On Monday, 12 members of the disbanded Tiffin Woman's Club hosted a gathering to disburse their treasury to 14 community organizations. Jackie Borgen welcomed guests, asked Woman's Club members to introduce themselves, and thanked the committee who organized the meeting. Historian Janet Booth displayed a large plaque listing all the past presidents of the club.
Treasurer Sally Hannay then passed out checks to representatives from the following: Heidelberg University; Tiffin University; Tiffin Seneca Public Library's Early Literacy Station in the Junior Department; CASA; FACT; First Step Family Resource Center; FISH food pantry; Seneca Habitat for Humanity; Community Hospice Care; Red Cross; Ritz Theatre; Salvation Army; SCAT; and the Ecumenical Sharing Kitchen.
Booth gave an overview of the club's history from its founding in 1910 to the present. She made reference to a vintage photograph on display in a waiting area at Elmwood at the Shawhan, the former Shawhan Hotel, where the club usually had their meetings. The ladies in the photo are in formal dress.
Article Photos
PHOTO BY MARYANN KROMER
Tiffin Woman’s Club members posed for a final group photo at Monday’s gathering. Standing from left are Eunice Dupey, Alva Einsel, Mary Ann Hatton, Jackie Borgen, Mary Lou Weaver, Bertha Royer and Elaine Barth. Seated from left are Sally Hannay, Janet Booth (holding plaque), Margaret Nugent and Bonnie Miller.
"For years we did that every time we had installation of members, we were all dressed in our formals," Booth said.
Eventually, the club purchased a building on Frost Parkway to serve as their headquarters. It was the venue for business meetings, card parties, dinners, garage sales and other events to raise money. When members husbands could no longer do the maintenance on the building, the ladies decided they could not afford extensive repairs. cw"We finally had a big auction, sold all the dishes and the grand piano and just everything that was there. Then we finally sold the building," Booth said.
The group continued to meet at First Baptist Church on Coe Street.
The Woman's Club building was renovated by its new owner to house her business, Draperies by Dawn.
Attendance kept dwindling, so the remaining members met and decided to call it quits after 90 years.
Lee Martin, who accepted the check for Heidelberg University, stood up and offered a few remarks.
His first experience with the club was during his high school days. He entered a speech contest the club sponsored at Columbian High School Days.
Booth said Woman's Club offered many scholarships to Seneca County students. Martin also expressed gratitude on behalf of all the recipients in attendance.
"I know the number of people who have been touched by the gifts of all of your efforts over these 90 years. It saddens me to see this come to an end, but for all things there is a season. I think, all of us as recipients owe these folks a big round of applause for all they have done for so many people for so many years," Martin said.
A burst of applause filled the room as a fitting conclusion for the event and for the Tiffin Woman's Club.
