It is a long way back to the first of literary work in our beloved Lowell on the noble Grand, the river of my early childhood, for I remember faintly hearing of a club sometime in the early "60’s" called the Lowell Literary Club. Its members were both men and women and their meetings were held in the evenings, every other week.

In 1884, there was a large club of young ladies of the teenage with Mrs. J.W. Hine as president and organized to study Bible history.

In 1885 the "Old Shakespeare Club" was organized. This was a very informal club with no by-laws and no dues.

The club was organized for sociability, as well as study and continued for three or four years with great pleasure and benefit to the members. When interest seemed to be waning in 1890, the club closed for a vacation during the summer.

In the early spring of 1896, since only six of the old club members were in Lowell it was decided that each of these six should invite one lady making an even dozen to revive club work. This number grew to fifteen, then to thirty. Officers were elected, by-laws adopted and the "Every Other Thursday Club" took the place of "The Shakespeare Club."

The new club was a great improvement over the old club and showed progress each year.

In 1896 the club had its first printed programs at the cost of $6.00, and the first dues of 50c were paid. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. M.C. Greene, secretary and treasurer, Mrs. R.R. Eaton, critic, Mrs. E.R. Craw. These were elected for three months.

In 1899 the name of the club was changed to "The Thursday Club" and remained so until 1904.

In 1903 Mrs. Craw, our present, was called to join the "invisible club" and as the club year was nearing the end, no further meetings were held.

In the autumn of 1904, when club work was resumed there was a membership of eighty-seven with the following officers: President, Mrs. M.C. Greene; first vice president, Mrs. Anna Wadsworth; second vice president, Mrs. Cora Foster; secretary, Mrs. Angeline Hooker; treasurer, Mrs. Ella Ward; critic, Miss Alice Morris; pianist, Mrs. Mary Whitney.

The name of the club was changed to "The Lowell Literary Club." The new club studied along literary lines, current events, and was interested in the public welfare.

In 1905 the "Lowell Literary Club" became affiliated with the State Federation which proved of great benefit to the club.

Of the eighty-seven members, thirty-seven have passed from our sight to the "Great Beyond;" others are scattered and only a small number were in Lowell when the "Lowell Literary Club" and the "Clover Leaf Club" merged to form "The Lowell Woman’s Club."

MRS. DORA E. WINEGAR

In the spring of 1901 the "Clover Leaf Club" was organized with Mrs. M. M. Perry as president. This club drew its membership from the waiting list of the "Lowell Literary Club" and any outside ladies who were interested in club work.

The "Clover Leaf Club" was also a federated club, and met every two weeks.

In 1928 the "Lowell Literary Club" and the "Clover Leaf Club" merged and since that time have been one club, "The Lowell Woman’s Club."

The late Mrs. Mary Hodges was the first president of "The Lowell’s Woman’s Club" and Mrs. Jessie Bennett, the first secretary. At the present time, the membership list is as follows: Active members, seventy-six; associate members, four; honorary members, five. There is also a Junior club of twenty-one members, under the sponsorship of the Senior club.

The year 1930-31 was devoted to a study of Michigan and the outstanding piece of work will be the staging of the "Pageant" during the Centennial.

HANNAH G. REYNOLDS