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1934 At the suggestion of Judge R. P. Stozier, Mrs. Maude Harrison and Miss Claudia Kuykendall, a group of concerned Fort Smith citizens met June 6th – and organized a club to provide clothing, health needs, and recreation for the “under privileged” girls – activities held in rented house (which was later restored and named Bonneville House) - Miss Mary Ella Clayton served as temporary superintendent.
1935 Community Chest accepted Girls Club with quota of $1,320.00. Mrs. Ethel Hunt became director. 239 girls enrolled by April 3rd. WPA workers made dresses for Girls Club members. Auxiliary, to help Board of Directors, formed of “young unmarried and married girls.” Board paid to have roof repaired on rented clubhouse.
1936 Glee Club formed. 408 members now in Girls Club. Sewing and cooking classes held in afternoons as well as evenings.
1937 451 active members. Shoes and school books purchased to needy school girls.
1938 Monthly, various area churches sponsored one night a week.
1939 Club moved to other end of block – to 300 North Seventh – this roof, too, leaked. 582 active members. Permanent building plans discussed.
1940 Site and plans selected for new building.
1941 Drive for $17,500 for a permanent clubhouse netted $16,015 in one month. With this and WPA help, building at 622 North Seventh started.
1942 Open House held on April 13th to “show off” new clubhouse – it was furnished through generosity of furniture factories, other businesses, and attics.
1943 Night teenage parties held for both girls and boys. First aid course held for adults as well as girls.
1944 Home nursing classes started. Roof problems.
1945 Mrs. Lela Long became Girls Club Director.
1946 Exchange Club sponsored Girls Club camp at Lake Fort Smith – and has continued to do so throughout the years!
1947 Dresses and underclothing still bought for needy girls – baths given, also. Roof leaking again.
1948 Girls Club members gave program at B & P.W. meeting to thank them for their generosity.
1949 Auxiliary started personal grooming classes. Girls made 15,000 surgical dressings.
1950 Community Chest allocation to Girls Club - $8,000.00
1951 Victrola taken in burglary at club. Wading pool built behind clubhouse.
1952 Girls made favors for Camp Chaffee Hospital trays. Roof problems still. Crafts and ceramics very popular classes.
1953 Mother’s Club taking active role. Bids taken for new roof.
1954 Board bought lots adjacent to club for playground. Babysitting clinics appreciated.
1955 Plans discussed to add swimming pool and gym to facilities.
1956 Marianna Phillips became Girls Club director.
1957 Drive started for $110,000.00 to add pool and gym. 772 girls enrolled for year.
1958 Fort Smith Girls Club – established 1934 and first Girls Club west of Mississippi River – joined the newly formed national organization - Girls Clubs of America. Roof leaking.
1959 Helen Lommasson of For Smith Girls Club honored as National Homemaker of the Year by Girls Clubs of America – Award presented by the wife of the Vice President – Mrs. Richard M. Nixon
1960 198 girls attended summer camp sponsored as always, by the Noon Exchange Club. Softball, basketball, and swimming classes held at Creekmore Park.
1961 Elizabeth H. Evans gym and swimming pool dedicated September 10th. Swim meet held in November. Basketball was, also, popular activity.
1962 Junior Leader program started Girls Clubs Region One (representing 15 states) held conference at Fort Smith Girls Club in October. Local Club only Girls Club in Arkansas.
1963 United Fund allocation - $20,097.85. Junior Leaders earn money to buy intercom for clubhouse. Swim team won many ribbons in Little Rock meet.
1964 Rifle Club wins regional meet in Wichita, Kansas. Roof leaking, yet.
1965 Delores Thames new Girls Club Director. Three girls go to Junior Leader training course in Kentucky.
1966 Nancy Reynolds became Director of Girls Club. Roof repaired. Extensive improvements for library.
1967 Committee appointed to investigate possibility of a Girls Club branch. “Halloween party was a horrible success.” (300 attended)
1968 Junior Leaders earn the money for their trip to Six Flags Over Texas. Plans drawn for new club on South 31st Street.
1969 Ragon Homes Extension program started – 40 girls attended daily. Quiet drive for funds to build new club.
1970 Nancy Orr Girls Club opened in February. Board of Directors Manuals made for first time. Swim and play programs for neighborhood boys and girls at Seventh Street Club.
1971 Chloe Lamon appointed Girls Club Director. $580.00 spent on roof repair. For Smith Girls Club sponsored Region 8 AAU Swim Championships. United fund allotment - $23,750.00
1972 Chris Meyer named Executive Director – first man ever, even nationally, to hold this position at a Girls Club. His wife, Leola, Assistant Director, grew up in the Fort Smith Girls Club, received her BA degree in Sociology at Arkansas Tech and returned to give her talents and love to girls and to the club which gave so much to her.
1973 Arkansas Arts and Humanities Council grant to initiate Creative Arts Program – classes held at 922 Garrison Avenue. Girls Club membership over 1850. Junior High, Senior High, and Women’s Basketball leagues very popular. Roof leaked only during rainy season. Noon Exchange Club sponsored 28th annual summer camp at Lake Fort Smith. Club gymnastics program planned.
1974 Fort Smith Girls Clubs celebrate 40 years of loving girls. Gymnastics program started.
1975 Swimming pool repaired. Job descriptions written. Swim Parents Club sponsored AAU Swim meet with 464 participants. Roof leaking again. Dues raised to $5.00.
1976 Nancy Reynolds named Executive Director. Girls Clubs and Boys Clubs combine to form Fort Smith Swim Team and coach hired. Branch Club roof leaking. Program Coordinator position filled.
1977 New Executive Director – Iris Breed. Basketball program for elementary and junior high girls sponsored by Optimist Clubs. Creative Arts Program terminated. Softball team organized.
1978 $92,000 budget with $64,000 from United Way, Port city Optimist Club pays for replacing gym floor. New Policy Manual. Many Associate Members using pool.
1979 New 40 passenger bus provided by Doss Sutton Foundation. Soccer league and drill teams started. $27,000 fire damage to Nancy Orr Club after robbery.
1980 Expansion of Nancy Orr Club discussed. Leaky roof fixed and other extensive repairs to Seventh Street Club. Rosalie Tilles Foundation sponsored camp for younger girls with Noon Exchange Club continuing their generous contribution for the other girls. Annual J.C. and June Boulogne Alexander Scholarship established for twenty years. First award to Mindy Holt.
1981 Fund drive for Nancy Orr Club expansion approved by United Way. Alexander Scholarship to Deborah Thomas, a nine year Girls Club member. $26,000 Community Block Development Grant for Seventh Street Club repairs.
1982 Through the generosity of local people and businesses, over $420,000 raised for Sports Complex at Orr Club. Construction began in August. Soccer program increased 250% since 1979. Seventy girls participating in drill teams. Another leaky place – now over the swimming pool.
1983 Girls Club on North Seventh Street named Bell Grove Girls Club. National Wonder Woman Award given to Shirley Helton, Assistant Director, for outstanding youth sports program. Playground in memory of Marshall L. Yantis, Julia Welch Yantis, and Lucy Vick Harper built at Belle Grove Club. Basketball program now has 42 teams. Sports Complex at Nancy Orr Club completed and formally dedicated. Additional Alexander Scholarship given.
1984 The Fort Smith Girls Club – 50 years old! But young at heart and grateful to all who have supported and made possible these fifty years of loving girls. |
