Contemporary Club Celebrates 120 Years

The Contemporary Club of Redlands celebrated its 120th birthday on Monday, Jan. 6, with a luncheon attended by more than 60 supporters, residents and members. Harp music provided by Christine Cameron greeted the guests as they entered the clubhouse. The guests included city officials and members from the district level of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Current president Maxine Flater acknowledged past presidents. An in-house catered lunch was served by the Kimberly Juniors. The lunch included a spinach salad highlighted with local navel and blood orange segments, which continued the theme of the centerpieces: jars of freshly sliced citrus with orange crate labels attached. The program included commentary by Jeff Sanborn, whose great grandmother was the president of the club from 1899 to 1901. Also in attendance was Maureen MacManus Griffith, who was there representing her mother, who was president from 1989 to 1990 and again from 1994 to 1996. The member with the longest membership in the club, Mary Covington, was also present; she joined in 1950. Nelda Stuck provided three piano pieces while models Stephanie Shelby, Priscilla Smega, Evey Dowell, Cheryl Graybill, Kim Clifton and Mary Butler showcased the clothes of several eras down to the present. Cheryl Graybill presented a history of the club, with wry comments about how the concerns and projects of the club’s past often seem to parallel current issues. Don McCue, the Director of the A.K. Smiley Library, spoke of the archives of the club and the club’s impact in the community. The event culminated with the lighting of the candles on the cakes and the singing of “Happy Birthday” in recognition of the club’s and two members’ birthdays, adding a personal touch and accenting the continuity that the club has provided to the community and to individual members down through the years.