Woman's Club meeting features program on Mary Willis Library

Dean Mansfield (left), Woman's Club program chairman, welcomes Lillie Crowe, the guest speaker for the day. Lillie Crowe, Director of the Bartram Trail Regional Library, presented the program to members of the Washington Woman's Club at the luncheon meeting Monday, October 9, at the clubhouse.

Dean Mansfield, program chairman, introduced Mrs. Crowe who gave a history of the library. She related how the library began as a gift of Dr. Francis Willis in memory of his daughter, Mary Willis. The Mary Willis Library was built in 1889 and is the oldest free public library. She told of its becoming a part of the Bartram Trail Regional Library and how it now has access to millions of volumes through this network. Mrs. Crowe noted that since its beginning Mary Willis Library has had only six directors

which is quite an exceptional statistic. She brought several items of memorabilia and brochures for members to browse and take.

Prior to her program Vivian Walker presided and Laura Toburen offered a devotional and blessing.

Hostesses were Laura Toburen, Vada Hale, Paula Butts and Mary Ann Bentley. Tables were festively decorated with small pumpkins, leaves, acorns and fall-wrapped Hershey's Kisses. Mantels held falltheme pillar candles and more of the pumpkins and winter squash amid pine greenery and berries. The piano was draped with a beautiful fall quilt and featured an old basket of fall leaves.

A business meeting followed the program.