COURTESY
GRAFTON, Vt. — The Women’s Community Club of Grafton will celebrate 100 years of community, philanthropy and higher education at a Centennial Gala on Aug. 18 with all the fixings. They are also celebrating a rare find: old records going back 100 years.
Judy Rowley, the club’s historian, was eager to present a little history about the Club for her remarks at the Gala, but was puzzled that the Grafton Historical Society didn’t have any records or old photos on the club.
After hours and days of searching throughout the entire Grafton Historical Museum and insisting that “something” must exist, she and the Grafton Historical Society administrator, Maureen Fisher Fletcher, discovered a box that apparently had never been opened, according to a press release from the GHS. The Society was organized in 1962, so it could have been a lost cause — but they hit pay dirt. The original minutes from 1918-1928 were found in the box.
Not only that, but the original will from 1938 by Susan Daniels, leaving money to the club to focus on education and other beautification and maintenance projects, was inside along with other historical gems.
Rowley said she was thrilled about the discovery and vows to store the historical documents in a very safe and prominent place in the Museum. She now has the records she needs to bring the 100-year history of the Club to light.
Looking back over the years, through wars, a depression and times of recession and prosperity, the women of the WCC have helped make Grafton a better place to live.
As described in the minutes of Feb. 8, 1918, it all started on that date when 75 women gathered in the Baptist Vestry to organize the Ladies Knitting Club, which raised money, knitted clothing and gave aid and support to American soldiers during the first World War. The idea for such an effort became the “seed” for the Women’s Community Club that exists today, they said.
After the war, and with a name change, the club turned its attention to efforts within the community. The scholarship program was launched thanks to Susan Daniels’ will. She was also the club’s first lifetime member. The gift was earmarked to promote higher education, maintain the Village Park, and tune the pianos in the Town Hall, Chapel, and Village School. Barbara Fisher Rogers received the first scholarship of $100 in 1966-67.
This year, the Club awarded $20,000 in total to seven students. It has given out 225 scholarships to 127 Grafton students totaling $250,000 in just over 50 years — an accomplishment for a town of 600.
Awards are based on scholastic achievement, financial need, community involvement and extra curricular activities/work commitments at school. This year the Club also launched a Centennial Sponsorship initiative, to which the Windham Foundation contributed a leadership gift of $10,000. Other sponsors quickly followed bringing the Centennial Sponsorship effort to $25,000.
The 2018 winners all live in Grafton and attended local schools: Kyle Record attended Bellows Falls High School and is a senior at Keene State College, studying safety and occupational health applied sciences; Duane Snide attended Bellows Falls High School and is a sophomore at University of Vermont studying mechanical engineering; Theo Pilette went to Bellows Falls High School and will be a freshman at Norwich University studying criminal justice; William Culver attended Leland and Gray High School and is a senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying physics / computer sciences; Adam Culver attended Leland and Gray High School and will be a freshman at University of Hartford (or Springfield College) studying math secondary education; Keltsey Rushton attended Leland and Gray High School and is a junior at University of Vermont studying animal science; Kassidy Wyman attended Leland and Gray High School and will be a freshman at Southern Vermont College (or Vermont Technical College) studying radiology.
Several of the previous scholarship winners have created their own businesses in Grafton, including Robbie Sprague of Sprague’s Hoof Trimming, after studying at Vermont Tech; John Hallock of JMW Contracting, who attended Vermont Technical College and received a degree in construction management; and Orson Stevens Automotive, light and heavy duty truck repair.
At this date, the Centennial Gala on Aug. 18 is sold out, but those eager to attend can put their name on a waiting list by writing to [email protected]. The gala will feature a half hour concert with musicians from Boston’s Grammy-nominated orchestra, A Far Cry, along with an Arts and Crafts Benefit Auction to highlight the artists and arts tradition in Grafton. The Gala will be a memorable evening of music, food, drinks and both a live and silent auction with two Grafton residents as auctioneers.
The auction features historic and one-of-kind hand made items, along with paintings by Eric Aho and Charlie Hunter, a chair with woven necktie seat by Bea Fisher of Grafton, a hand-painted pitcher by Jennie Blue, a fish platter created by Laura Zindel, a custom painting of your furniture by Lucia Corwin, along with many other unique pieces. Noted chair maker Conrad Delia has donated a Windsor Rocking Chair valued at $1,000 that will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance at Gallery North Star or by writing to [email protected] or at the gala.
Money raised through this event will fund scholarships given to local students pursuing post-secondary education. Absentee bids can be placed by [email protected].
More details and photos and description of auction items can be found at facebook.com/Grafton.WCC. Or contact [email protected].
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