TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB

The Twentieth Century Club of Harrison, Ar, is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Arkansas (GFWC). It was organized on January 26, 1901 with Mrs. Nora Armitage as the first president. The Club was federated in 1902, and incorporated in 1912.

Early records tell of an auxiliary club - the Culture Club - composed of younger women in the community. In 1948, the group sponsored a new federated club - the Women's Civic Club - with 25 charter members. Neither of these clubs are in existence today and the Twentieth Century Club is the only federated club in Harrison.

Minutes record that in 1905 the Club sent a delegation to the city council to urge passage of an ordinance compelling owners of "hogs and their families" to be kept off the city streets.

In celebration of the golden anniversary, a tea was held at the Hotel Seville in 1951. Approximately 200 were in attendance. Members dressed in costumes of the early days. Mrs. Joe Miller was President and Mrs. F.H. Jacobson was Vice President.

For the 75th anniversary, a celebration was held at the home of Mrs. Joe Miller. Mrs. B.W. Dillen was President.

For the Centennial in 2001, a birthday party was held at the Lyric Theater. Wilma Pollock was President and Pat Kennedy was First Vice President. Members again dressed in costumes from the early days. Community service events in honor of the Centennial included visiting nursing homes, giving books to the Library, donating food to Sanctuary, and entering a float in the Veteran's Day Parade.

In 2002, to celebrate the Club's 100 years of being federated, the Club published a history and recipe book, Recipes and Remembrances. To introduce the book, a Tasting Luncheon featuring recipes from the cookbook was held at the home of Jean Johnson. To date, the effort has raised over $4,944. Cookbooks are still available for purchase by contacting the OAC.

In April 2004, Harrison Mayor Bob Reynolds proclaimed GFWC Federation Day. The proclamation was presented to the Club at the Boone County Heritage Museum. Many Club items were donated to the Museum, including scrapbooks, GFWC history books, and more.

On Federation Day in 2005, the Club planted a new dogwood tree on the courthouse grounds in honor of Glenna Ragan, Arkansas State GFWC President.

Over the years, the Club has furnished many District and State leaders. Mrs. Ora Andrews served as secretary of the Arkansas Federation in 1912; Mrs. J.M. Shinn as AFWC President from 1942-1944, after service as the Batesville District President (1936-1938); and Glenna Ragan served as State President (2004-2006).

The club is honored to have three other state officers: Gwen Myatt, editor of Federation Speaks and Corresponding Secretary; Pat Kennedy, GFWC Fundraising Chairman and member of the Budget and Finance Committee; and Gwendola Tennyson, State Historian and member of the Women's History and Resource Committee.

Beautification of the Harrison Cemeteries
The major work of the Club has been the maintenance and beautification of the Harrison cemeteries. A Harrison banker named Green donated the land where Rosehill Cemetery is located. In the early years of the town's formation, in 1903, ten acres north of the city were purchased from G.W. Holsapple. This acreage has been added to and is the present location of Maplewood Cemetery, so named because the Club planted maple trees there in 1924.

The Club members owned and maintained a house for the Sexton of the cemeteries. The property, located on the corner of North Chestnut and Prospect, was sold in 1972 to urban renewal.

In the late 1930s, the cemeteries were turned over to the city for maintenance while the Club retained its beautification work. In 1968, with the assistance of Mayor Dene O. Hester, a perpetual care fund was established for the upkeep of the cemeteries when no revenue would be generated from the sale of lots. Club members have contributed memorials and made donations to this fund.

In 1947, the women raised $1,200 for materials to widen and blacktop the road to Maplewood; the county furnished the labor. Arches with the cemetery names were erected at the entrances of both cemeteries. Recently, the city replaced the one at Maplewood.

During 1985-1986, a memorial chapel was built and landscaped at Maplewood Cemetery at a cost of $20,000. The chapel serves as a place of meditation and prayer. In 2005, a directory of plots was placed in the chapel for public access.

In 1995, the Club cooperated with the Daughters of the American Revolution in planting 21 maple trees at Maplewood Cemetery. The trees came from Mt. Vernon, Virginia, and are a "living classroom" to honor our national heroes.

In 1996, the Club was instrumental in getting a landscaped sign to mark Fick Cemetery, the oldest in Harrison.

Since 1999, the Club has sponsored "Lights of Love" under the leadership of Sue Tennyson. Luminaries are placed on graves in both cemeteries. Club volunteers, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other youth clubs assist with this event.

The latest project, under the leadership of Martha Milburn, Cemetery Chairman, has been a complete restoration and beautification of some 733 trees at Maplewood and Rosehill Cemeteries. Work was funded with Club monies, a grant awarded from the Arkansas Forest Commission Urban Forest Program (AFC), the U.S. Forest Service, and private donations. Mrs. Wilma Pollock was Club President.

Phase I of the restoration involved surveying and tagging each tree the Arkansas Forestry Commission considered severely damaged by wind, ice storms, and disease. This phase has been completed at the cost of $56,290.50, supported by a $10,000 grant from AFC/U.S. Forest Service, as well as donations by individuals and businesses.

Phase II involved contracting with a Certified Arborist and replacing 75 trees. Club members assisted in the work, including loading and placing mulch around trees and weeding. Funds in the amount of $10,370 and 10,135 volunteer hours went toward this project.

Other Civic Projects
Over the years, the Club has participated in civic, national, and international programs and has followed the GFWC and AFWC guidelines on programs and participation. The Club has supported those projects both with financial support and volunteer labor. The Club has sponsored a girl to attend Girl's State, helped with the Sheriff's Boys and Girls Ranches, March of Dimes, T.B., Red Cross, Cancer drives, and Sanctuary.

In 1913, the Club contributed $10 toward buying a silver service for the Battleship Arkansas. In 1921, the women donated money to the schools each month when they were in financial difficulty.

In February 1944, Club members sold $54,812.50 in war bonds during the fourth war bond drive. Many times the club purchased $100 defense bonds to help the war effort; they also contributed funds toward the Bomber the AFWC bought that year.

Club members assisted the crippled children's clinic, which began in 1947, with food and workers, until the clinic was discontinued.

In 1950, the Club furnished a room at the Boone County Hospital at the cost of $375; a plaque on the door carries the Club's name.

More recent projects include sponsoring an annual Art and Writing contest in Harrison Schools, kindergarten through 12th grades. After entries have been judged, they are displayed at the Boone County Library during Young Artists Month (March), and the winning entries are taken to both District and State GFWC competitions. The Grand Finale is an Awards Ceremony at the Lyric Theater in May for the winning students, their families, and teachers.

The Club pays tuition for a student to attend the Hugh O'Brien Youth Conference, and contributes to a teacher's scholarship, which has been won three times by the Club's candidate - once by Miranda Day and twice by Heather Sharp.

In 1996, the Club helped found the Ozark Arts Council, and has been active with the restoration of the Lyric Theater as well as art shows. The OAC's 2005 Gala Fundraiser, "Leonardo at the Lyric", featured an auction of artworks created by Harrison leaders under the mentorship of members of the Harrison Art League. A piece by Club member Martha Milburn, a mobile entitled "Memories in Time", brought the highest bid of $1,000.

In 2002, the Club added the Project of the Month to each meeting. Local non-profit recipients include Share and Care, Hospice, Ozark Humane Society, Sanctuary, Boone County Library, Hillcrest Nursing Home, Gloves for Kids, Baker's Prairie, the Nature Conservancy, American Heart Association, Boone County Heritage Museum, CASA, Main Street Harrison, Kennedy Senior Center, and helping Katrina refugees.

In 2003, the "Ladies of Elegance Pageant" raised money to pay for mammograms for women who do not have insurance.

That same year, the Harrison Twentieth Century Club hosted the Spring State Convention at the Comfort Inn. State President Kathryn Foust presided. Co-District Presidents Wilma Pollock and Gwendola Tennyson, along with the District VI club presidents, planned the convention and assisted in making it a success.

In 2004, "Literacy Night at the Lyric" began under the direction of Peggy Pollock Harness and other 6th grade teachers to give students a chance to be involved in public speaking. The children shared their original poems, books, speeches, and acting. The Club assisted teachers and served refreshments following the program. The event was also held in 2005 and 2006.

State President Glenna Ragan's special project, "Help Yourself to Health", meant the Club supported many health projects.

In February 2006, the Club held a potluck luncheon and donated the amount usually spent to the American Heart Association in honor of Women's Heart Month. The Club enjoyed games of "Hearts" after the luncheon and collected $200 for the cause.

A grant was submitted and received through GFWC's Health Program in the amount of $100, which was given to the local women's shelter for health products. The Club also helped in the Relay for Life Cancer drive and donated $103. Members also helped at an Antique Fair to raise funds for the local Hospice program. The Club regularly donates to a faith-based Free Medical Mission, contributes to Breast Cancer research and state Nurses scholarships, and more.

Revised 2006 by Gwendola Tennyson - Historian; Marilyn Beard - Club President; Glenna Ragan - State President; and
Pat Kennedy.