Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Wakefield Mothers' Club

Description

"The Wakefield Mothers' Club was established in 1915 when a group of Wakefield mothers met at the home of Mrs. Carl Snow and voted to organize a mothers club for the purpose of 'awakening a deeper sense of responsibility and to help their children develop mentally, morally and physically to their fullest extent.' Since resources for women were limited in 1915, the original 10 members also felt the need to awaken a deeper sense of themselves as women and bring about conditions to make new friendships. Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Edwin Bonney served as the first presidents of the club. The members met every Wednesday afternoon and paid an annual dues of 25 cents. One of the first projects the club achieved was a kindergarten at the YMCA. Through the years membership increased and the club members began to become involved in several projects. Numerous contributions were made to the war effort and the club lent their services and talents to many organizations including knitting and sewing afghans for Children's Hospital, sewing petticoats for the children of Morgan Memorial in 1919, making baskets for the Town Farm and performing many services for the elderly. In 1923, The Wakefield Mothers' Club successfully sponsored a Town Meeting article which imposed a 9 p.m. curfew for children under 16 years of age. The townspeople also voted to impose a fine on the parents after three offenses. In the early 1940s the members began holding their meetings during the evening hours and the club broadened its scope by adding different types of programs and topics to its agenda. The club members have continued their commitment to the children and the elderly throughout the years, establishing a $100 grant in 1955 to a 'deserving Wakefield girl for further education at a recognized school or college.' A permanent scholarship through the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation was established in 1981. For several years the club members have distributed holiday fruit baskets to selected Wakefield seniors and have sponsored a Valentine tea for the residents of local nursing homes. Today the club meets on the fourth Monday of each month between September and May and maintains a colorful agenda. New members are always welcome. The group holds lectures on diverse topics, craft activities, community service meetings, as well as other varied and enjoyable activities. The Wakefield Mothers' Club continues to provide a service to the community by distributing holiday baskets and visiting the elderly. The Club also donated the 'Welcome to Wakefield' sign at the Wakefield Common in 1984 and provided funds for the swingset at the Spaulding Street playground. In 1988 the Club started a holiday door decoration contest for the community." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 1990

Church St. photo courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Church Street (Wakefield, Mass.)

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

[Wakefield, Mass.] : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Streets

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

2 pictures : b&w

Extent

6 x 8 cm. & 8 x 15 cm.