Through the years, club stays together

Submitted.

Members of the 80-year-old Sesame Club, of Berryton are, front row from left, Carol Bradshaw, Betty Underwood, Nelle Rodgers and Karen Sutton; back row from left, Mabel Davis, Marge Bacon, Lois Moss, Rita Renyer, Ann Worthington and Louise Michaels. Not pictured are Bernadine Garwood and Eulalia Hassett.

Sesame Club

The Sesame Club of Berryton celebrates its 80th year:

- The annual spring luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. April 17 at the China Inn in Topeka. Former members and friends may call for reservations before April 10.

80 years strong: One member joined at the tender age of 1 month

By Anne Worthington

Special to The Capital-Journal

In 1922, no women's club was available in the community except for the Ladies Aid Society. In the past, several clubs existed but they didn't last long.

Several women felt there was a need for an organization in which they could express themselves and widen their horizons. With little social contact or outside the home opportunities, they organized the Sesame Club in 1922.

They especially wanted this club to make a go of it. They were enthusiastic and proved to be loyal members. A short time after the club started, one man (loafing on a bench in front of Havekott's Mercantile Store in Berryton) was quoted as saying, "This club the women have started won't last a year, you can bet on it." How wrong he was.

"Sesame" was the name selected --- the key to the open door.

The sesame seed is an Old World wonder originating in the sub_tropics of Asia. When the pods of this plant dries, it pops open with such a force like an explosion scattering the seeds all over. Ali Baba was referring to this in the Arabian Nights when he stood before the locked door of the cave and shouted "Open, sesame." He was literally saying, "Open up."

The object was to promote community spirit and self-improvement.

Colors of the club --- In June 1922, a committee of two, Love and Stella Saunders, chose the colors of pink and green. The annual books are green, tied with pink ribbons, and list the monthly meetings and programs.

One of the current members, Betty Underwood, was 1 month old when she attended the first Sesame Club meeting with her mother, Hazel Turner Saffell. She considers herself to be a charter member.

Current members are loyal and active while continuing to promote community spirit and friendship; thus keeping the club's founding principles of 80 years ago.

All charter members have passed away, but one honorary member, Nelle Rogers, will soon be 97. Georgia Neese Gray was a member of Sesame Club and hosted several meetings in Topeka.

We are proud of our small club that has lasted for 80 years. There are many, many memories for us.

Officers are president, Marge Bacon; vice president, Rita Renyer; secretary-treasurer, Louise Michael; parliamentarian, Mabel Davis.

Copyright 2002
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