Martha Washington Questers

Martha Washington Questers 1032 met March 28, 1914, at the home of Marilyn Whitenack. Ten members and one guest attended. Co-hostess was Maurine Roberts. Before the business meeting, the club?s guest, Mary Levy from the Chilcote Chapter, spoke to the group. She is asking the three Questers groups to think about going in together to apply for a grant to help restoration of the log cabin. She also represented the Washington County Historical Society and is asking for volunteers to help with tours of the Conger House. She reported on some updates in the Conger House, including a Dublin Store exhibit and upgrading of the Pioneer Room. She thanked Questers for their past help at Christmas and for the curtains in the dining room. She invited the members to several events at the Conger House and also to tour at any time, and even consider having a meeting there.

The members discussed ways to help celebrate Washington?s 175th anniversary. Janet Peterson will contact the anniversary committee about a window display, and Mary Statler will check with other Questers about being in the parade.

The program was given by Mary Statler. She gave a presentation about old wives? tales based on a book she had brought. Old wives? tales date back to the 1400s and were just everyday practices and beliefs used by the women in a household. From Plato?s Republic to the Victorian era, these home remedies and healing practices were written and handed down to each generation of women. They used cheap materials and things they had on hand. Many were health remedies, like rubbing a toad on a wart or wrapping it with duct tape and then scrubbing with a pumice stone. Cures for boils included covering the boil with a shaved live chicken or tying herbs to it. There were lots of cures for the common cough. Some involved vodka, peppermint, honey or clove syrup. Cures for anxiety and depression are still used today. Advice like ?reduce alcohol, cut down on caffeine and stop smoking? is still good advice. Lots of the advice involved eating strange things, but Mary ended her presentation with some of the best advice of all. She quoted Winston Churchill, who said, ?I have never developed indigestion from eating my words.?

The next meeting will be at the home of Maurine Roberts, and Linda Newlon will be the co-hostess. Marilyn Whitenack will give the program.