03/23/2026
Recently published on Facebook by the Historical Society
Three Rivers Woman’s club – 1891
(Written in 1987)
The Three Rivers woman’s club is the oldest service organization in the city. Organized in 1891 the club through the long years has been a consistent contributor to the welfare of the community. The fourteen charter members were Mesdames Jeannette Moore, Fracaeta Knowles, Lucy Andrews, Martha Andrews, Nyra Hewitt, Thirza Cushman, Myrna Watson, Dr. blanche Haines, Mary blood, Isabella Colluer Allie Dickerson, Linnie Nichols, Margaret hall and Agnes Vernon. Today, the membership is one hundred.
Their programs have included discussions and lectures on cultural as well as timely topics. The club had enjoyed many social affairs, teas, luncheons, Colonial Breakfasts, and banquets.
Somehow they have been able to foresee the needs of the city. In 1915 one of their accomplishments under the sponsorship of Mrs. Milton Rix was securing a Visiting Nurse for the city, Mrs. Agnes Dunn was the first nurse, the service was discontinued in 1985. The club has also sponsored a yearly nurse’s training scholarship.
During the years of World War I, the club programs were discontinued, and the members actively engaged in Red Cross work.
Mrs. W. T. Jones (1934-35) instituted a plan to provide milk and crackers to needy children in the schools up to 12 years of age. This work was continued until 1940 when it became a part of the community chest.
Mrs. A. R. Maurer (1953-54) planned adult evening classes to study the trouble spots of the world, including the Near East, turkey and Greece. The meetings were held in the library and were open to the public.
One of the outstanding achievements of the Club under Mrs. Steven Bonfoey (1960-63) was the establishment of a Family Service Center, which eventually grew into the Mental Health Board of St. Joseph County.
From the beginning the Club has saved and invested monies in a building fund for a Club House. Under the leadership of Mrs. Raymond Bowersox (1978-81) the Carnegie Library was saved from destruction. Putting $20,000 of their building fund into the project the Club brought in engineers and architects. Through their expertise the building was reconstructed and made a vital part of the community. Today the Woman’s Club has taken full responsibility for the maintenance of the Carnegie Center fo the Arts, a very ambitious program.
Since their beginning the Club has financially supported the Federation of Girls town and the Community Ambassador Program.
The busy women of the Woman’s Club through the years have had many money raising projects from plays, pageants, pies and petits fours; back in the 1930’s Mrs. Paul Ulrich started the sale of Daisy dishcloths, later Mrs. Harold Voorhees took on the project. It would be hard to estimate how many cloths have been sold through the years, and by the way, “used” by the good women of Three Rivers.
Without much fanfare or saying too much, their purpose was always to raise funds in order to financially support their many projects and also to make donations to the immediate needs of the community. The list is long, it even includes helping to construct the All-Weather High School Track. They have a social conscience, our city is certainly a better place to live because of the Three Rivers Woman’s Club.
In 1986 under the Presidency of Mrs. John Carlisl (1984-86) at the state meeting of the G.G.W.C., the Three Rivers Woman’s Club was awarded the First Place in Michigan for their Community Improvement Program. The award was given by Chevron, U.S.A. incorporated. This award makes the club eligible for the National Competition. The award was for the Club’s work in improving the quality of community life in their many efforts involving the Carnegie Center for the Arts.
Mrs. Harold Voorhees, President in 1976 wrote: “The roster is long, the projects numerous. It is a story without end. One that will continue as long as women demand the right to take on the responsibility of ‘full citizenship’ – a demand to pay their fair share in shaping the future.”
