Saturday, December 20, 2014

Christmas in Sumas...part 3 of 3

 
The Women's clubs of Sumas celebrate the Christmas holidays.
 
Considering the isolation of the ladies of Sumas in the early years, it was natural that numerous clubs were established to provide enrichment and socialization.  The preserved artifacts showing the planning of those social functions and the recording of those functions as they happened, are a little known but very important recording of community life in days before instant communications and blogs. Among the many organizations prevalent in Sumas were the Ladies Aid of the Methodist Church, the Double A Club and the Country Women's Club.
 
The Christmas season encouraged special social programing and the ability to plan and do charitable deeds for needy community families.
 
Picture 1
First page minutes of the Christmas meeting of the Double A Club in 1934
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family Collection
"December 18-1934 
Double A met at the home of Johanna Miller with all members present except Alice Gillies and Winnie.  The chorus opened the evening's program with some Christmas Carols.  Roll call was responded to by questions and their answers. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved as read except that it should have read "white elephant" party instead of just elephant. There was no old or new business.  The program followed:  Book review "Dusk at the Grove" by Edith. Vocal Trio, Ida Shay, Maude Lambert, Alice Tudor accompanied by Naomi sang two beautiful Christmas songs; Chimes at
Christmas and"

Picture 2
2nd page of the minutes of the Christmas meeting of the Double A Club in 1934
as written by Johanna Miller
(see The Lumber Industry-Miller and Sons Shingle Mill part 1 of 3, posted 16 Nov, 2014) 
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection
"Christmas Lullaby. The accompaniment was played just as beautifully
as the songs were sung. Vocal solo by Edna "The Consuller" which was pretty, too.  The contest of "table setting"  was won by Mamie, Eva, Edna, Edith who cut cards for the prize which went to Eva. Refreshments of vanilla ice cream sprinkled with red sugar, red coconut cakes and green cookies and coffee were served.  Santa Clause then distributed the white elephants which had been placed under the lighted tree. 
                          Johanna Miller, Secretary
Amount on hand .31, but not a word from the auditing committee."
 
 picture 3
Handmade program listing planned Double A Club social activities (Winter 1951-1952)
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.

Picture 4
  The inside of the Winter 1951- 1952 program (from picture 3)
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.
 
Picture 5
More from the inside of the Winter 1951-1952 program (from picture 3)
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.
 
Picture 6
Handmade program listing planned Double A Club social activities (Winter 1955-1956)
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.
 
Picture 7
Handmade program listing planned Double A Club social activities (Winter 1956-1957)
Notice how the  Double A's are incorporated to make Christmas trees.
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.
 
picture 8
 A clipping featuring the Country Women's Club of Sumas, planning a Christmas pot luck dinner. 
Unident. newspaper, exact date unknown (labeled in pencil...1948).
Posted with permission from the Morgan Family collection.
 
Watch for another holiday posting.  
There is so much to share of this little known facet of our community from days gone by!
 

 
 
 



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