Commentary—

Newtown Woman’s Club Celebrates 40 Years

By Mae S. Schmidle

Newtown was always known for its lush green rolling hills and its pastoral beauty, and in the late 1960s it still maintained its rural beauty and country charm — no major interstate highways, no street lights, bread was 15 cents, and the town was still dominated by its historic flagpole, Connecticut’s largest and oldest flagpole in the middle of a state road.

Soon the world and a few builders began to be aware of this extraordinary charm and soon the women who formed the nucleus of the Newtown Woman’s Club began to arrive, making friends and realizing what a great choice they had made by moving to Newtown. As with many newcomers, they first shared friendships with other women in a Welcome Wagon group. But shortly, they realized that perhaps they would like to continue their friendships and common interests. And so a small group of about ten women continued to share their friendship and local interest with like-minded Newtown women, meeting in homes and enjoying small lunches. Also, as they shared their friendships, they realized that going to lunch to meet and greet other Newtown women with an occasional contribution to a small but growing town had its rewards.

Soon there was talk of joining other women across the state and perhaps across the nation. By March 25 of 1968, the ten original women meeting and sharing like interests considered joining the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc, and they became the ten original founding members in Newtown. These insightful ladies voted to become a federated club and became the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC. Becoming a federated club meant they now were part of an international volunteer service organization that had been in existence more than 70 years.

Of the original ten founding members, Lorraine Vander Wende and Coke Cramer are still active members. Lorraine was elected the first president of the club and still holds a leadership position as Club Historian and co-chairman of the Ornament Committee. Under Coke Cramer’s leadership president, the club was incorporated in 1973 becoming the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, Inc. Of the original members, Nancy Brady, Flo Caron, and Jean Swanhall are still active members as well.

And so began the history of the Newtown Woman’s Club in 1968 and their continued efforts in many large and small ways to make Newtown and our world a better place for all of us.

From its inception, the purpose of the organization was very clear: “To promote friendship among members, to provide opportunities for organized interests and participation in social, cultural, philanthropic, intellectual and civic affairs of the Newtown community.” Our organization has always embraced all, and is nonpartisan and nonsectarian, even as we are today. By-laws came buzzing right along, clearly depicting the purpose of our organization.

Not far behind was the club’s seal, designed by Lorraine Vander Wende and Maggie McMaster with artistic touches from Al LaLiberte, husband of member Greta. The seal, a graphic symbol of the club’s purposes, proudly includes a rooster, symbolizing Newtown or civic affairs; the clasped hands for friendship; the book for intellectual interests; and the crossed brushes for culture.

With the money raised in the first year of our existence, the club donated a rescue and transport splint to the Newtown Ambulance Association and a foam generator to the Fire Department. Additionally, the Newtown Woman’s Club Scholarship was started in 1968 and continues to this day.

The club continued to make other significant contributions to our town. Our initial health promotions led to the now-famous Newtown Health Fair. The Conservation Department has helped beautify Newtown with well over 500 daffodil bulbs and various trees. With the sale of lollipops, the club raised money to “lick” cancer. Mr Yuk was introduced to Newtown School children as a poison control measure; a balloon launch for arthritis was sponsored and efforts were made to promote the Red Cross Bloodmobile and to teach CPR to club members.

Our club contributes to the Newtown Fund to help those less fortunate, as well as donating foodstuffs to the FAITH Food Pantry. And during the country’s bicentennial in 1976, copies of the United States Constitution were distributed to Newtowners as a gift from club member and State Representative Mae Schmidle. The year 2003 brought Bountiful Baskets and Boo Boxes, which were lucrative money makers for our philanthropic endeavors. Gingerbread house competitions were a great fun hit.

Annually, the club raises and donates money to many community and state programs, including Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, an insurance for the Fire Departments’ Widows and Children’s Benefit Fund, Veterans Hospitals, Hospice, Meals on Wheels, and many other organizations.

Another historically memorable contribution was made to the C.H. Booth Library. During its recent renovation, an ancient English chestnut tree was scheduled to be removed. The club raised and provided the funds to have the tree removed, the wood preserved and designed and fashioned in the front circulation desk of the library, which will continue to be used and admired as long as the library is in existence — long live the ancient English chestnut tree, thanks to the club’s contribution.

Perhaps one of the most significant places in Newtown history that the club has established is the annual Pewter Christmas Ornament Sale symbolizing a time or place in Newtown history, each piece accompanied by a short history written by Town Historian Dan Cruson. Each year the Woman’s Club has arranged for a different, historic pewter ornament to be cast and sold to Newtowners. These pewter ornaments have long become the single most important collectible in Newtown history. But equally as important, these pewter ornaments have become the single major fundraiser of the club.

Over the years, the Newtown Woman’s Club has fostered many friendships, warm and deep; joined and supported many town organizations in their goals to support and improve Newtown; provided many helpful contributions to those in need, provided and contributed to promoting education and cultural values; provided a place in history of many events, such as the bicentennial, historic pewter ornaments including the tercentennial logo; the health fair; and the many contributions both large and small that help make this town such a special place for all of us.

And of course, participating in both international General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and state GFWC/CT) projects has enabled the club to earn many GFWC/CT awards and certificates of recognition from state organizations.

(A member of the Newtown Woman’s Club, Mae S. Schmidle has also served as town clerk and a state representative.)