Catawba, Gaston, and Cabarrus Women Build Community Centers, 1950

By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Carolina Farm Observer, Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 18, 1950

CATAWBA HOME DEMONSTRATION WOMEN
All over North Carolina this fall, farm women have been celebrating the opening or the dedication of small community houses in their rural neighborhoods. Sunday afternoon, Nov. 19, more than 200 farm women with their husbands and friend gathered around the stone fireplace in their new community house in the Monogram section of Catawba County to enjoy their new club home.

For 10 years, they had talked about having such a house. It started when the Monogram School was consolidated with the Catawba Schools. This consolidation took away the only community center for that neighborhood and the people felt the loss. Last January, the women of the community decided that there had been enough talk and the time had come for definite action. Mrs. C.W. Hollar, president of the Monogram Home Demonstration Club, therefore appointed a committee composed of Mrs. C.R. Faust, Mrs. Max Rowe, and Mrs. Seth White to select a plan for the house and to get it started.

T.M. Lutz prepared a blue print of the plan decided upon, and a tract of land was bought. The site was cleared for the new building and those trees that would add to the beauty of the landscape were carefully selected, marked and saved.

Every bit of the labor from then on was donated by the men, women and children of the Monogram community. Days were agreed upon as “work days” and many a man spent his whole Saturday giving his time and labor without charge.

The group bought about $3,000 worth of materials and now they have built a permanent community house, built mainly of concrete blocks, standing 40 by 60 feet on a beautiful spot. The big assembly room has a handsome fireplace at the eastern end and there are two rest rooms and a kitchen. All of the material used has been paid for in full.

Wylie Knox and Jesse Giles, home and farm agents, helped the local people with the new community building and were invited to the official opening. “I don’t believe I have ever seen so many happy people than on that afternoon,” said Miss Knox. “The two local ministers were there. The club women served punch, coffee and home-made cookies to all who called.”

Mrs. Seth White said, “We want this building to be used for all in the community because it has been needed so badly for so long a time.” Mrs. C.R. Faust remarked that she had spent time at the building when she should have been in her own yard at home but she felt the work of establishing a community home was something that had to be done. It means that the local people now have a nice, modern place where they can hold their meetings, recreational events, and other gatherings and it was built through their own unaided efforts by community co-operation.

GASTON COUNTY

The Dellview Club in Gaston County has begun to build such a home in its neighborhood. The women have raised $450 so far by holding three cake and food sales and one bazaar. A friendship quilt has been started and several landowners in the Dellview Community have pledged timber and labor for the new building.

But the Dellview women say their efforts have not been confined entirely to getting ready for this new community home. They helped to build a new church in the community this year, contributed to the I.O. Schaub Loan Fund for needy farm boys; and have done excellent work in holding community recreational events for the children of the community.

The women stage a special Christmas program for the neighborhood each December, which they choose by carrying Christmas baskets to the sick and shut-ins. They send sunshine boxes to any of their members who may become sick. Flowers are sent to stricken homes in the community when there is a death in the family. The women get money for the flowers by taxing themselves a small birthday fee and this collection goes into a flower fund.

There are only 36 women in this Dellview Club but they have an 80 percent attendance at their monthly club meetings the year round. Lucile Tatum, Gaston Home Agent, says it is one of the most active groups of farm women in the county.

BETHPAGE COMMUNITY

The Bethpage Community in Cabarrus County has only 35 members in its home demonstration club, but these 35 women also made up their minds to have a community home by the close of 1950.

The foundations of the house were laid in June and the women will have a Christmas party and the official opening of their new home this month. They have not quite paid for everything but the same courage that enabled them to raise $3,005.82 in cash during this past year will make it easy for them to pay off the small balance remaining.

Mrs. Edith McGlamery, home agent, says the building of this new Bethpage Community House actually got under way in August. Local landowners gave forest trees to supply the lumber, and the women sold subscriptions to magazines, held bake sales, sold starch, and peddled blouse and skirt hangers. Along with this commercial effort, they staged fun nights, gave local talent plays and served suppers to various organizations.

Mrs. Ira Rawles says “We still have a little to do in adding kitchen equipment but the home is a reality now, and we are happy to have such a place of our own.

YADKIN HOME

The thrill of a community home is as nothing when compared with having your own home, fixed as you want it, says Mrs. Clarence V. Hall of Union Grove, Route 1, Yadkin County. Just one year ago, Mrs. Hall, her husband, and three small children, moved into their new farm home. It is a seven room house, with bath, and a full basement. The husband and wife did most of the actual work on that home, including concreting the full-sized basement underneath.

“Of course,” says Mrs. Hall, “the home is not finished. Does one ever finish a home completely? But we are adding things as we can pay for them and we owe not a cent on our place.”

This couple drew their own plans, and have the seven rooms arranged that they can add additional ones if needed. They have the convenient U-shaped kitchen with built-in cabinets, an electric range and a twin-bowl sink. A small breakfast counter also has been built in and here most of the meals are served.

Mrs. Hall says men and children like to watch you cook and this counter permits them to do this; but at the same time, it keeps them out of her way. The floor is of inlaid linoleum, easy to clean and able to stand lots of hard wear.