LAY CORNER STONE OF PORTIA CLUB HOUSE
From the files of Payette Enterprise
Thursday, August 4, 1927

A goodly number of Portia members and their friends gathered Monday evening to witness the laying of the corner stone of the new club house, a red letter event of Portia and one long and faithfully worked and waited for by the Club women.

The program on Monday opened with the singing of "America" by the audience and the invocation by the Rev. A. H. Shuman, after which Hugh Allen's quartette of male voices rendered a beautiful Southern selection. Mrs. Ainey, president of the club, in informally opening the meeting use the gavel announcing it was the first time it had been used in the new club house (enthusiastic applause). The first speaker to be introduced by Mrs. Ainey was B. F. McCarroll, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who spoke on "What Portia Means to Payette." The speaker stated that it is mainly the young people of a community who benefit by the functioning of a live, active club like Portia. Mr. McCarroll cited as chief among the club's good works, the public library which now has upon its shelves eight thousand volumes, an average of 240 books are given out, making approximately twelve thousand books a year read by the people of Payette County, most of the readers being young people.

The next speaker was Mrs. D. C. Chase, one of the original members of the Portia Club, who read a history of the club from the time of its inception in October 1895, by Mrs. B. P. Shawhan, who was also the first president of the club, the original members were Mrs. B. P. Shawhan, Mrs. J. B. Burns, Mrs. Douglas Ross, Mrs. Pickering, Miss Jessie Pickering (Mrs. C. S. Loveland), Mrs. J. H. Shawhan, Miss Gertrude Shawhan (Mrs. Henry Sommercamp), Miss Bess Shawhan (Mrs. Henry Jones), and Mrs. D. C. Chase. It was Mrs. Burns’ suggestion that this new "study club" be named after the wise young heroine of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice." During the first year and other members came in, first Mrs. Henry Erwin, closely followed by Mrs. G. W. William (the second president). Miss Alice Adam (Mrs. Albert Grothe), Mrs. John McGlinchey, Mrs. W. A. Coughanour, Mrs. A. B. Moss Sr., and many others.

It was largely due to the activity of Mrs. McGlinchey that the club which from the start was a growing concern, was federated with the district in 1903, with the state in 1906, and with the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1912. Portia was incorporated in 1921 and "our club house" became a definite goal.

Mrs. White, retiring president, then told of how the money for the club house had been earned, much hard work, dinners, suppers, teas, lyceum courses, May days, slowly but steadily the fund group. The lots were bought and paid for several years ago. Mrs. White concluded by saying that the club house would cost $3000 and would be fully paid for when completed.

The records were then placed in the box by Mrs. J. R. McKinney, Secretary of the club, and the box sealed by Mrs. F. H. Hogue, chairman of the building committee, after which I C. Whitely the contractor set in place the corner stone, with its inscription, "Portia 1927," the singing of the Doxology by the audience and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. A. H. Shuman concluded the ceremonial.

The present officers of Portia are; Mrs. D. W. Ainey, president, Mrs. H. W. Douglass, vice president: Mrs. J. R. McKinney, recording secretary, Mrs. H. F. Pugh, corresponding secretary, Mrs. Emma Conover, treasurer, Mrs. C. C. Springston, pianist, Mrs. Bernard Eastman, songleader. Board of Directors: Mrs. D. W. Ainey, Mrs. R. A. Crump, Mrs. Albert White, Mrs. H. W. Douglass, Mrs. A. L. Pence and Mrs. Emma Conover. The building committee which for the past three months has been laboring over plans and composed of the Board of Directors and 6 club members as follows: Mrs. F. H. Hogue chairman, Mrs. H. W. Douglas, Mrs. P. H. Brown, Mrs. W. J. Hughes, Mrs. A. A. Stettler and Mrs. Albert Hobbs.