Picture is from 2016 membership

By Sheila Baltzell-Linn, Club reporter

(12-21-23) The 21st Century Club is the longest running club in Rockford, Ohio perhaps even in the county. At 100 years old, and spanning two centuries, it began as the 20th Century Club and, by vote in 2000, became the 21st Century Club.

History reveals that over 100 years before the club, Antoine Chen (Anthony Shane) had plotted Shanesville on June 23, 1820. On June 5, 1866, Shanesville was incorporated and became known as Shanes Crossing. In 1890 the U.S. Postal Service decreed the town would be called Rockford. Rockford went from a frontier crossing for trappers, Indians, and military forces to a bustling, busy town on a main thoroughfare to Fort Wayne. There were groceries, farriers, blacksmiths, buggy and barrel makers, saw mills. brick kilns, dry goods stores, printers, bars, restaurants, hat makers, seamstresses, churches, solicitors, bankers and everything an expanding town needed for pioneers. There were families in Rockford who wanted everything they missed from back East: libraries; opera; theater; – – intellectual stimulation.

In November of 1923, the desire for a musical and literary club became strong enough to cause a group of nine women to organize themselves into a club in Rockford. They created and adopted a constitution. The club colors of green and gold were chosen as well as the club flower — a chrysanthemum. These choices remain today in 2023.

The first meeting was held in the home of Mrs. M.L. Downing. The officers elected for the new organization were Mrs. Paul Fishbaugh, President, Mrs. Roy Bissel, Vice President, Mrs. Lillian Coates, Secretary, and Mrs. E. E. Jackson, Treasurer. (It is of note here that E.E. Jackson was a solicitor (lawyer) working out of the Mercer County Courthouse in Celina.) The constitution shows their intention to meet the fourth Tuesday of each month September thru May in the homes of the members. The constitution also describes how membership was to be held to 24 ladies with an object of promoting a broader and better culture, intellectually, and socially, among its members. This continues in the club in 2023.

While delicious dinners were once cooked for each meeting, the club today enjoys refreshments of a lite fare except for the first meeting of the year which is usually a feast.

The 1978 Mercer County History book lists the following community projects which this club did or helped to sponsor: 1. Sponsored the clean-up of dump grounds at the edge of Rockford. 2. In 1923 and 33 paid lights, coal, water and cleaning bills for library. 3. In 1934 sponsored the building of Public restrooms on West Market Street. 4. Bought bookcase for paperback books in library. 5. Fifty year club members bought bookcase for library books at Shane Hill Nursing Home. 6. Contributes annually to Combined Community Fund Drives. 7. Donates to Carey, Bill and Benny Scholarship funds. 8. Contributes to Girls State project. 9. Bought a lighted globe for library. 10. Contributed to library building fund in 1970.

The club in 2023 today carries on the learning of topics that follow a “theme” which is decided upon by the officers of the club at the beginning of each new year. The current president-elect is Karla Sidenbender Butler. The theme is Happy Birthday: A look back. Every member will report on something important that happen in her birth year.

So far three meetings have been held. Topics of September dinner meeting included Karla’s report on Sheila Baltzell-Linn’s research on the club for its 100th year. In October, the first two presenters were Melanie Shindeldecker and Susan Coburn. Melanie did a flip chart on the day in the life of a housewife in 1964. Melanie covered prices, food, home cost and appliances that were up and coming. Susan followed with a report on the bombing at Pearl Harbor in 1941. It was a very moving account, and Susan, as a native Canadian, was thorough on how this act of terror affected both of our countries as well as the world. It brought the USA into WWII. The November presenters were Twyla Hays and Kim Carr who both had the year 1961. Twyla reminded members about the many new gadgets of the times, births of important Americans, and the inauguration of JFK, but nothing was quite so prophetic as The Jetsons cartoon show. As she brought up the many devices used, many of them have become a reality. Kim finished the evening with the history of Willshire and Rockford Schools which merged that year. It became Parkway Schools because the stretch of US 33 between the two towns was known as the “parkway”. The late Bob Thompson won the contest for the school’s name. Kim gave a thorough history on the merger and the later merge with Mendon. She had pictures and historical documentation. As the club continues to celebrate 100 years, please watch for more reports!

Sheila’s references on the club history included: 20th Century Club article from Mercer County History Book c1978 Page 204, editor Joyce Alig; Internet Research; and the Rockford Sesquicentennial History Book. 1970.