March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Norumbega Club passes century mark

The Norumbega Club marked its 100th anniversary recently with a meeting at the Isaac Farrar Mansion in Bangor.

The Norumbega Club is the outcome of Chautauqua classes that disbanded in 1892, leaving 10 women still interested in continuing studies. They held meetings at the home of Henrietta Gould Rowe.

Rowe was unanimously voted first president of a club which was later to be the Norumbega Club. The name was taken from Indian lore and tales of riches told by the early explorers of the Eastern Seaboard, when they returned to their native lands across the Atlantic Ocean.

The focus of the club continued to be self-improvement, and the motto “Success a Duty” was chosen to emphasize this philosophy. The pink carnation was the club flower.

In 1892, a Maine State Federation of Women’s Clubs was established and Norumbega was among the charter members. The first convention of the newly organized federation was held in Bangor.

As a result of this federation, the Norumbega Club became involved in civic and state affairs and supported many legislative bills, such as that establishing a traveling library. In time, there were 137 such libraries in Maine.

The club also supported the Red Cross during both World Wars and was among those clubs organizing the Good Samaritan Home, the Bangor District Nursing Association (formerly the District Nursing Committee), the Travelers Aid, the Boy Scouts, the Good Will Farm at Hinckley, and the Sub-Deb Club of Bangor High School to train girls to be leaders and teach them how to hold meetings.

In the post-World War II years, the club supported a woman being appointed to the University of Maine board of trustees, maintaining a policewoman on the Bangor Police Department, improving the banks of the Kenduskeag Stream, and planting trees where needed.

The club produced four presidents of the Maine State Federation of Women’s Clubs: Maude MacKenzie, Idella Rogers Gould, Mary Silver and the late Shirley Cole Atwood.

The club has grown from 10 to its limit of 65 from the 1920s through the 1970s, with a long waiting list for future members.

Funds to support financial commitments were raised by many means. The operetta, “The Red Corn Feast,” was written by one of the members and was presented twice by popular demand.

Other fund-raisers included musicals, guest speakers, card parties, teas and, early in the club history, dances and ice cream socials.

The larger efforts often were done with other federated clubs in the city, especially during World War II, when all organizations focused on the war effort.

Among those participating in the 100th anniversary celebration were Gloria Tewhey, state president, Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs, Gorham; Katherine White, District 2 president of MFWC from Winterport; and Polly Spratt, Norumbega president from Bucksport.


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