Barrington Junior Women's Club
Ninety years,
told in moments
The moments that made the club what it is, and below them every year since 1936.
The club is founded
In the days of Roosevelt's New Deal, 29 women become charter members of the Barrington Junior Woman's Club, with Myrtle Olson Cady as first president. Dee Homuth is a charter member, and Ruth Ahrens Munson joins a few months later.
Juniors in training
The club begins as the “child” of the Senior Woman's Club. The two groups exchange meetings, a Senior sponsor, Mrs. Higgins, looks after the Juniors, and members support child welfare, the Red Cross and the Little Wanderers' Nursery. Meetings move from homes, church rooms, the school and the library to once a month.
Carrying on through the war
Under co-presidents Eunice Maciejewski and Evelyn Grant, members roll bandages and buy drinking cups for soldiers at Fort Sheridan.
The bloodmobile
Members help organize the bloodmobile for blood donations to Korea.
A home at Langendorf Park
Langendorf Park becomes the club's permanent meeting place. Members take part in Barrington's Centennial and send baby blankets to hospitals in Vietnam.
Giving Day begins
The holiday drive that still fills a gym with gifts for Barrington-area families every December.
Safety Town is born
The club establishes Safety Town and gives $5,000 to the Pediatric Ward at Good Shepherd Hospital.
Standing on its own
The link with the Senior Woman's Club dissolves and the Juniors become a separate corporation, legally incorporated as a nonprofit.
The All-Town Picnic
BJWC organizes Barrington's All-Town Picnic for the nation's Bicentennial.
Meals on Wheels
Members begin driving routes for homebound neighbors, a commitment that has never stopped.
Scholarships and new traditions
The club establishes its scholarship fund for a Barrington High School student, supports Officer Friendly and the Elgin Crisis Center, organizes Barrington Youth on File and Services for Seniors, and starts the Cornucopia Craft Fair, the cookbook Homemade in Barrington and the Spring Fashion Show.
Safety Town gets a permanent home
Built through community support, the miniature village where local children still learn to cross the street.
Grants to local nonprofits
Annual grant giving becomes the heart of the club's philanthropy, now celebrated at the Grant Reception.
BJWC Juniors
A program for members' daughters to serve alongside their mothers.
Once-a-decade community project
The club's 80th year and the tradition of a single large legacy gift to the community.
Every year since 1936
Gold years have a milestone above; tap one to jump to it. We are collecting photographs from every year, so if you have any, send them to us.
Milestone year