The Ladies Auxiliary of the Aetna Hose,
Hook and Ladder Company
"The object of the organization shall be to promote a spirit of friendliness among the ladies
and firemen of the community and to assist the firemen in their various activities."
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company held their first organizational meeting on August 2, 1949. Twelve women attended and Catherine S. Gregg became Acting President. A committee consisting
of Acting President Catherine S. Gregg, D. Marie Gregg, Maude M. Moore, and Mary C. Robinson was appointed to draft the Auxiliary's original by-laws.
On September 6, 1949, Mrs. Nan Laws Woods, president of the Delaware State Firemen's Auxiliary Association, installed the following Aetna Auxiliary officers:
President................................Catherine S. Gregg
Vice-President...............................D. Marie Gregg
Secretary..................................Anna M. Harrison
Treasurer.....................................Jessie Knotts
Assistant..............................Elizabeth Blansfield
Thirty-two charter members attended the first meeting held on September 6, 1949. They were:
Elizabeth Blansfield Gladys Johnson
Ann Brauune Jessie Knotts
Lorraine Buckingham Margaret List
Anne Campbell Hannah Marsey
Margaret Campbell Elizabeth Moore
Ann Chalmers Maude M. Moore
Carolyn Chalmers Sadie Moore
Jean Clay Mary C. Robinson
Mildred Crill Alice Shellender
Nellie Daisey Ethel Smith
Etta Gibson Ruth Smith
Catherine S. Gregg Evelyn Stickley
D. Marie Gregg Lorraine Thomas
Grace B. Gribble Leona Wagner
Maty Griffith Audrey Warwick
Anna Margaret Harrison Audrey Williamson
Committees were appointed to look into means of raising money for the fire company. The first fund raising activity was a bake sale held in September of 1949. That project brought in $131.15. A bazaar was held in October, followed by a card party at station 9 in November. An afghan, made with wool donated by the members, was chanced off in February of 1950. A second afghan was started and was raffled off at the annual Aetna Firemen's Carnival that summer. In the meantime, the kitchen committee was stocking the cupboards. The first pantry supplies consisted of a case of coffee, a can of spiced ham, ten pounds of sugar, one can of salmon, three cans of milk, a can of Crisco, and a bottle of ketchup.
By December 1949, Auxiliary projects had raised $427.73 and it was decided that the money would be used to purchase a 1-1/2" nozzle for the firemen's new engine. The following year, the ladies bought a new sink and fittings for the kitchen at Station 9, as well as four dozen folding chairs. In 1951, the first annual cash gifts were given to the firemen. These consisted of two $500.00 checks to be used toward the purchase of new equipment.
An Auxiliary Drill Team was formed in 1953 and held their first practice session in Newark's old armory. Funds were raised for uniforms and the team won a number of parade prizes before it disbanded in 1962.
A four-member board of directors was appointed in 1958 to review the by-laws and make suggestions for Auxiliary policy.
Over the years, a variety of fund raising activities were undertaken by Aetna's Auxiliary including baked goods and soup sales; card parties; merchandise clubs; the raffling of afghans, fancy work, and hand worked handkerchiefs; fun fairs; and the sale of vanilla extract, candy, fruitcakes and kitchen knives. For several years the Ladies had popular booths at the yearly Aetna Firemen's Carnival.
With the opening of Station 8 in 1963, the Auxiliary was able to serve larger public dinners, banquets and wedding receptions, and add flea markets and an annual Christmas bazaar to their fund raising activities. Station 8 was dedicated on October 12,1963, and its new Social Hall was the site for the Auxiliary's fifteenth anniversary celebration.
In May of 1965, the Auxiliary decided to present their yearly donation to the fire company at the Firemen' s Annual Christmas Party. In June of that year, the Ladies presented the Company with a memorial plaque for Station 8.
In June of 1970, Newark Lumber Company donated a silverware chest for the Auxiliary's use. At the Company's Christmas Party the Ladies presented Aetna's ambulance crew with a dummy named "Anatomic Annie" for use in the crew's C.P.R. classes.
In December of 1973, the Auxiliary presented the Company with a bronze plaque inscribed with the fireman's prayer. The term of office for Auxiliary officers was changed from two years to one in September of 1976.
When JoAnn Sweetman was installed as president of the New Castle County Ladies Auxiliary for the 1981-1982 term, she became only the second Aetna Auxiliary president to hold the office. Marie Gregg Saunders had been president of the County Auxiliary during 1954-1955, and president of the State Auxiliary in 1957. After years of service to Aetna, Marie Gregg Saunders, past Aetna Auxiliary president, died in 1968.
On February 19,1980, the Auxiliary changed their by-laws to begin holding one meeting per month rather than two. Except for July and August, when meetings are discontinued for the summer months, the Auxiliary meets on the first Tuesday of each month. In March, the Auxiliary voted to disallow dual membership in both the Auxiliary and the Company. When Auxiliary member Diane Silverman resigned to become a firefighter for Aetna, she was made an honorary member of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Starting in December 1981, additional money was given the fire company towards their 100th anniversary in 1988. November 1982 marked the first year of the Auxiliary's annual Christmas Bazaar. Over the years this holiday fund raiser has proven extremely successful.
December 15,1983, the Ladies installed their officers during the Auxiliary Christmas party. Previously, the installation of officers was accomplished during a dinner held at a local restaurant.
When Aetna began sponsoring its own weekly Bingo game, the Auxiliary members took responsibility for selling food and beverages at these events.
Station 7 was dedicated on April 21,1985, and in March 1986 the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary presented Aetna's Ladies Auxiliary with an American flag for their meeting room at the new station. A bronze memorial plaque for Station 7 was presented to the Company by the Aetna Ladies Auxiliary and, in July 1986, some of the Auxiliary's membership elected to join the Volunteer Firemen's Pension Plan.
From its beginning in 1949, the Ladies Auxiliary has continued to show support for Aetna' s efforts in the community. Between 1950 and 1964, the Auxiliary contributed approximately $35,000.00 toward the Company's operating expenses and equipment purchases. In the 1965 to 1969 period, their donations reached $35,500.00. The 1970 through 1979 total was $138,611.00 and the figure for 1980 through 1987 reached $130,500.00.
Since its inception, Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder's Ladies Auxiliary has provided the Company with $339,611.00 in financial support and invaluable fund raising assistance.
The Aetna Ladies Auxiliary membership totals fifty nine members including twenty five life memberships and five honorary memberships.
Copyright © - Aetna H H & L Co.
|
