AIC History

THE ANNANDALE IMPROVEMENT CLUB
From Lotus Williams 1987 book, Memories of Annandale

On August 9, 1898, a group of Annandale women met and organized the Improvement Club. They signed the list as follows:

Mrs. H.K. Kelly	Mrs. Charles Mathews
Mrs. L. Cofield	Mrs. A.M. Ridgway
Mrs. M.P. Satterlee	Mrs. Cotton
Mrs. Roy Cofield	Mrs. Nyberg
Mrs. J.F. Lee	Mrs. J.J. Rennie
Mrs. Lee Ritchie	Mrs. W. McDonald
Mrs. Larson	Mrs. Chas. Dally
Mrs. Huntington	Mrs. Frank Rogers
Mrs. S. H. McGuire

In this group were the wives of some of the first builders and promoters of Annandale. M. Cofield built the first elevator; Henry Kelly, S.H. McGuire, and John Rennie built and operated the first general stores; Tom Cotton had the first hall where the community could gather for social purposes; Will McDonald established the bank which still is a financial center; M.P. Satterlee was the first permanent editor who build the Advocate into a substantial newspaper; Lee Ritchie was a carpenter and builder, depended upon by many to build the houses and stores of a growing town; J. Lee was an important educator and legislator; Dr. Ridgway was a faithful servant to the countryside; and Chas. Mathews was a well-known conductor on the Soo Line. Others had endured the hardships of early pioneering and were enjoying town living.

The first great need for the efforts of the Improvement Club was the immediate need for a piano to outfit the new Town Hall which was nearing dedication. The ladies decided that they could raise money by giving dinners and lunches, by having home talent plays and sponsoring various kinds of entertainment. They were granted room in the new Town Hall for a meeting place and to establish a lending library, which was one of their main projects. They began the library with about 300 books, about half of which were donated and the rest were purchased new. In time, the number of volumes increased so they had to buy a bookcase and shelves. When the Town Hall was torn down, the Improvement Club moved to the brick building which was then known as the Rest Room. As time has passed, the Improvement Club has now occupied all of this building and it is all given to library uses.

The Improvement Club has supplemented the work of the council, putting a finishing touch to many projects. They built cement steps at the park leading to the pavilion; they made a lattice work for the pavilion to cut the wind; they planted flowers and flower boxes to adorn the town; and they kept a lovely little park by the depot where one could await the arrival of the train on a hot summer day.

Their biggest project has always been the Library which has supplemented the school library and been a source of information on all subjects. The Improvement Club has sponsored many trips of educational and historical value. It has, indeed, improved the town.