twice a month.”

The constitution and by-laws of the club said: “The object of this society shall be the study and reading of good literature, for discussion and broadening of our ideas, and keeping abreast of current events.” Originally dues were set at 25 cents per year. It was noted that members who showed a lack of interest by missing three meetings without reasonable excuse or who “made remarks outside not for the good of the society” would be dropped. The motto of the club was: “Use the talents you possess; the woods would be silent if no birds sang but those who could sing best.” The agenda at each meeting included: call to order, reading of the previous minutes, business, music, paper for the day, discussion, roll call and then adjournment. Eventually the roll call was eliminated and as the years went on it became more of an informal exchange of thoughts and ideas between the members. At first meetings were held at 2:30 in the afternoon so that members could first prepare their midday meals and clean up afterwards, but by 1955 they changed the meeting time to 1:30 p.m.

An “Outline of Study for the Ladies’ Literary Club of Sylvania, Ohio” for 1899 shows the first meeting for this 1899 season was held on 9-18-1899 at Miss Ella Torrence’s home. (She lived in the home at 5362 S. Main Street, which because the house was moved became known as “The Lathrop House”). The agenda included: Roll Call; Current Events; Sketch of Ruskin’s Life by Miss Comstock; Gleanings from Prefaces of Essay by Miss Mercereau; Essay – Sesame of King’s Treasuries (1); Discussion “Books of the Hour and Books for All Times.” The other meetings were as follows at the following homes: September 27 – Mrs. Cone; October 11 – Mrs. Durfee; October 25 – Miss Mercereau; November 8 – Miss Little; November 22 – Mrs. Harris; December 13 – Mrs. Bush; December 27 – Mrs. Cutler.”

The first three years the literary club did not have officers and did not keep any minutes, then in 1901 they became more organized and started keeping minutes and voted on a president, secretary, treasurer and a “critic.

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