CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS: Fairfield Garden Department; Chapter DL TTT; Martha Washington Questers; Washington County Historical Society

Fairfield Women's Club Garden Department

The Garden Department of the Fairfield Women's Club will meet Thursday, Sept. 5, for a trip to the Wilson Orchard and Sutliff Bridge area.

Members will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the McElhinny House to car pool.

Reservations will need to be made with a caller or by calling 472-4248 by noon Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Chapter DL, TTT

T.T.T., Chapter D.L. of Washington met Monday, Aug. 12. Linda McNeil hosted the meeting in the Nicola Conference Room at Washington County Hospital. Joyce Marie was co-hostess. Fifteen members attended. Molly Doorenbos was welcomed a guest at the meeting.

Chapter D.L. sent four girls to T.T.T. Camp at Camp Wyoming in June. The campers were: Destiny Moyer, Jaedyn Moore, Noelle Starr and Giselle Valaguez. Moyer and Valaguez were able to attend the meeting. They told about their families, shared several camp songs and told what they liked about their camp experience. Refreshments were shared with them following their presentation. Starr and Moore were unable to attend the meeting.

Information was shared about the biannual National T.T.T. Convention to be held Oct. 24-26 in Cedar Rapids. There will be an emphasis on camp, creative chapter ideas for fund raising, member recruitment and camper follow-up.

The Monday, Sept. 9, meeting will be held in the Harvest Room at Halcyon House. Robyn Lamb and Phyllis Eisele will be co-hosts.

Martha Washington Questers 1032

Ten members of Martha Washington Questers No. 1032 met at the home of President Marilyn Whitenack on Friday, Aug. 23.

The meeting was opened by the president, and members recited the invocation. Secretary Connie Pence called the roll, with each member paying 25 cents if an ancestor had come to the U.S. through Ellis Island and 50 cents if not.

The minutes from previous meetings were read and approved, as was the treasurer's report given by Janet Peterson.

Changes in the by-laws as proposed by the International committee were reviewed, with a brief explanation in which chapter the new policy would be located. Items such as virtual membership, local fund raising for scholarships and historic preservation, email of correspondence, etc were discussed. On motion by Peterson, the group unanimously voted to accept such changes. Results will be sent in as requested.

It was announced that Fall Fling would be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22 at Arnolds Park on West Lake Okoboji. Money for reservations needs to be mailed by Friday, Sept. 6. No one from the local unit has chosen to attend. Also, a reminder was given regarding Chapter Program books needing to be submitted in September.

Whitenack gave a program about Ellis Island, which came to be known as the 'Gateway to the American Dream.” Immigrants by the thousands came seeking a better life for their families. After 1820, people came mostly from Ireland, England and Germany. By 1847, the world was in a very bad state and immigrants sought the opportunities a new life would provide in North America. They came because of famine, war, political and religious prosecution and scarcity of jobs.

Whitenack relayed that her ancestor, Benjamin Griffiths, arrived in America with three friends, none of them speaking the language, which was common for many immigrants. They were taken advantage of, cheated out of money, luggage, property and other personal items. Three of the boys eventually became ministers in the new world.

The trip across the ocean was always dangerous, even deadly. Thirty percent died before journey's end due to filthy conditions, hunger and sickness. It was noted that Charles Dickens, who always traveled first class, was credited for improving conditions after he was introduced to the inhumanity of those traveling steerage, below decks in second and third class.

In 1897, Ellis Island was destroyed by fire. A new facility opened in 1900. In the year 1907, 1 million people passed through the Island. Finally, after the numbers had declined immensely, it was closed in 1954. It was opened again in 1976 for tourism and in 1990 a museum was created and opened to the public.

After the program, refreshments were served by co-hostess Jan Stiles.

The next meeting will be with Dorothy Miller on Friday, Sept. 27. Connie Pence will be co-hostess.

Washington County Historical Society

The Executive Board of the Washington County Historical Society met at 9 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Conger House Museum in Washington.

Six members attended. Ferd Marie was the presiding officer.

The last Sunday for viewing the photography exhibit at the Conger House Museum will be Sunday, Sept. 15.

A grant has been received for the renovation of the medical room in the Conger House. The work will be done after the house tours have ended. According to the Travel Iowa website, the museum is open 1-4 p.m. the third Sunday of each month June through October, and admission is free.

The next meeting of the Executive Board of the Washington County Historical Society will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Conger House Museum.