History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

268

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

memorating affairs of national import, such as Reciprocity day, have
been in turn observed fittingly by the club. Various programs have been
arranged dealing with nature studies, civic reform, etc.
The club is limited in membership to twenty-five, and the roll is now
full, with several names on the waiting list. Meetings are held on every
alternate Monday during the year. The circle is affiliated with the county
and state federation of women's clubs, and its members have always taken
an active and important part in the work of those organizations.
Since the beginning of the West Side Reading Circle, the various
presidents have been as follows: Mrs. Turnbull, first president; Mrs.
Alex Buchanan; Mrs. Albe Lull; Mrs. C. E. Hawkins; Mrs. Daniel Johnson; Mrs. N. A. Dewey; Mrs. F. J. Poole; Mrs. H. M. Dickie; Mrs.
Pardon Doty; Mrs. G. M. Campbell. Officers for I912-I9I3 are as follows: Mrs. F. J. Walters, president; Mrs. C. S. Johnson, vice president;
Miss Fannie Anderson, second vice president; Mrs. John Fowler, recording secretary; Mrs. Newton Beach, corresponding secretary; M.rs. J.
Springer, treasurer; Mrs. G. M. Campbell. parliamentarian; Mrs. Roy
Middleton, reporter; Mrs. F. J. Poole, delegate to state federation; Mrs.
F. H. Walters, alternate.
WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
The W. C. T. U. of Pontiac was organized on April 3, 1877, in the
old Congregational church, with a membership of about two hundred and
fifty. The first officers of the society were: Mrs. Cressy, president; Mrs.
William Albertson, recording secretary; Mrs. Gelston, treasurer; Mrs.
J. W. Rice, corresponding secretary. Some of these officers only held
for a brief time, there being numerous changes during the first year.
There were no vice presidents during that year, but in later years a vice
president was chosen from every church in the city.
At the first annual meeting Mrs. William Albertson was elected president; Mrs. Harrison Voorheis, vice president; Miss C. E. Cleveland,
corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. B. Turner, recording secretary; Mrs.
J. W. Rice, treasurer. The present officers are,Mrs. Maud Chattuck,
president; Mrs. Electa Rice, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Annette
Fisher, recording secretary; Mrs. Jane Ogden, treasurer. The vice
presidents are: Mrs. Catcher, representing the Presbyterian church; Mrs.
Newbiggins, of the Episcopal church; Mrs. Hodge of the Baptist church;
Mrs. Wright of the First Methodist Episcopal church; Mrs. Kendrick
of the Central Methodist church; and Mrs. Beach of the Congregational
church. The present membership of the society is one hundred and
twenty-eight.
BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
In the year I869 a few persons gathered at the home of Mrs. Edwin
Baldwin for the purpose of forming a Library Association. About forty
dollars had been secured from persons who had been members of a Good
Templars' lodge, recently disbanded. The first purchase was thirty-nine
volumes. As years passed the society grew and was soon incorporated
under the state law.