Roosevelt ladies maintain the ‘country’ emphasis

Published 10:56 pm Sunday, March 9, 2008

Don’t let this club name fool you. It’s called the Roosevelt Country Club, with emotional emphasis on the middle word.

“This is a club for women from the country,” said member Nancy Chandler. “It’s no country club.”

Here is a paragraph from club minutes in the 1930s: “The social part of our club is very essential to us farmer women as it affords us a few hours of recreation very much needed, at least once a month.”

It started as a club for farm ladies who met at Roosevelt Hall, east of Snohomish, said member Evelyn Pearl.

Men were never allowed at meetings.

Farm women gathered at 9 in the morning in the 1920s, quilted or sewed until lunch, then had a meeting at 2 p.m. Lunch was served by the hostess and included foods such as a casserole, pickles, rolls and jam.

Sue Ann Roberts from Everett said the group raised money through the years through quilt raffles, bazaars, selling sugar Easter eggs, white-elephant goods and hosting garage sales.

Good deeds done by the club since 1914 have enhanced their communities. They give college scholarships and have helped countless organizations including March of Dimes and grange halls. They supported well-child clinics and made lap robes for residents at Delta Rehabilitation Center in Snohomish.

They donated to the Washington Girls Home and Orphanage in Everett in 1917 and a soldier’s tobacco fund. In 1917 and 1918, they also gave to the County Iron Lung Fund and 10 cents each meeting went to the American Red Cross.

They’ve collected flannel for gun wipes and goods for flood victims.

“Some of our members are daughters and granddaughters of women who were in the group many years ago,” Roberts said. “A great-granddaughter (Jayda Stalter) who is only 6 comes and helps us with projects. It is not just for women in Snohomish — we have ladies from Everett, Monroe and Gold Bar.”

Here are some highlights from their detailed minutes:

In 1940, the Christmas party gift exchange had a nickel limit.

In 1946, a picnic was held at the home of Bertha Leever. A roof fire broke out, but the bucket brigade quickly put it out.

In 1949, the president was to fine anyone 5 cents if she had to rap for order. That money was to go into the cancer fund.

On St. Patrick’s Day 1970, “The Wearing of the Green” was sung by Edna Fezler. They had fun with members who were absent during elections. “They were elected but quickly resigned when their names were read in the minutes, Alma being the loudest resigner.”

Casseroles are still a staple of monthly lunch meetings. Evelyn Pearl is famous for her More Casserole.

In unison, several ladies told me the recipe, which includes hamburger, noodles, tomatoes, corn and onions.

On her hosting days, Shari Johnson always serves cabbage rolls.

“We are honored to belong to this group,” Roberts said. “There are things like this that go on and on.”

Roberts would be less a dozen friends if it wasn’t for the Roosevelt Country Club, she said.

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.