Rathdrum Reading Circle still going after 101 years

Oprah’s Book Club has nothing over the ladies of the Twentieth Century Reading Circle of Rathdrum. For the last 101 years club members not only have read books, studied literature and often answered roll call with quotes from well-known authors, but also rolled up their sleeves and went to work serving and improving their community.

Organized in January 1906, the group was affiliated for many years with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, one of the world’s oldest women’s service organizations. The Reading Circle group was formed with a focus on self-enrichment, education and community service. Evidence of their commitment to these ideals can be seen throughout Rathdrum today.

In 1930, the national Federated Women’s group was recognized for having helped establish 75 percent of America’s public libraries. At that time, they had helped finance the organization of 4,655 traveling libraries and 474 free public libraries – one of which, thanks to the determination of the ladies of the Reading Circle, was a library in Rathdrum.

In 1914 the group held a reading, “A Dawn of a Tomorrow,” to begin their fundraising campaign for a library. The thrifty women used the $10.15 they raised to purchase 102 volumes at 25¢ each (borrowing from their park fund), and the Rathdrum Public Library was on its way.

The library opened in 1915 in a section of the former Kootenai County Jail building and was supported by the ladies of the Reading Circle through fundraising and volunteerism for the next 50 years. They helped purchase hundreds of books, built shelves, painted walls, organized files and helped crowds of Rathdrum’s schoolchildren on their weekly visit to the library.

There is little any group could do to today to further literacy than what these ladies did so long ago. In a 1964 report, Reading Circle President, Mrs. Gordon (Mildred) Hanks wrote “If we have helped a few of our young people into the magic world of good books, our efforts have truly been a real community service.”

And, they didn’t stop there. According to Marilyn Wagenius, a 36-year member who followed her mother into the club, historic records and club scrapbooks indicate the Reading Circle donated land for Rathdrum’s Old City Park.

“The ladies planted black locust trees in the park and also helped finance a swimming pool in the early years,” she said. Fading, colored photographs later show the group placing a state of Idaho-shaped historic marker in the park in 1968 and presenting Rathdrum’s old fire bell on a base in 1971.

For many years, the Reading Circle promoted the arts and education through its sponsorship of annual art and poetry contests at local schools, holding receptions for school teachers every October, and organizing a tea for graduating students in May. The ladies sponsored a Mother’s Day essay contest for years, and never ones to shirk, they (or their circle-supporting spouses) planted trees in schoolyards around town.

The ladies of the Reading Circle steadfastly gave comfort, aid and support whenever needed. Years ago, they sent home-canned fruit to the Idaho Children’s Home in Lewiston and birthday cakes, gifts and plates of fruit to residents of local rest homes and shut-ins. In later years, they dyed Easter eggs for the city Easter Egg Hunt and sponsored many youth organizations, such as Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls.

“We are a close-knit group that is supportive of the community and have always been that,” Wagenius said.

Both world wars found the ladies of the Reading Circle united in patriotic spirit. During World War I they rolled bandages, knitted stockings and gloves and made quilts. During World War II they knitted sweaters, placed pictures in downtown store window displays of those serving, and made useful articles for hospitalized veterans in Boise and at the Farragut Naval Hospital. They supplied the USO in Coeur d’Alene with cookies and purchased more than $14,000 in war bonds.

For more than 100 years members of the Twentieth Century Reading Circle have served the Rathdrum community. They have done the work of women, which is often forgotten or taken for granted, but early members were true visionaries whose commitment to community service resulted in a library, a city park, historic monuments and many other achievements. They deserve to be remembered for touching countless lives through their educational programs, their generous support and their sponsorship of good works.

Today the nine remaining members of the Twentieth Century Reading Circle are determined to keep their group going. They continue to meet at least once a month, as they have always done, and are looking for new members to help take them through the 21st century.