Washington Y’s Men’s and Women’s Club to celebrate 100 years

WASHINGTON — Iowa’s last remaining Y’s Men’s and Women’s service club will celebrate its 100th anniversary this week, with a get-together at the Washington YMCA April 2 from 4-6 p.m.

Y’s Men's and Women’s Club of Washington Past President Diana Hartmann — who is also the organization’s mid-America regional director — said members were excited to meet up at the open house, where they’ll serve pork burgers, share a few presentations and discuss loads of old memorabilia saved by club members over the past century.

“It’s a mingle, come-and-go, open house kind of thing,” she said. “We’re kind of excited about it, 100 years is a long time for a service club to be a continual entity, that’s a milestone for sure.”

The service group — named as a play on the words “wise men” — raises money for projects at Washington County’s YMCAs, largely through cookouts at events like car shows and the county fair, although it also runs the Wellness Park concessions stand and was once known for coordinating fundraiser performances at a local theater.

Member Tom Patterson has saved countless newsletters and photos from the group’s past in his basement, according to Hartmann, who said the upcoming anniversary would offer a “surreal” glimpse of the past as the memorabilia is displayed.

“It’s a small town, so everybody knows everybody, and everybody knows everybody’s grandma,” she said. “Looking at some of these pictures that are 20 and 30 years old, it’s kind of nostalgic. Like, ‘Oh, I know them, that was my best friend’s dad.’”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com