New Century Club celebrating its 125th Anniversary ...

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Waukon area’s Women’s New Century Club. In December of 1899, seven members of the Nineteenth Century Club withdrew from that group to form the nucleus of a new women’s study club. January 9, 1900 officially opened the new club, thus the name The New Century Club. The founding members of that new club were Catherine Daugherty, Lucy May, Lena Helming, Ida Van Nice, Mable Coffeen, Kate Kidder and Anna Beeman.

The focus of the Club was to improve the mind, promote growth of sociability among its members, and the advancement of education, civic and philanthropic work. The Club survived two World Wars, other conflicts, the Depression, and more recently, COVID-19, and it continues to meet today. Membership has varied over the years from as few as six members on up to as many as 30 members.

Much like the founding years of the Club, today’s active members also stand at seven in number. They include the six ladies pictured above in the submitted photo, left to right: Patsy Kerndt, Linda Johanningmeier, Diane Piittmann, Sharon Snitker, Nancy Brandt and Connie Buresh, along with Sharon Olson, who is not pictured. There are also two honorary members, Ruby Herman and Shirley Schneeberger. The Club also acknowledges the passing of a dear friend and sister Club member within this past year, Marian Bauercamper.