Chapter 6 - Ambrose Social Clubs

From: A History of Ambrose, by Delroy J. Gorecki, State Teachers College, Minot, ND
Written May 1962
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The Ambrose Light Guards	The Embroidery and Home Economics Club
The M. I. S. Club	The Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts
The Homemakers Club	The Boy Scouts of America
The Book Club	The Recreational Council

In the course of Ambrose events, several social clubs and organizations sprang up, flourished for a short time and then died. A very few have continued to function, although they have been greatly handicapped by the declining population. These organizations were devoted to the community to reduce undesirable influences and stimulate sociological progress. If no other purpose was served by some of these organizations, at least they provided for the social interchange of ideas and the socializing of the people which is greatly needed by any struggling town.

The Ambrose Light Guards: On May 10, 1910 a group of the younger men of the community met in the town hall to organize the Ambrose Military Company as an independent military organization. Officers of the company were Captain F. E. DeWitt, First Lieutenant Gene Davis, Second Lieutenant Fred Blake, First Sergeant C. W. Bowles and Quartermaster Sergeant Carl Hovland. The organization was called the Ambrose Light Guards.

They sponsored a dance on June 3, 1910 and the proceeds were used to purchase uniforms and equipment. The company requested permission to carry arms but were refused. However, they continued to meet and carry on drills and marching all during the summer months. These boys took part in all parades and celebrations.

That fall the organization died out due to a lack of interest as they were unable to accomplish their objective of becoming a true military company and drill with arms.

The M. I. S. Club: During the last quarter of the 19th century a movement among women, remarkable in its scope and intent, spread from one end of the country to the other. It reached nearly every community, no matter how remote or insignificant. It was known as the women’s movement and was recognized among people who gave thought to the sociological progress of the gender as the most noticeable step forward recorded in the evolution of womanhood. In this broad movement Ambrose had her full share, and the widening influence permeated even the remotest corners of the small city.

In the sense of nervous prostration and encyclopedia racked victims of social science, Ambrose had none. There were, however, bands of women who ignored exclusiveness and invited cooperation of all thoughtful women. They desired to take on the broader vision of things of that present day movement, hence the circles of their usefulness and influence widened as the days passed.

During the summer of 1908 it became the custom of Mrs. Bruchman, Mrs. Fred Lyon and Mrs. Harold Braatelien to meet at each others homes for the afternoon. They would talk and do handwork, then later in the afternoon the hostess served a light lunch. These three ladies felt they were having such a good time discussing the progress of the community, and events in general, that they decided to increase the size of their group so many more could share in this companionship.

Accordingly, in the fall of the year they invited some of the other ladies of the community to meet with them and form a club. The club was known as the M. I. S. Club and for many years the meaning of the initials were kept secret from all but the members. Many different interpretations were placed on the initials but the true name is reported to have been Mutual Improvement Society. The club was truly a literary club and the members prepared papers to be read before the members and otherwise studied to improve themselves.

The membership of the club was limited to 15 as they felt that was as large a group as the homes of the members would accommodate. Mrs. W. J. Bruchman was first president of the club. Mrs. Fred Lyon was vice president, Mrs. W. A. Priess was secretary, and Mrs. Lulu Satre was treasurer. The other charter members of the group were Mrs. Ted Austenson, Mrs. Alice Jenson, Mrs. Elstow McKoane, Mrs. Harold Braatelien, Mrs. Mildred Bailard, Mrs. Will Miller, Miss Agnes Bowler, Mrs. Mae White, Mrs. E. A. Tannas, Mrs. Harold Johnson, and Mrs. P. G. Anderson.

The club soon became a recognized influence in the community and many improvements were the results of the interest of the members. Among some of the improvements for which the club was responsible was the installation of playground equipment on the school grounds. The club brought about by persuasion and the contribution of a generous cash sum, the installing of a giant stride, a group of teeter-totters and a slide.

Around 1915 the club was persuaded to join the North Dakota Council of Women's Clubs, at which time the name was changed to the Cloverleaf Club. They stayed with the federation only about two years. As the population of the town decreased it became more difficult to keep up the membership. The population decline and the petty quarrels that developed among its members caused this group to disband in 1918.

The Embroidery and Home Economics Club: The Embroidery and Home Economics Club was organized in the year of 1909. Mrs. Walter Todd was instrumental in forming the group. Charter members of the club consisted of Mrs. V. L. Gilbert, Mrs. James Miller, Mrs. A. O. Ness, Mrs. Fred Athern and Mrs. Todd.

The club had a purely social purpose and members gathered together just to have a good time and catch up on their handiwork.

The club was federated in 1915 with the North Dakota Council of Women’s Clubs but left the federation about three years later. This was due to the fact that the local members were opposed to the high dues and felt they were getting no appreciable returns for the money. This group is the oldest club in existence in Ambrose at the present time. Although membership has fallen off somewhat in the past few years the club is still active in the community.

Click here to read an account of the Ambrose Embroidery Club
from the Divide County History 1974, Crosby, North Dakota

The Homemakers Club: The Ambrose Homemakers Club was organized on August 24, 1934. Mrs. S. A. Weeks was in charge of the organizational meeting. Mrs. C. E. Erickson, a master homemaker from Crosby, was present to assist in the work of organization. Mrs. S. A. Weeks was elected president for the first years. Charter members were Mrs. Bruchman, Mrs. Brueske, Mrs. DeKay, Mrs. Engen, Mrs. Gehrke, Mrs. Gilloley, Mrs. Goheen, Mrs. Graff, Mrs. Gulman, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. J. P. Johnson, Mrs. F. Nystrom, Mrs. W. Nystrom, Mrs. G. Restvedt, Mrs. A. Shaw and Mrs. Weeks. The only charter member now living in Ambrose is Mrs. J. P. Johnson and she resides only during the summer months. The rest of the year she lives with her daughter in Williston, North Dakota.

The purpose of the club as outlined in the constitution is to bring the latest and most practical information on the various phases of homemaking to the members, especially those outlined and presented through the cooperation of the county extension agent and other representatives of the North Dakota Agricultural College. The name chosen for the club was “Ambrose Homemakers." The flower representative of the club was the Wild Rose and the motto was “Live, Learn and Prosper."

The first years were ones of rapid growth and increasing interest. Much of the success of the club was due to the enthusiastic work of Mrs. Milo Gubrud and Mrs. Minnie Miller, the project leaders.

This club was responsible for many community projects and did many helpful things. They did sewing for the hospital, added to the funds of the hospital for further equipment, and many other things. But as the population became less and hard times came upon the scene, the interest in the club decreased and it soon disbanded.

The Book Club: During the summer of 1934 a group of the younger married women of the city decided to form a club for this younger group. At the suggestion of Mrs. Ellen Restvedt and Mrs. Margaret Nystrom, they met at the homes of one of those ladies and agreed to hold regular meetings. No real organization was attempted at first. Later they elected officers and decided to assess small dues in order to have a fund available. This fund was used to purchase inexpensive gifts in event that one of the members became ill or moved away.

The Club was known as the “Arts and Crafts." The original members were Mrs. Margaret Shaw, Mrs. Ellen Restvedt, Mrs. Clara Thomte, Mrs. Laura Gubrud, Mrs. Gladys Semingson, and Mrs. Clyde Johnson.

In the spring of 1938 the members agreed that the name “Arts and Crafts” did not suit the work of the club and they changed the name to “The Book Club." The club held two regular meetings a month, one social and the other for study. This club came to an end about 1948.

The Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts: The Campfire Girls were organized in Ambrose in the fall of 1924 by Mrs. R. C. Stubbs, wife of the school principal. She was a high ranking Campfire Girl. The first ceremonial meeting was held on Nov. 20, 1924 at her home. The girls chose the name “Sunset Campfire Girls." Twenty-one girls joined at this tine. Mrs. Stubbs remained as guardian for two years and during that time the girls were very active. They furnished a room in the hospital, presented a Campfire play and entertained their mothers and fathers in a ceremonial council fire.

The older girls successfully conducted several groups of younger girls as Bluebird patrols. After Mrs. Stubbs left, the organization continued under different guardians for several years but without the extra activities of the first years.

In 1935 the girls became dissatisfied with the Campfire Girls Organization so Mrs. Harold Winters took over leadership and organized the group as Girl Scouts of America. This organization continued under various leaders until 1950.

The Boy Scouts of America: The history of the scout movement in Ambrose was one of many ups and downs. A very strong troop was established about 1916 or 1917 under the leadership of Mr. Harold Piper, a young man employed by the Piper-Howe Lumber Company. Mr. Piper also had a scout class in the Presbyterian Sunday School and the scouts of that faith were required to attend and maintain a good standing in the patrol. When Mr. Piper was transferred to another community, the troop was led by various members of the community but the troop soon died out.

The scouts were revived in the summer of 1926 with Mr. Milo Gubrud as scoutmaster. During the summer the boys attended camp at Lake Metigoshe and that fall a camp-out was held at Ambrose. Mr. Gubrud went east to attend school and the leadership passed to another. For a time the teachers of the school acted as scoutmasters. In the spring of 1937 a teacher by the name of Engan became scoutmaster and continued until the spring of 1938 when he resigned.

The Masonic Lodge sponsored the group for several years but they lost interest and once again another leader was needed. At that time Mr. Joe E. Winters attempted to carry on the work in addition to his duties as WPA recreational supervisor but the local council was in debt to the district council and the boys lost interest.

The Recreational Council: In May of 1939 a recreational council was organized in Ambrose under the WPA Recreational Project. The WPA Recreational Supervisor was Mr. Joe E. Winters. Other members of the Recreational Council included Mrs. S. A. Weeks, Mrs. William Cowley, Mr. Bruce Carlson, Mr. Krist Fegri and Mr. Vern Schaffer. The purpose of this council was to act as a governing body for all recreational activities. The council was not very active at any time and soon died out.

From A History of Ambrose, by Delroy J. Gorecki
State Teachers College, Minot, ND
May 31, 1962
(Edited for Content)