Stem Ruritan Club

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History of The Stem Ruritan Club

In the late 1950’s the Bahama Ruritan Club approached several men in the Stem community about starting a Ruritan club in Stem. These men reached out to the men of the community to discuss the idea. After learning that Ruritan was an organization dedicated to making the community a better place to live through community service, it was agreed to have the Bahama Ruritan Club sponsor a club in the Stem community. The Stem Ruritan Club was chartered on November 7, 1958 with thirty men signing the charter. The signed charter was presented to the club on December 3, 1958 by Morris Currin. The tract of land, which was deeded by J.R. and Fannie Fowler to a trust for the benefit of the Stem community, was obtained by the Ruritan in May of 1961 and by July of 1961 the picnic shelter had been built and work began on improving the condition of the land or “ball field” as it was known. In the early days the club met in the Stem School lunch room but in 1962 they were granted the use of the Stem School Agriculture building. The club met there for a few years and then met at Jack Greene’s cabin before moving into the Ruritan building in the early 1970s. The construction of the building came after many years of dedicated fund raising, with each and every member using their individual talents and volunteering their time to see their dream become a reality. The Stem Ruritan believed in their mission to make their community a better place to live. They demonstrated this by their involvement in the workings of the community. Reading past minutes of the club you will find mention of things such as sponsoring and supporting a local ball team, sponsoring teen dances, loaning a wheelchair when there was a need, working to improve telephone service, sponsoring a Cub Scout Troop, voting in 1965 to boycott adult movies, being instructional in getting the RR crossing in the community, helping with the dedication of the “New” post office, , giving trophies to an outstanding football and track high school student, sponsoring a community watch program as well as providing the community with fire protection by serving and supporting the Stem Fire Department. In the early 1980s the club began giving scholarships to South Granville High School seniors, a program that continues today. A few years ago, the club again began sponsoring a ball team, this time with the South Granville Athletic Association. Today the club continues community involvement by giving donations to families who need help whether it is due to sickness or mounting medical bills, loss due to fire or just day to day hardships. The minutes also make mention of the many ways the club raised monies to support the community such as selling fruitcakes, holding dances in the Stem School Gym, talent shows, turkey shoots, a gun raffle, a Womanless wedding, selling fire extinguishers, bingo parties, BBQ chicken & stew suppers and in 1981 the first Earth Roast was held and continues to be a fundraiser that the community looks forward to each year. In 1996 we began the Trail Ride and celebrated our 14th year this last April. In November of 2006 we began holding an annual Stew Sell to raise monies for a building fund that will enable us to preserve this building for the future generations. Information compiled by Wilma Woodall.