The End of an Era

The 90th & 91st anniversaries of the Smith River Extension Homemakers occurred in May 2021 & 2022 without a celebration. What a great achievement for us to have reached.

We were still an active club until "Covid" hit the area. Since then all our lives have changed. After not being able to hold our regular meetings and other events, and a drop in members, we decided to end this wonderful adventure. Ninety-one years of working together, learning, caring, fun, friendship, and just good times. A true lifetime adventure.

We plan to still be active in the community by holding our annual dinner, selling our household brooms, with Buffy Ogden in charge, and helping the Hall Assn. with their events.

The hall was a major project of the Home Demonstration Club. We saved money for years and finally found our building and land. It was put in place in 1953. What an asset for the area. We have provided funds for hall maintenance thru the years. We have really used and enjoyed the hall.

In 1979 we assembled and had published a book called "The Smith River Journal", a history of the area, with everyone writing their history. We sold copies all over the country. A true labor of Love.

The idea of a (aka) Home Demonstration Club was great in it's day. Now, with all the new modern technology, it is so easy to just push a button and get the answers for how to do something. We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to be involved in the Extension program for 91 years. This community benefited greatly from all our efforts. It has been a good life experience.

We have worked the last 91 years with the USDA Extension Service and all the agents who have been so helpful and knowledgeable. We have learned so much thru the years, from the primitive days to the computer ways.. We thank them all for their help and support.

Such as: cleaning clothes, painting, home lighting, gardening, land-Thru all these years we have studied many different subjects, scaping, health, rug making, sewing, tailoring, cooking, baking, canning, freezing foods, upholstery, foreign foods, family care, family history, draperies, car care and many many more.

We have supported many worthwhile causes thru the years, such as; Red Cross, Heart Assn, Cancer, Rest Homes, Easter Seals, March of Dimes, Highway Patrol, United Way, and our seniors and our graduates.

It is a sad note to say we are no longer a club, but the rewards we have received throughout the years are irreplacable. We all have improved our homes, lives, and families thru this program, and in the process we have made life long friends. This is what life is all about.