Honoring Dayton's Founding Mother

DAYTON-There is a wealth of material in possession of the Elizabeth Forest Day Club about that women's civic and educational organization, and much more in the Dayton Public Library about the town's founding mother, for which the club is named.

In 1913, the Draper Club was formed by local women for the purpose of promoting civic and educational activities.

Meetings were held in individual homes, and membership was by subscription to ten-volume sets of "Draper's Self Culture" books, which covered topics like poetry, music, fine arts, and drama.

A program was always given at those meetings, and it usually centered around the topic of home and family life.

In 1925, the Draper Club underwent a name change when members voted to change it to the Elizabeth Forrest Day Club, in honor of Elizabeth Ellen Forrest Day, who came to Dayton in 1871 with her husband Jesse Newberry Day, and helped to found "Day's Town".

One of the first orders of business for the newly-named EFDC was to establish a reading room in the Ankeny Building, located where the State Farm Insurance office is now. Club members kept the reading room supplied with magazines, and charged ten dollars per month for access to it.

The reading room was soon abandoned when the EFDC members took on the challenge of creating a public library.

Enough money was raised through putting on a minstrel show, holding bazaars and chain tea parties, and hosting a carnival, that they were able to purchase a building lot at Clay and Third Streets for $986.14.

In 1934 the city council voted to accept a deed to the public library property then owned by the EFDC, and they accepted another $4,600 that the club had raised, for the purpose of building the library.

The library became a WPA federal project the following year and, in 1937, the building was completed. Then the Dayton City Council appointed five members of the club to act as library trustees.

In 1942 all books and contents of the library were deeded to the city, and the money that was taken from book fines and rentals was turned over to the city council to pay the library bills.

The current goals of the EFDC haven't strayed too far from the original purpose of promoting social and education conditions.

While the financial status of the library is no longer the major focus, the club maintains an ongoing interest in it, according to member Liz Carson.

In recent years the EFDC has donated money for books for the Dayton Elementary School and the Dayton High School libraries. They have also given generously to the Booker Nursing Home.

There is still a program given at each EFDC meeting. Topics include travel, history, music, health, and, occasionally, guests are invited to share topics and talents.

This month Betty Schirman shared her life story through an invention called "Box Topics." She interspersed her own story by asking other club members to share something not known about themselves with the others.

Camaraderie is the sentiment that keeps the members coming back to the club.

"We have such good rapport," said Carson.

"I meet ladies I would never have known," said Jean Nelson.

The Elizabeth Forrest-Day Club members all agree they want their 102-year history, along with past and present accomplishments and current goals, to live on.

The EFDC meets in the Delaney Building adjacent to the Dayton Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. There is a photo of Elizabeth Forrest Day hung on a wall, there. Perhaps she gives the club members a nod of encouragement each time they meet?

For more information about the organization contact: President Lynn Williams at 382-3150.