Porch Club

Courier Post article Feb. 20, 2006 by Marlyn Margullis

By MARLYN MARGULLIS
For the Courier-Post

Toby Hunn remembers taking a trolley from Cinnaminson to Riverton to attend meetings of the Porch Club of Riverton.

"When I joined the club in the 1950s, we wore dresses, hats, gloves and furs to meetings," says Hunn, 82, who still lives in Cinnaminson. "We met twice a month."

Hunn, a former club vice president, is still a member of the group today. Founded in 1890, the Porch Club is among the oldest federated women's clubs in New Jersey. Mary Grice of Riverton founded and was first president of the club, which was federated in 1895.

Club members recently performed "The First Tuesday of the Month," a short play depicting the group's history that was written by member Phyllis Rodgers of Riverton with the help of the club's drama department.

"The play is a satirical comedic farce," explains Rodgers, who co-directed the play with Virginia Cisario, the second vice president. "It's not historically correct, but hysterically incorrect."

The seven scenes depict the club's history, beginning with eight young ladies who first met in 1890 on each other's porches as a reading circle. The group grew and five years later was formally organized into a federated club that met in the Riverton home of Mrs. E. Ogden.

Burlington County's first public school kindergarten was opened through the club members' efforts and the first woman was elected to a board of education. Original members studied literature, current events, parliamentary law, world politics, religious, English and colonial history and the lives of artists, musicians and authors.

Today, there are 11 club departments that range from arts creative, garden and home life/social service to ways and means.

"I'm proud of the variety of departments we have," says Pat Byzewki, who is club president. "We will never get bored. Everyone is nice to work with. If you have problems, these girls are there for you."

Charity work has been important to club members since World War I, when a French orphan was "adopted" by the club.

"We want to help needy children and will probably do more of that in the future," Byzewki says.

Sponsoring one or more children in need is a practice that has continued.

"We provide Thanksgiving dinner to needy families in Riverton," notes Rodgers, a retired teacher who is active in four club departments. "We do the same during Christmas and also give these families new clothes."

Each year, the club contributes to local charitable groups and state women's club federation projects. Awards are presented to graduating seniors at Palmyra and Cinnaminson high schools. A junior is sent to Girl's Citizenship Week at Douglass College in New Brunswick, originally the state college for women that was established through the New Jersey State Federated Women's Clubs. Club members also give many hours of volunteer service through organizations of their choice.

"We are never not busy," says Sandi Scheer, the club's first vice president, who lives in Riverside. "I found out about the group after I retired from RCA in Cherry Hill. We have a wonderful bunch of women. I especially like the companionship and the fact that there is such a diversity of women who have so much knowledge about the area and the past. Many of our members belong to the Riverton Historical Society."

The club's fundraising activities include two annual rummage sales. Part of those proceeds are donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.

Hunn, meanwhile, remembers her early days as a Porch Club member.

"We used to have program workshops with speakers," says Hunn, who had served on the club's music and program committees. "We had two meetings a month during the day, because not many ladies worked in the early '50s. I worked until 1998 as an accountant.

"Years ago, we were happy if we made $200 on the rummage sales. Now we take in $2,000," Hunn adds. "Meetings have not changed much. It does surprise me that younger ladies are still joining the club."

Michael Robinson, director of the Riverton Library Association, is grateful for the club's work on behalf of the town library.

"Riverton library has for many years enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Porch Club," he notes. "The club has helped sustain our small community library through contributions. . . and through making the Porch Club building available for library fundraising events."

Marlyn Margulis is a freelance writer. She can be reached at marmarg@comcast.net
Published: February 20. 2006 3:00AM

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