‘North of Broadway’

The Centre of Movement School of Performing Arts, 19 State St., will present “North of Broadway” with act 1 at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, and act 2 at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, in the auditorium at South Portland High School.

The show is a tribute to the “wonderfully rich heritage” of Broadway musical theater, said Vicky Lloyd, director of the school.

For more information, call Lloyd at 839-3267

Cutline (Barstow Moxie) – Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, on the right, joins Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Androscoggin, and a group of Moxie enthusiasts, including noted story-teller Gary Crocker, when Gov. John Baldacci recently signed into law a bill making Moxie the state’s official soft drink. A courtesy photo

Cutline (green) – Ralph Green of Burnham Road, on the left, was installed as sergeant-at-arms of American Legion Post 62 of Westbrook in ceremonies on Wednesday. Lloyd Woods, 1st vice commander of the legion’s Department of Maine, officiated at the installation. Staff photo by Robert Lowell

Gospel singer at White Rock

Gospel singer Ken Fernald will appear at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the White Rock Baptist Church, Route 237.

Fernald has traveled for many years throughout New England, sharing the love of Jesus Christ in song. He is a former host of “Born Again New England,” a Christian TV talk and variety program and has hosted several radio programs.

Woman’s Club celebrates 80th

Alice Keddy, club president, gave opening and closing remarks when the Gorham Woman’s Club celebrated its 80th birthday with a program in April.

Jane Nelson, a former president, presented a history of the club, which was organized and federated in 1925.

Gloria Tewhey and Jane Mason introduced past presidents and honorary members who attended the celebration. The past presidents, who were present, included Priscilla Rines, Shirley Cole, Marie Woodbrey, Allene Bowler and Nancy Kenty in addition to Nelson and Keddy. The honorary members, who attended, were Shirley Alden, Frances Boothby and Anne Emerson.

The club’s most senior member, Dorothy Durgin, a former president, was unable to attend. Durgin, who joined the club in 1942, now lives in Duxbury, Mass.

The birthday celebration included a sing-a-along led by Rosalie Barden accompanied by Rines on the piano.

At the annual meeting on May 19, the club elected Keddy as president; Barbara Craig, vice president; Deborah Jones, recording secretary; Nancy Tabor, corresponding secretary; and Tewhey, treasurer.

Charter members of the club were:

Mrs. Ira Alden, Marietta Barrows, Eva Bickford, Florence Carne, Charlotte Collins, Frances Cotton, Lena Day, Elizabeth Fox, Alice Hoyt, Louise Leighton, Elizabeth Lidback, Helen Libby, Hazel Langdon, Carrie Lowell, Edith Lowell, Grace Meade, Linette Martin, Petronia Phinney, Edith Ridgeway, Grace Small, Maude Sawtelle, Geneva Smith, Alice Wetherall and Elizabeth Whittier.

Here is the history of the Woman’s Club as given by Jane Nelson at their birthday celebration:

“In May of 1925, a small but stalwart group of ladies of Gorham, Maine, met to organize a Woman’s Club. These women, emancipated by the 19th amendment of the Constitution, took their right to vote as an obligation to better their community, and to further their own knowledge of the arts, literature and even international relations and law. A bit of investigation into their backgrounds reveals a gentile group who were considered quite refined and respected by their neighbors. They worked and planned; they formulated by-laws with a fervor seldom seen today.”

On Oct. 8, 1925, the first meeting was held. An attractive ‘old blue’ and yellow yearbook was printed, 25 was set as the maximum membership and $1 per year was asked for dues. One month later, when the club was federated, it was voted to collect an extra 10 cents from each member for state dues.”

The duly elected treasurer opened her home for the first meeting. A member presented a program on Irish plays and the Roll Call, which was required then was ‘A Wish for the Club.’ Meetings were held twice each month. The second meeting on Oct. 22, 1925, was held with the president of the state federation (Pearl Bachelder) in attendance. Her talk was called ‘Echoes of the State federation.’ A musical program with cello and piano followed.”

The theme of this birth year of the Gorham club was ‘Cooperation.’ Regulations and membership were stiff. Gorham residence was required, and a member who was absent for three consecutive meetings was dropped from membership. So popular was the club that, in two years time, it included 50 members and a waiting list! It was federated one month after its first meeting. The women proudly marked the day as Nov. 5, 1925, as the date of uniting with women nationwide to ‘put into action their better impulses straightforward and unafraid.'”

Early programs were on Shakespeare, women in government service, gardens, inventions, musical performances, book reviews, international relations, drama, hobbies and even entertainment by the students from the nearby Normal School. Projects undertaken were commendable. In 1927, they collected pictures of the ‘Gorham boys’ who had been in the service of their country. These were hung in the local public library where they remind us to this day of the many men from Gorham who served in World War I.”

In 1929, at considerable expense, they paid the town to have the street signs painted! In 1931, a $5 gold piece was presented to the high school to start a scholarship fund. This fund has grown in amount and scope to this day. 1937 brought a special fund. Each member gave two feet of pennies for a charitable gift. Then, when World War II arrived, the membership of the club had risen to 75. A ‘Books for Soldiers’ drive was held.”

The number of members dropped off dramatically in the late 1950s and even further in the 1960s. The founders had become elderly and women were joining the work force. Membership below 50 finally leveled off to approximately 55.”

“The charitable gifts of Gorham Woman’s Club have been quite astounding. Regularly over the years, they have locally supported schools, fire department, welfare, library, transportation for the elderly, rides to the polls, parties for school children, flowers for shut-ins, baby clinics and playgrounds. They have given awards for essay winners, good citizenship, flag-flying merchants, and winners of parade float competitions.”

Statewide, they have donated to every conceivable foundation: state veterans’ hospital, heart association, home for mentally disabled children, school for the mentally handicapped, polio, cancer, multiple sclerosis, wildlife, CARE, Starlight Foundation, March of Dimes and more. To reach their budget requirements, they have gone to great lengths to raise funds, individually and collectively. Lunches have been given, food sales held, yard sales put on, fashion shows sponsored and annual sales of pecans and gift wrappings carried on.”

“The Gorham Woman’s Club has received various awards over the years for its community work. Individual members have won Maine Federation prizes for photography and artwork. The club has sponsored high school art and creative writing contests under the auspices of the federation and had winners in those areas also. They had the good fortune to have several members at state level.”

(This article was submitted by Jane V. Nelson, past president Gorham Woman’s Club.)

50 years ago

The Westbrook American reported in its issue of June 8, 1955, that Pearlice L. Hoyt was named as chairman of the publicity committee at the West Gorham Community Club.

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