Local club celebrates 125th anniversary
Woman’s Club of Steubenville reflects on GFWC moments
CELEBRATING 125 YEARS — The Woman’s Club of Steubenville is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Founded Jan. 14, 1899, the group still continues with its purpose. Today’s members include, from left, Barbara Sweeney, Saundra Palmer, Cookie West, Charlotte Christian, Suzanne Curn-Escobar, Marge Bedortha, Pam Bauman, Judy Brancazio, Gloria Popp and Linda Wells. -- Julie Stenger
LIFELONG MEMBER — The Ohio Senate paid tribute to Woman’s Club of Steubenville member Barbara Sweeney when she was recognized as a lifelong member of the club. A lifelong member is someone who has served at least 45 years with a group. Sweeney was both a junior and senior member, having joined the senior members in 1969 after 11 years as a junior. She is still an active member. -- Julie Stenger
A LOOK AT THE PAST — Woman’s Club of Steubenville President Dr. Suzanne Curn-Escobar, left, and Marge Bedortha, correspondence secretary for the club, reviewed old photographs and newspaper clippings during a brief gathering at her home on Monday. The two spent time reflecting on the days when Bedortha first joined and the events and activities which took place during that period. -- Julie Stenger
CELEBRATING 125 YEARS — The Woman’s Club of Steubenville is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Founded Jan. 14, 1899, the group still continues with its purpose. Today’s members include, from left, Barbara Sweeney, Saundra Palmer, Cookie West, Charlotte Christian, Suzanne Curn-Escobar, Marge Bedortha, Pam Bauman, Judy Brancazio, Gloria Popp and Linda Wells. -- Julie Stenger
LIFELONG MEMBER — The Ohio Senate paid tribute to Woman’s Club of Steubenville member Barbara Sweeney when she was recognized as a lifelong member of the club. A lifelong member is someone who has served at least 45 years with a group. Sweeney was both a junior and senior member, having joined the senior members in 1969 after 11 years as a junior. She is still an active member. -- Julie Stenger
A LOOK AT THE PAST — Woman’s Club of Steubenville President Dr. Suzanne Curn-Escobar, left, and Marge Bedortha, correspondence secretary for the club, reviewed old photographs and newspaper clippings during a brief gathering at her home on Monday. The two spent time reflecting on the days when Bedortha first joined and the events and activities which took place during that period. -- Julie Stenger
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STEUBENVILLE -- Faded photographs, brittled yellowing newspaper clippings and numerous informational pages were among the treasures being shared at the home of Marge Twyford Bedortha earlier this week.
The reminiscing and sharing of moments she cherishes stems from the OFWC, GFWC Woman's Club of Steubenville having turned 125 years old in January.
Bedortha has served in the capacity of correspondence secretary since joining the group 47 years ago.
It has been 125 years since 13 women gathered at the home of J.M. Kelly on North Fourth Street to voice their concerns regarding the well-being of their community.
It was Jan. 14, 1899 -- "A time when women had little-to-no activity outside of the home or church and virtually no influence in community affairs," Bedortha began. "But these women were dedicated and determined to band together for cultural and intellectual pursuits and to face vital issues of the day."
The original 13 members were mostly housewives, married to prominent business and civic leaders, she continued.
Mrs. W.B. Donaldson served as the first president of what would become the Woman's Club of Steubenville. The group made an application for affiliation with the state federation and soon were admitted to the General Federation in 1902.
With the exception of summer, members would conduct meetings in members' homes twice a month. Within a decade, membership had grown rapidly and meetings took place in the YWCA recreation room or St. Paul's and St. Stephen's parishes.
The women accomplished influencing city council to abolish the dumping of garbage along the city's riverbanks, Bedortha explained.
Departments were established in 1913. Members could concentrate on fields of interest, she added, saying, "There were five departments -- American homes, civic, community affairs, fine arts and garden."
Throughout the years, "The club and its departments have provided numerous major contributions to Steubenville and its residents," Bedortha recalled. She provided examples of projects done by early members, including a toy mission for underprivileged children, a milk supply for undernourished children, activities for handicapped children, student scholarships, a home health nurse, aid to older people and veterans, flood relief, city beautification and support to local charities.
Members were instrumental in organizing the Civic League in 1903; the Civic Music Association, 1925; local unit of the American Cancer Society, 1946; and the Jefferson County Council for the mentally challenged, early '50s, according to Bedortha.
Club meetings were moved to the ballroom of the Fort Steuben Hotel in the early 1920s. The hotel was "a center of social activities in the bustling downtown-area of the city," she said, noting hats, gloves and furs were the attire.
"In 1923, the Woman's Club of Steubenville hosted the Ohio Federation of Woman's Clubs convention. Twice the state federation has been headed by women from the Steubenville club.
In spring of 1963, the club realized its dream of moving into a home. The residence on Sunset Boulevard was the home of Dr. and Mrs. A.E. Winston and given by an endowment from the estate of Beatrice Kelly Sharpe, daughter of a founding club member, Bedortha said.
For the next 40 years, this would be home and a center for countless meetings, fundraisers, teas, luncheons and special events.
Eleanor Weiss served as president in the mid-1970s, Bedortha said. Steubenville had the largest federated club in Ohio and was one of two clubs to own a home. There were three vice presidents, she noted.
The club's home was sold in 2009. They then met at Starkdale Presbyterian Church, Steubenville Country Club and the YWCA. Today, meetings are held at Steeplechase Lodge.
Membership is a tradition in some families, Bedortha stated, providing examples of the Kellys and the Donaldsons.
The club chorus was introduced in 1939, Bedortha stated.
Led under the direction of Mrs. J.R. Thorne, the group entertained locally and throughout the state. It would later be directed by Margaret Hutton and reactivated in 1990 under Barbara Wheatley Sweeney.
The Ohio Senate paid tribute to Sweeney, who was recognized as a lifelong member of the club, having served at least 45 years.
Sweeney participated as a junior and senior member, having joined the senior members in 1969 following 11 years as a junior. She is still active in the club today.
"Today, the outgrowth of this event and dedicated group is still a vital and vigorous force impacting local lives," Bedortha commented. She said the club "has a proud history of accomplishments."
"Aside from all our virtuous aims, we had a lot of fun and made so many great friendships as we worked together to execute special projects," she continued. "In the spring of 1985, the garden department staged a vintage style show entitled, 'Memories of the Way We Were.' Thirteen department members modeled dramatic and elegant fashions from the by-gone eras."
In November 1989, members recreated a play to celebrate its 90th anniversary.
"There were 18 members involved in cast, staff and production," Bedortha said of the play she wrote.
Rehearsals were held from August until the November performance.
The event attracted one of the largest crowds ever assembled in the club auditorium and was awarded top-place in the State of Ohio Federation Competition as best program.
According to Club President Dr. Suzanne Curn-Escobar, the Woman's Club of Steubenville "has made a significant impact on the civic and cultural life in the community." She looks forward to continuing this legacy as the club's president.
Today, there are 21 members in the club -- four of whom have joined this year.
"Today, our numbers have drastically diminished from the peak years," Bedortha stated. "The members remain dedicated to the founders' aims, as evidenced in recent major financial donations to six community civic, cultural and charitable groups."
Members recently presented six local organizations with a total of $60,000.
Representatives from each of the six nonprofits attended the club's December meeting, where officials gave each a check for $10,000.
"Though numbers have drastically dwindled, we are determined to carry on the aims and goals of our founders," Curn-Escobar concluded.
"Obviously, these programs and special events require larger numbers in membership to plan and execute than we have today in our club," Bedortha concluded. "But it is still very gratifying to know that there is not one aim, goal or expectation our founding members envisioned that has not been realized over these 120 years." "Personally, I'm very grateful and proud to have been a member of the club," she stated. "It has brought me pride and fulfillment of accomplishment in projects I have been involved with. And above all, it has brought me so many wonderful friendships."