Black Forest
Homemakers Club

The Club meets the second Thursday of the month
at the Lutheran Church from 9 A. M. to Noon.
Coffee and goodies are served, followed by the meeting and then a program.

Club History:

In 1921, five Black forest women formed a sewing circle called the Black Forest Ladies Club. Others soon joined. Three years later, County Agent Ruby Coffin showed club members how to cook a chicken in a pressure cooker. She invited them to join the El Paso County Women's Club, and they became one of the 19 charter clubs in the precursor of Home Demonstration.

The BFLC concentrated on improving homemaking skills with the assistance of the Home Demonstration agent. They learned to make jelly, cakes and bread, and how to sew items from flour sacks. They had lessons on canning, and purchased a pressure cooker, which could be rented for 50 cents. They also bought a five-gallon ice cream freezer for community events.

Through the years the women were active in community affairs, sponsoring Silver Tea Dances in the 1940s, supporting Red Cross projects, and baking dozens of cookies for the USO. They donated money to maintain the Black Forest Community Hall, helped the local fire department, and started a motion picture club for youngsters to enjoy. Most members raised gardens and participated in the annual Garden Festival.

In 1954, members started a child immunization clinic which lasted over 20 years as a Health Department-sanctioned well-baby clinic. Black Forest women took part in the BF Festival, and held parties for boys at the Deaf and Blind School. During its 78-year existence the name of the club has changed several times. The BFLC became the BF Home Demonstration Club, and then the Extension Homemaker's Club. In 1990, the name because the BF Homemakers Club. The 75th anniversay was celebrated in 1996 with a tea and fashion show with outfits from the 1920s to the 1990s.

The BFHMC still focuses on providing community services for residents of BF and surrounding areas with programs of interest to modern women (mostly over 40 to 80+ years). Projects of the club today are assisting in caretaking and beautification of the Eastonville Cemetery, helping to continue the restoration of the Historic BF Log School, caring for unfortunate BF families, assisting a BF Girl Scout troop, and to contribute to the BF Cares food program for needy families, to name a few.

Club Officers:
  • President, Roseanne Brown
  • Vice President, Carol Lanning
  • Secretary, Ellen Bradshaw
  • Treasurer, Diane Orosz
    • Makeup of the Club:
    Currently, the membership has 45 active members mostly from ages 40 to 80+. We are unable to provide babysitting, but younger women are encouraged to join if they have outside sitters. We are a fun-loving group who enjoy our friendships both during club meetings and outside. Many of us have been active members for over 25 years.

     

    The Black Forest Homemakers Club will meet Thursday, Sept. 11, at a new place, Black Forest Community church. Beginning at 9 a.m. hosts will serve refreshments, followed by a business session. Roll call will ask for home security tips, tying in with the p rogram from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Neighborhood Watch and home security. Guests are welcome.

     

      How to join: E-mail the Club