A brief history by Ann Howard, President, April 2009

     In November 1909 the Dry Creek Neighbors Club was organized and first known as the Dry Creek Woman’s Home Mission Society. In 1914 the group reorganized as a ladies’ aid society and changed the name to Dry Creek Neighbors Club. Some of our members today are daughters and granddaughters of early members. Our motto has always been “Kind Words, Kind Thoughts, Kind Deeds.” Our colors are blue and gold, and our flower the marigold. We will celebrate our 100^th anniversary in November 2009!

     The club has been a charitable organization since the beginning when the ladies made comforters for the orphans at Lytton Springs and bought clothes so the children could attend a fair. The list is long of groceries, quilts, clothing, or monies that the group has donated over the years to those in need, not just in Dry Creek Valley. Since 2002 we have made soft Teddy bears for distribution by Healdsburg District Hospital and local police and fire departments to children in distress.

     Our monthly business meetings are educational, but we also have a lot of fun and support each other in time of need. During the busy summer months we enjoy casual potluck picnics to keep in touch.

     Since 1949 the club has had a candy booth at the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair and along with one other group, received a plaque in 1999 for participating 50 years. The booth is pink so you can’t miss it, and the 300 pounds of homemade fudge we sell is delicious! This year will be our 60^th year, and we are entering a float in the parade on May 21^st to celebrate our 100^th anniversary!

     Since 1955 when the group decided to award a scholarship of $50 to a high school senior, we have awarded the amazing amount of $32,250. Our membership has been thirty-five or fewer over the years. The funds are raised from candy sales at the Fair, and more recently we serve the annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner to 120 members of the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce.

     In honor of the 1976 Bicentennial the club published “Vintage Memories” in 1979 consisting of a collection of stories about the early days in Dry Creek Valley. Because of its popularity, the book is out of print, and the club is considering publishing an updated edition.

     By 1983 the Dry Creek Neighbors Club had designed and installed one of the four signs, welcoming visitors to our beautiful valley.  A contest sponsored by the Farm Bureau to select a motto was opened to the public. One of our members was fortunate to have her entry, “Enjoy, Protect, Return,” chosen. The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley were also involved in the original project and in 2007 replaced the signs using the same motto.

     In 1995 the very popular “Dry Creek Neighbors Club Cookbook” was compiled by club members, and we are in the process of producing a new cookbook.

     The Dry Creek Neighbors Club has continued in many ways to help others. We remain a community club consisting of friends and neighbors who enjoy meeting and working together on various projects. It is our hope that we contribute to our community in a manner that will help lead the way toward an even more fruitful future for those who come after us.

Sources

Adams, Mayme E. (Hendricks), summary of the history of the club 1909-1945, and 1946-1955,

     1956-1959 hand written notes.

Schmidt, Patricia (Phillips), Bicentennial Chair, “History of Dry Creek Neighbors Club”,

     December 2, 1974.

Schmidt, Patricia (Phillips), “Dry Creek Neighbors Club Celebrates 85 Years of Helping the

     Community”, Special to the Healdsburg Tribune, November 1994.

“Vintage Memories”, Dry Creek Neighbors Club, 1979.

Unknown author, “Early History of the Dry Creek Neighbors Club”, hand-written notes.

Picture:  Courtesy of the Healdsburg Museum