There are birthdays…and there are BIRTHDAYS (Notice the capital B, et al.)
Recently, at the Reed Memorial Library, in the Haymaker Room downstairs, the Thursday Literary Club of Ravenna met to celebrate its 100th year of exploring society through books, discussing timely topics and contributing to community at all levels, beginning with a simple invitation from a friend to meet in her parlor for tea and continuing through a commemorative proclamation from Ravenna’s Mayor, Frank Seman, declaring May 11, 2024 to be “Ravenna Thursday Literary Club Day”.
Displays illustrating the club’s history were arranged by decades, beginning with twenties through thirties (Calvin Coolidge through Great Depression and, thence, to the New Deal) and forging on through the ‘40’s, ‘50’s, ‘60’s, etc., featuring local, state and world events which made the news as well as being book topics highlighting the spirits of the times. Also available for perusal were program booklets, albums, pictures, magazines, sheet music, a selection of Speedometers–yearbook of all the county schools before the consolidations, which combined the individual township and village schools into the “local districts” more familiar today; some family names are still associated with their last-century communities. The variety was instructive as to the wide-ranging interests of the group and the changes seen in Ravenna, Portage County, the nation…and literature.
The brief history booklet gives an overview of the club activities through the years–including support for the library, which began the same year. 1924–from backing school levies to sewing for the Red Cross to sponsoring a High School Literary Contest in the 1940’s. Ravenna’s only female mayor, Gertrude Cunningham, was a member (and president). The oldest member, Jeanette Jones, 103 years young, was in attendance, and is famous for her recounting of various adventures, especially during her time in the U.S. armed services. For any interested in becoming a part of this community treasure, a bookmark was provided–how appropriate–giving particulars on how this can be accomplished: meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, September through June, venue determined yearly, all members read the monthly book for discussion, dues are $20 per year; contact information can be left at literaryclub833@gmail.com. They’re ready to turn the page to century # 2. Care to join?
