Progressive Club celebrates centennial

WASHTUCNA – Earlier this year, descendants of a group of farm wives from a small rural town in southeastern Adams County celebrated the 100th anniversary of an exclusive club.

In February 1923 local women formed the "Country Club" to meet their need for social activity and comaraderie. Two years later, in April 1925, they changed the name to "Progressive Club" to better capture the group's purpose.

Each lady would take a turn hosting a meeting at her home, thus "progressing" from home to home throughout the year.

A coterie of ladies have sustained that tradition for the past 10 decades.

According to club member Karyn Allen, the women originally met bimonthly to enjoy social and educational programs throughout the school year.

"The husbands would also come and have their own meeting out in the shop," Allen said.

In 1936, 13 years after the group's founding, the men built a fireplace in Bassett Park. That park continues to welcome visitors and currently displays a large array of antique agricultural equipment.

It's also a favorite site for bird watching.

The Progressive Club's current membership includes a second- and third-generation member of the original group.

"Today, we meet once a month in each other's homes or at a restaurant to enjoy each other's company," Allen said.

At those meetings, members share ideas on gardening, canning, sewing and area history.

"This year's theme centered around our local history," she said. "We heard talks on Planting a Salad Bowl, The Roots of Adams County, The Scribbler, Counting Sheep, One Room School Houses and The Thrills of Western Trails."