A Bit of history
Little is known of the exact origins and history of our Club other than a group of women, during the early years of the last century, came together in friendship and joined the Pricilla Club forming the Pricilla Sewing Circle.
World War I prompted a change of posture from that of social assemblage to a commitment of their time and talent, in conjunction with the Red Cross, to “war work”. After the Great War ended, this need or desire to volunteer and provide value to the community was the impetus for founding the Madison Valley Woman’s Club in April 1920 and subsequent membership of the State Federation in 1921.
The first President was Mrs. Bert Maynard. Another member at that time was a sixteen year-old newcomer to the community, Florinda Francesca Womack. Frances, as she was known, remained an active member, though honorary in later years, until her death in 2005 at the age of 100 years.
Numerous and diverse projects were organized, supported and/or funded by the members. To name a very few: purchasing eleven acres for the first garbage dump; building two outdoor toilets for the school; installing a metal fence, still in existence, around the Valley Cemetery; purchasing an electric saw for the school shop and an operating table for the hospital; and a $500 donation to the Galen Chapel Fund.
Early fundraising activities included food sales, Commercial Club Dinners, annual Soil Conservation District meeting luncheons, an annual Community Tea (formerly the Silver Tea when families brought out their silver tea sets, then the anniversary tea to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the GFWC), opened and staffed the library until the city took it over, and fashion show, and other benefits.
The Madison Valley Woman’s Club has made contributions to our community from sales of the Nearly New Shoppe. Scholarships to our graduating students and other community beneficiaries include Ennis Schools, Ennis Community Children’s School, Madison Valley Library, Madison Valley Medical Center, Manor (nursing home), Caring and Sharing Food Bank, Ambulance Services, Search and Rescue, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Ennis Lions Club, Farm to Fork, Giving Tree, Meals on Wheels, CASA, Intermountain Children’s Home, Family Resource Center in Dillon, pet spay and neuter clinics, Humane Society, Jack Creek Preserve, Madison Ranger District, Madison Valley History Association and Ennis Senior Center.
World War I prompted a change of posture from that of social assemblage to a commitment of their time and talent, in conjunction with the Red Cross, to “war work”. After the Great War ended, this need or desire to volunteer and provide value to the community was the impetus for founding the Madison Valley Woman’s Club in April 1920 and subsequent membership of the State Federation in 1921.
The first President was Mrs. Bert Maynard. Another member at that time was a sixteen year-old newcomer to the community, Florinda Francesca Womack. Frances, as she was known, remained an active member, though honorary in later years, until her death in 2005 at the age of 100 years.
Numerous and diverse projects were organized, supported and/or funded by the members. To name a very few: purchasing eleven acres for the first garbage dump; building two outdoor toilets for the school; installing a metal fence, still in existence, around the Valley Cemetery; purchasing an electric saw for the school shop and an operating table for the hospital; and a $500 donation to the Galen Chapel Fund.
Early fundraising activities included food sales, Commercial Club Dinners, annual Soil Conservation District meeting luncheons, an annual Community Tea (formerly the Silver Tea when families brought out their silver tea sets, then the anniversary tea to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the GFWC), opened and staffed the library until the city took it over, and fashion show, and other benefits.
The Madison Valley Woman’s Club has made contributions to our community from sales of the Nearly New Shoppe. Scholarships to our graduating students and other community beneficiaries include Ennis Schools, Ennis Community Children’s School, Madison Valley Library, Madison Valley Medical Center, Manor (nursing home), Caring and Sharing Food Bank, Ambulance Services, Search and Rescue, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Ennis Lions Club, Farm to Fork, Giving Tree, Meals on Wheels, CASA, Intermountain Children’s Home, Family Resource Center in Dillon, pet spay and neuter clinics, Humane Society, Jack Creek Preserve, Madison Ranger District, Madison Valley History Association and Ennis Senior Center.