HomeMy WebLinkAboutmothers club enfield 6Members of the Enfield Mothers Club, many of them grandmothers as well, enjoy their annual pre -holiday luncheon at Martha Peterson's
house in Montour Falls. The club
was founded during the Depression.
Enfield
tradition outlays
hard times
By CAROL EISENBERG
cently at the Peterson home in
apology, and the minister. said
meant a lot of adjustments, but
Journal Writer
Montour Falls for their annual
simply,, gently, 'It you don't have
they did it. I guess you could say,
MONTOUR FALLS — It was the
pre -Christmas luncheon.
anything better to do, there's no
they were liberated before their
year of the Great Depression.
Gathered comfortably around a
problem."' ''
time," she laughed.'
They were farmers' wives for the
sumptuous banquet table covered
The women tittered with de-
But most of the women recoil
most part, and they passed their
with ham, squash; potatoes, five
light.
from the notion that they were
lives in endless toil — milking,
different breads, five different
Only four of the club's charter
feminist, trailblazers.
feeding, cleaning, caring for packs
salads and an assortment of pies
members still remain. But many
"No, we weren't pioneers,"
of children.
and cookies, the women traded
of the club's present members are
Martha Peterson said. "When the
Legend has it, that one day
tidbits of memories, news, as, well
the children of one-time members.
vacation was over, we were more
Methodist Minister Dutton Peter-
as advice.
And some; like Bertha Hubbell,
than glad to go back to our fami-
son told his wife Martha that she
"Now I wonder, Carol, who is
go three generations. Her grand-
lies. Things were different then."
was running herself ragged. "You
the oldest living member of the
mother, Blanche Tucker, was a
need a break from the house and
club?"
charter member of the club. Then,
f
the children," he said. "Why don't
"Well, I'm hot sure, dear. Is it
her ;motherGrace "Hill, joined.
you and several of the women
me? I'm 81."
When she died; it seemed - only
around here form some sort of
"No, no, no," .another voice in-
natural for Bertha to follow the
club?"
terrupted.. "It's." Lydia Griffen,
line.
It didn't take much convincing.
she's 86. Don't you remember?"
The club's appeal? According to
The Enfield Mothers Club was
"Oh yes, dear. And how is Lydia
Martha Peterson it . was always
born.
these days?"
purely social. The annual "sum -
"Recreation and relaxation for
And so the. conversation wound
mer camp" experience is a good
tired mothers" is the sole purpose
lazily from one topic to the next.
example. Up until five years ago,
k
of the club, a 1945 newspaper
"Why, Joyce," said Doris Snow,
the group would rent a modest
clipping said.
addressing Joyce Soule, daughter
cottage on Cayuga Lake or stay at
Y
More than a half century later,
those first have had
of Martha Peterson, "your father
was a unique Do you
an old hotel in'Lisle together for a
mothers since
.minister.
week.
�
grandchildren ... and great-
know, he used to pass my father
"It was this or nothing, for
granchildren.
every Sunday morning on his way
man of these women; the would
Y Y
But ties cemented back in the
back from church, workingaway
Y
have gotten no rest had it not been
grinding days of 1933 are still
as always.,
for the club."
Martha Peterson shares a ten -
powerful.
"And you know, he didn't
What about children? "Our hus-
der moment withneat- rand -
g 9
Thirteen current members of
criticize once.. Once Father made
bands were all very cooperative,"
"It
daughter, Amy tiardner, 1.
the Mothers Club convened re-
some sort of embarrassed
remembered Doris Snow.
oe�;- -y 3