The ladies of the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville met on Feb. 1 in anticipation of Groundhog’s Day at the home of Jane Hill, who was assisted by co-hostess Bonnie Oliver in entertaining the guests.
Roll call asked for views on the possibility of "love at first site." Turned out that location seldom figured in the answers but romantic encounters, infatuations, attractions, attachments, involvements and even travel and childbirth very much did.
A new member was welcomed to the group; a new member was voted into the organization.
Guest Night approaches on Feb. 15, to be held in the Garrettsville United Methodist Church and the group urges members to bring others to enjoy the program, which will feature a Robotics Club from Champion High School.
The nominating committee to propose officers for the forthcoming year will consist of Bonnie Oliver, Jane Hill and Carol Torda.
The program was then presented by Mary Furillo, who illuminated the practices of courtship in the 1900s, beginning with the era when the club was founded. The formality of social interactions, influenced by wealth and class and attended by chaperones, gradually devolved from an emphasis on group activities and restrictions on public displays of affection once the revolutionary idea of love entered the equation. So did automobiles, economics and commercial interests.
"Going steady," with its attendant tokens like rings, jackets and pins, segued into living together and "hooking up." Personal reminiscences of various facets of the topic and references to several 19th century authors and their views on the subject closed the program, topped off with the distribution of chocolate-filled Valentine hearts.