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XXI Club Denison, Texas  The Denison Herald June 25, 1972 XXI CLUB HERE WROTE TEXAS HISTORY CHAPTER "Some moments are hung in memory like a lamp - they shine and swing gently and one can look back on them when all else has failed." It was with this thought that the XXI Club women began their organization. The first train coming into Denison in 1872 brought progress to the potential city, but it took 21 women 18 years later to bring culture to the frontier town. The accomplishments of the XXI Club can be better appreciated when one considers that Denison started as a wide open, rip-snorting western settlement. The MK&T railroad chose this site and it attracted wild, adventurous spirits. But among them came men and women of education and vision as shown by the fact that Denison Town Company, in laying out the city, donated plots for churches, schools and Forest Park. The cultural activities of Denison evolved early, and a shining example of this was the XXI Club's organization on October 14, 1890. Two culturally minded young women, Miss Edith Menefee and Miss Cora Lingo, chose to go for a vacation one summer to Chatauqua, New York, which was at that time the center for summer study. On their way east, they became acquainted with some enthusiastic club women going to Boston to attend a convention and were persuaded to go to Boston with them. They were quickly converted to the idea of having a culture club in Denison. Accordingly, in the fall of that year, Miss Menefee interested 9 of her friends to meet with her at the home of Mrs. Paul Waples (living then at the corner of Morton and Perry) to organize a club. While they were meeting, a visitor dropped in - Mrs. R.C. Shearman, wife of the new president of the State National Bank. When the group learned Mrs. Shearman was an experienced club woman, they made her the first President. So the XXI Club was founded and Mrs. Goodwin and Miss Menefee were appointed to draft a constitution. The object of the club being the pursuit of study as a means of intellectual culture and general improvement. The group agreed to have a limited membership of 21, not knowing if the club would ever reach that size. At the suggestion of a visiting New York friend, the XXI Club was adopted. Even though the membership limit had to be increased immediately, and many times since, the name remains the same. Women attending the first meeting and signing the constitution were: Miss Edith Menefee Mrs. R.C. Shearman Lizzie Cook Elizabeth Edwards Mrs. Amanda H. Foster Mrs. A.H. Coffin Alice B. Hanna Mrs. Lily Hathaway Mrs. Mollie Hudnall Susie M. Smith Mrs. Rosa M. Leeper Cora Jean Lingo Minnie Marsh Louella J. Moore M. Ginerva Munson Clara Lingo Platter Jean W. Acheson Evie P. Hughes Mary Waples Mrs. Paul Waples Alice Goodwin The first dues were 50 cents per year and meetings were held each Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Charles Jones attended the General Convention in 1895, bringing back more ideas for the young group. The club first met in private homes, then in 2 rooms of the College Building. But these loyal women longed for a clubhouse large enough for all of their activities and to accommodate an ever-growing library. This need was met when J.T. Munson, a leading pioneer citizen and a staunch friend of the club, suggested the club incorporate under the laws of Texas, and in 1892 assisted the members in drawing up the articles of incorporation. On February 26, 1896 the club's annual Washington tea, Mr. Munson handed the President a sealed envelope containing a check for $4,000 and a deed to 2 lots fronting on Gandy Street and extending 60 feet on Scullin Avenue. The club was to raise $2,000 more for the library. The gift of money and land took the club women's breath and the president, Miss Lingo, said, "I suggest that we recess to embrace each other," which they did. But now the $2,000 had to be raised and members embarked on amateur performances. After months of work, $1,700 was still needed, so Miss Menefee wrote Andrew Carnegie, the great financier, for help. He graciously sent his personal check for $1,700 "to keep the little Texas library going." The building, a 2-story brick construction, contained a basement and a large auditorium on the first floor. A winding staircase led to the library and the attractive club room. Money for red carpet in the clubhouse was raised when the Denison Herald allowed the women to publish a special edition, "The Halloween Surprise." Members actually sold copies on the streets as well as serving as guest editor and manager. The auditorium was used for all Denison concerts, music recitals, amateur performances, church services, socials,lectures and on various occasions, for funerals. Men's organizations often used the facilities including the National Convention of Bankers and the Northeast Press Association. Even though very busy with their library work, members did outstanding service work and were always busy with Denison's needs. And from the first year's course of study, "The Works of Washington Irving," to the present, the club has an unbroken record of civic pioneering. It built the first woman's club house in Texas and is the second oldest study club in Texas. In 1897 the club was represented in Waco when the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs was organized and became one of the 13 charter members of the State Federation. Mrs. C.S. Cobb, Mrs. Anne Wilkinson and Mrs. Eugenia Rhea were club representatives. Mrs. Cobb was elected fifth vice president and Mrs. Rhea was one of the signers of the constitution. On March 15-16 in McKinney, the State Federation will celebrate its 75th anniversary. The XXI Club as a charter member will be especially honored. Through the years, club members were able to increase the collection of books in the library. The collection contained thousands of books, many of them rare first editions. Miss Grace Ritchie, Miss Anna Mosse, Mrs. R.W. Lewin and Miss Ida Shreeves were long time librarians for the collection, which was housed on the second floor of the club house. A borrowed daughter of the club, Siddie Jo Johnson of Dallas, talented writer, book reviewer and speaker and author of "New Town in Texas," Has helped the XXI Club through the years to raise funds for its many projects. The winning of a piano in 1897 was the nucleus of the XXI Choral Club in 1915. A music committee was appointed and special programs presented. During the year of Mrs. W.B. Munson, they presented the spectacular pantomime, "Ben Hur." The choral club was independent of the XXI Club, but was sponsored and financed by it. The chorus was disbanded when the press of the war interfered....  XXI Club History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |