| On April 23, 1999 two chapters
officially merged into one strong and vibrant group. Individually we were known as Western Reserve Chapter and
Lakewood Chapter, but as of that date we became the Western Reserve - Lakewood Chapter NSDAR. Since the
merging some wonderful additions and traditions for our Chapter have been established.
Our Chapter has joined in the tradition of placing a wreath at the President
Garfield Memorial during the annual Memorial Day Ceremony held each year at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland
in 1999. The SAR and other patriotic organizations had been taking part in the ceremony in the past and are pleased to
have us join them. In 2001 we had the pleasure of adding the Catherine Avery Chapter, CAR join in the ceremony
with us. Memorial Day 2004 again saw the SAR, DAR and CAR all presenting their wreaths in the same ceremony.
The Chapter sponsors three JROTC units at local high schools and one senior ROTC unit at a local college. Each year the
individual Units choose a cadet who meets their criteria for receiving a DAR medal and certificate.
The tradition of Americanism and the presenting of American flags to new citizens continues strong
with the Western Reserve - Lakewood Chapter. The Chapter has been handing out Americal flags to new
citizens for a number of years now at their naturalization ceremonies. The ceremony moved to the new Federal Building in Downtown Cleveland on August
1, 2002.
On September 29, 2001 an historic Washington Tulip Poplar tree was planted in North Chagrin Valley Reservation at the
location of the picturesque Buttermilk Falls in NE Ohio. The ceremony was held to commemorate the relocation of the original
Washinton Planting Rock and Plaque which was placed at the site of the original plantings in 1932. Members
from Western Reserve - Lakewood and Martha Devotion Huntington were present at this ceremony.
Below you will find the individual histories of the two grand Chapters which are our ancestors (in a
manner of speaking). We hope that you enjoy these histories and we welcome you to return in the future and
see how we have progressed.
Western Reserve Chapter (1891-1999)
In 1975 a pamphlet entitled
A History of Western Reserve Chapter NSDAR was published by the chapter. The author, Millie
Kohlmeyer Owings (Mrs. Charles), a relatively new member to the chapter, had decided to take it upon herself
to research the history of Ohio's oldest DAR chapter. Below are excerpts of that history.
| The National Society Daughters
of the American Revolution was organized in Washington, D.C. on October 11, 1890. Mrs. Elroy M. Avery of
Cleveland spent that winter in Washington and while there became a charter member of the National Society
in January, 1891. She was very much impressed with this new organization of which Mrs. Caroline Scott Harrison
(Mrs. Benjamin) was the first President General, and came back to Cleveland determined to establish a chapter
here. Mrs. Harrison had offered Mrs. Avery the state regency but she declined this honor to become the
organizing regent of the first Ohio chapter.
The first meeting was held on December 19, 1891 with fifteen organizing members present. It was at this first
meeting, held at the home of Mrs. Howard J. Lee on Prospect Street just east of Erie (now E. 9th) that an
advisory board of twelve gentlemen was elected. At the second meeting on January 13, 1892 the name
Western Reserve was adopted. A charter was granted by the National Society and Western Reserve became
the first chapter in Ohio and the twelfth in the nation.
As early as 1896-1898 during the regency of Mrs. W. H. Barris a committee was appointed to locate
graves of Revolutionary soldiers in the Cleveland area. This marking of the graves of Revolutionary soldiers
continued over a long period of time and in 1927 the results were compiled in a roster by Mrs. Perry L.
Hobbs and published. Historic sites within the county were also located and marked.
On December 27, 1897 a chapter of the Children of the American Revolution was formed and called the "Nicholas
Sweet Society", named for a drummer boy in the Revolution who was an ancestor of Mrs. Barris who was
chapter regent at that time. On January 24, 1912 the Catherine Avery Society, C.A.R., was organized and is still
active at the present time. It was also during the regency of Mrs. Barris that donations were requested for the
construction of Continental Hall in Washington.
As early as 1909 Western Reserve chapter took a stand for a Safe and Sane Fourth of July. This idea was
vigorously promoted by Mrs. Charels Burt Tozier, who became regent in 1912.
Before the organization of such groups as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the women of Western Reserve Chapter
were concerned about the training of young people. Under their leadership a number of boys' clubs were
organized, called Sons of the Republic. Each club was named for an American patriot. Many of the boys who
belonged to these clubs grew up to be professional men, civic and national leaders.
Under the leadership of Mrs. W. B. Neff the "Girl Homemakers" were organized. These groups were girls from
age six to twelve years and the purpose was to teach them "to keep house, sew and make homes happy". Many
of these girls were from immigrant families trying to adjust to the life of their new world. At one time chapter
members were suprvising twenty such clubs.
During the regency of Mrs. Edward Campbell (1924-1926) 41,300 Manuals for Citenship were personally handed
out by chapter members to foreign groups in the city. Chapter members attended Naturalization court sessions
and welcomed the new citizens. At the present time this Americanism work is carried on jointly by the seven
chapters in the Greater Cleveland area. Manuals for Citizenship are still furnished to the Naturalization court
and each new citizen is given a small American flag and a letter of welcome as he takes his oath of loyalty.
Part of the expense of this work is covered by the "flag bank" passed at each chapter meeting.
All has not been work. There was a delightful social life. During the regency of Mrs. Harvey Goulder (1904-1906)
the annual Colonial Balls were a highlight. The dancing of the minuet became traditional at DAR balls. In addition
to the balls, there were luncheons, picnics, an evening at Euclid Beach, and musicals given by members and
their children.
In 1932 during the regency of Mrs. Terwilliger our chapter placed a plaque on a huge boulder in Metropolitan
Parks' North Chagrin Reservation to commemorate George Washington's 200th birthday. At the same time
a member of pines were planted at this site. Today they are a beautiful grove of tall trees. Our bicentennial
project includes this planting of trees and contributions toward the acquisition of the Revolutionary War Pension
and Bounty Land Records on micro-film housed at the Western Reserve Historical Society Library.
At one time our chapter had nearly 700 members. As the city grew larger some wanted to meet nearer home
rather than go down town. Others were professional women who could not attend afternoon meetings. In the
course of time other chapters were organized to accommodate these needs resulting in a loss of members to
Western Reserve. |
Lakewood Chapter (1927-1999)
In 1933 a Miss
Roena Ingman, librarian of the Lakewood Public Library, let the Lakewood Chapter know that there was very
little information about the City of Lakewood in print. She felt that it was essential to preserve the history and
traditions of early Lakewood for all generations to come. A committee was appointed by the Lakewood Chapter
regent whose purpose was to write a history depicting the early days of the community now known as Lakewood.
This small history was published in 1936 and then in 1995 an index of members and supporters involved in the
publication of the book Early Days of Lakewood was compiled by Jeanne Britton Workman, a
member of the chapter. The book is available in Cleveland area libraries, the Western Reserve Historical
Society Library, the DAR library in Washington, D.C., and the State Library of Ohio in Columbus.
In January of 2002,
members Peggy Livingston researched the information and Julia Weber wrote a further history for the Lakewood
Chapter. Here is a more complete history:
|
The parent chapter of the Lakewood Chapter was the Western Reserve Chapter founded in 1891. At one time this
chapter had 700 members and as it became cumbersome other smaller chapters spun off. The Lakewood Chapter was
organized by Mrs. Clyde A. Hyre on April 18, 1927. She became its first Regent. There were 19 organizing members
and their annual dues were the princely sum of $4.00.
These early members met mostly in each others homes and the meetings were often concluded with a rousing game of
bridge. Eventually as the chapter grew the meetings moved to the Lakewood Public Library.
A Spinner's Guild was organized in 1930 and a Needle Craft Guild was formed in 1933. This was an original Lakewood
innovation that eventually became a national organization.
The 1930s were busy years. Revolutionary War soldier's graves were identified, historic sites in Lakewood marked, and
a cutting from George Washington's Elm tree planted on Lakewood High School grounds with much fanfare from the
local community. There were interesting fund raisers held. One such fund raiser was a Quilt Exhibit held in Downtown
Higbee's lounge. Another time a Heirloom Tea was held and of course there were always the customary rummage sales.
In 1931 the Lakewood women cut flowers and decorated a float to enter in a Cleveland Plain Dealer Pageant inaugurating
the Air Races in Cleveland. It won first prize. In 1932 the DAR Garden club presented 105 Douglas Fir trees to Lakewood
City Park. They are still there.
The early 1940's were filled with activities supporting the war effort. They were then meeting in the Parish House of the
Church of the Ascension. The ladies were actively involved in helping the Red Cross, preparing surgical dressing, assisting
in the blood donation program, knitting woolens for the soldiers, selling war bonds and other war related activities.
By the late 1940s and into the 50s the meetings had moved to the Lakewood Methodist Church building. The Americanism
committee was busy at that time working with displaced persons, newly naturalized citizens and children in the contagious
ward of City Hospital.
A high light of the 1950s was a DAR window display in the Detroit Road Bailey Co. in Lakewood, which included a copy
of the Constitution and other items of historic interest. The meetings were held in the Lakewood YMCA - YWCA in the
1960s and 70s.
The Chapter continued to survive even as membership participation dwindled when women became more active in the
work force. Today we have come full circle, having merged with our parent Western Reserve Chapter on April 23, 1999.
Our meetings are currently held in the Cuyahoga County Library, Regional Branch, Fairview Park. |
Updated 4/8/2011
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