The "Decorah Travel Club" turns 100!

Once a month--for the past 100 years--the members of the Decorah Travel Club have gathered together to share a program about travel.

Thursday afternoon the 15-20 members of the club gathered at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to have a piece of birthday cake to celebrate the organization's 100th birthday.  It was on September 26th of 1917 that the Travel Club of Decorah held its first meeting--with a membership of 15.

One of the original members of the Decorah Travel Club on that day was Mrs. George Johnson.  One of the members of the Decorah Travel Club today is her granddaughter, Adrienne Coffeen.

According to club member Ruth Reitan, who gave a history of the first 20 years of the club at Thursday's meeting, club members would take a different country each year--like Italy, Sweden, Norway or Japan--and study it for the entire year.  However, it took two years to study Russia, according to Reitan's research.

Club members also got involved in political causes, including opposition to a proposed dam at Yellowstone Lake and support of an Hour Labor Law for Women in Industry which the Iowa Legislature was considering.

Club members were expected to pay dues, as well--50 cents a year at first, although that changed to $1.00 a year a few years later.

The Decorah Travel Club is still accepting new members.  Contact Carol Hasvold at (563) 379-3916 for more details.