Hopeful Club
Hopeful Club,
September, 1933

Home of Mrs. Gene Smith

The first home demonstration club in Northeast Blaine County, known as "The Homemakers" was organized in 1922 in the home of Mrs. Rose Beatty with nine members. The charter members were Mrs. W. H. Anderson, Mrs. Rose Beatty, Mrs. Cara Westfahl, Mrs. Helen Quisenberry, Mrs. Mable Hochett, Mrs. Les Westfahl, Mrs. Avis Weigand, Illene McNaulty, and Mrs. Pearl Stuteville, Mrs. Mable Hochett was president.

Miss Vera Carding was the County Demonstrater. They met twice a month in their homes, traveling in buggies or Model T. Fords.

Mrs. Walter Leisher, Mrs. Rixie Baker and Lois White were among the early club members, dropping out a little later; but joining, "The Hopeful Club" in later years.

In 1927, the "Homemakers Club" had increased to a membership of 63 women, too many for one club, so the group divided. One group keeping the name "Homemakers, and the other choosing the name "Hopeful".

In 1927-28, Mrs. Elizabeth McClung and Mrs. Dollie Emmons became members, still active club members today of Hopeful Club.

At this time, Miss Ola Armstrong was County Demonstrator. The Hopeful Club grew, with Mrs. Avis Weigand as president, and did much fair work and helped many women in the line of homemaking.

In 1933, the Hopeful Club had a membership of 39 ladies, which was too many to entertain in one home, so divided again, one group keeping the name Hopeful, and the other choosing the name "Sunshine". The East-West highway "51" thru Okeene was the dividing line of membership.

In 1934, the Hopeful Club took up the project of improving Collins Cemetery, weeding, cleaning, planting bulbs, marking and painting cement markers for unmarked graves and leveling all graves for easier care; from which has now become a community project with board members of men of community. Mrs. Louis Weiters headed the cemetery improvement project.

The Okeene Library came into existence at this time; the Hopeful and Sunshine Clubs working together for it. Mrs. Ida Kratz was a valiant worker and many others working together for it. The town of Okeene now has a good ibrary in the community buiding.

Mrs. Elizabeth McClung was the new president when the club divided in 1933. She was a hard worker in the club and being an expert seamstress and homemaker, many were the blue ribbons she brought home for fair exhibits.

In 1935, Mrs. Walter Leisher became a member of the Hopeful Club and has been an active member, serving as president four years and has brought home many blue ribbons from the fair. If there are food sales or other ways of raising money for our club, she is always there, and has had almost perfect attendance at club meetings. If there is no meeting place for club, she takes it. Truly she is an outstanding member.

Time passes on, many new members come into, many old ones drop out, some die, some move away, some remain in club and gradually retire and let the younger ones take up the heavier duties of club work.

There have been many good club members, many hard workers and good presidents.

With the passing of time, Miss Ola Armstrong was transferred to Stillwater and Miss Maudie Thompson, our present demonstrator, took her place.

In 1952, Mrs. Illene Weber is the president, also a blue ribbon winner in fair work and a hard worker in club work.

We have 22 members, meet once a month, do many good deeds for the community, such as helping the school band, donating $75.00 at one time to buy suits, and etc.

The club contributes to the library fund, polio fund, heart fund, 4-H work, also have sent clothing overseas East and West. Because all have worked together so well, we have had over $150.00 in our treasury at one time.

Yes, many years have passed by, but Bessie Anderson, only charter member in Hopeful Club today is still with us. She has been a good club member and hard worker although she moved away for a number of years, yet joined us again as soon as she was back in our community.

In our club, we have open membership for all who like to work in homemaking. We have had doctor's wives, school teachers, single girls, farm women, town women, and also a retired county demonstrator all working together as club members.

We have achievement days, community fairs, county fairs, state fairs, council meetings, district meetings, state meetings, and national meetings, all of which are very educational, interesting, and entertaining.

To The Hopeful Club

We have come a long way through the years,
We have had much happiness and a few tears;
We have won many ribbons at the fairs,
Our club has won the name it bears.

by - Dollie Emmons

1953


One end of refinished library
24 new books purchased on table
The Hopeful Club chose as their project for 1953, the cleaning, painting, building of extra shelves and buying new books for the Okeene Library. With the help of some of the husbands, and all of the members willing to do their part the job was done very nicely. A series of books was purchased for the library, and money given as needed for supplies for mending the books. By doing this we have given the children in the community a better library in which to get their reading material, and also a quiet place to go and read if they wish.
Officers for 1953:
Mrs. Bryan Emmons, Pres
Mrs. Omer McClung, VP
Mrs. Mick Epley, Sec
Mrs. T. J. White, Treasurer

beginning work on the library

Hopeful Club in Watonga Parade, during 1953 Fair
An outstanding achievement of our club accomplished was when we entered the Parade in Watonga and received first place. We could not have done this without the help of all members, charter members and some charter members not able to be in club work now. It takes a lot of cooperation to accomplish a goal such as that.
Members:
Roxie Baker
Leah Bierig
Betty Haworth
Ida Koehn
Edna Ladwig
Dora Leisher
Mildred Leisher
Thelma Leisher
Elizabeth McClung
Ettie Outhier
Leona Randolph
Iliene Weber
Lois White
Maggie Weathersby
Norine Dumler
Mamie Priebe

newly painted library fireplace