“We wanted to get our little children to play together,” said charter member Mary Ann Perrin. The club originated under the moniker The Sewing Club, but “actually we didn’t do much sewing,” Mrs. Perrin said.
Many of the young mothers who gathered for “meetings” were wives of U.S. service men deployed during World War II, and original club members - also including Grace Davis, J.D. Moore, Iva Reichert and Katheryn Dusek - were friends, neighbors and had young children.
The first meeting was an informal event conducted under a tree at Mrs. Perrin’s parent’s house with three members, Mrs. Perrin, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Dusek. “That’s where we started our children playing, under the oak tree,” Mrs. Perrin said. “We never had any formality with little children like that. We didn’t have any art or anything, we just wanted to get together. If you had handwork and wanted to do, glory be, good for you. Mostly we were chasing children.”
Four years later, the group had expanded and the name changed to “The Mother’s Club,” where members dressed up and wore hats and gloves for their meetings. Motherhood was a membership requirement. Dorothy Harden, sometime prior to 1950, recommended a third name change to “The Three Arts Club” where the group emphasized the “arts” of living, homemaking and child training. Membership still was limited to mothers. Dues originally were $4, but later were reduced to $3 to an “amendment to the constitution,” according to a club history.
The club continued as a mothers’ only club until 1972 when members changed its name to The Arts and Service League, and deleted the motherhood clause. Though it has experienced four name changes during a 30-year span, the club’s objective remained constant: stimulate interests in social and cultural arts, and the art of living. This goal retains a portion of the purpose of the Three Arts Club.
Since then, the club has been involved in a variety of community projects aimed at pursuing the three objectives.
Today, the club is recognized in Cameron as a proponent of social and cultural arts and the art of living as well as its philanthropic role. Over the years, the club has donated funds benefiting Cameron Daycare Center, Friends of the Library, Folk Fete, tennis court backboards, city park children’s playground, Milam County Historical Museum, Girl Scouts, Youth Exposition Building tables, summer track program, summer reading program as well as Senior Celebration, Milam County Crime Stoppers, Temple Symphony Cameron Christmas Concert, Milam Community Theater, Little River Basin Master Gardener Association and restoration of Port Sullivan Cemetery.
Other beneficiaries of Arts and Service fundraisers are Milam County Child Welfare Board, scholarships for C.H. Yoe High School seniors, hospital equipment, tennis court bleachers, EMS equipment, fire department equipment and the elementary art program.
In 1972, members provided Saturday matinee movies for children at the Methodist Fellowship Hall at a cost of 35 cents. In 1977, the club began sponsoring a summer recreation program for Cameron children which involved 282 children. The program continued through 1981.
Subsequently, the club has helped sponsor children’s attendance at the Special Olympics, Christmas toy drives, and recently participated in programs to encourage recycling. The club organized the yearly Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and had decorated the community tree with ornaments handmade from recycled items.
The club’s major fund-raiser is its spring luncheon. In 1972, the luncheon raised $177, and last year, it netted $3,500 in profits.
In recent years, The Arts and Service League has sponsored community programs on women’s safety, a kid’s safety seminar, ID kits for children and infant and children CPR instruction, plus other lessons for keeping children safe.
Last year, the group organized a three-month fitness class that included cardio exercise and strength building routines taught by Liz Davis, a personal trainer from Temple.
Members also have enjoyed a wide variety of programs through the years, including book reviews given by Flo Curry of Temple during its Three Arts Club days. Speakers also have focused on community programs, jewelry artists, travel adventures, world cultures, personal collections, gardening and health education.
The spring luncheon on Thursday will feature an array of tablescapes made by club members. Theme for the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. luncheon is “Taste of the Town.” Set in the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall, the spring luncheon menu will feature Uptown Chicken Salad, Pea Pickin’ Rice, Southwest Corn, fruit medley, croissant roll, homemade pie or cake and iced tea or hot coffee.
After lunch, drawings will be conducted for theme baskets: “Bling It,” “Cook It,” “Sport It,” and “Play It.”
Tickets for the luncheon or drawing can be obtained from any Arts and Service League member or at Dusek’s Pharmacy and White House Gifts. Luncheon tickets are pre-sale only. All proceeds will be distributed to various charities and groups in Cameron and to some worthy college-bound high school seniors.
--jwilliams@temple-telegram.com
