The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 4, Page 8.
OASIS CLUB STARTED BY 7 CATHOLIC GIRLS
On November 14,
1918, seven girls gathered at the home of Anne Bushore and, with her as the
leader, planned to form a club of Catholic girls of St. Paul's church "for the
spiritual, intellectual and social improvement of its members." After several
preliminary meetings in the west room of the parish school, the first regular
meeting was held on January 8, 1919 in the N. A. U. hall with forty members
present.
At the meeting of February 3rd the organization was named Oasis. It was the
suggestion of Mary Deefan, who said she felt our Oasis might be to the social
and spiritual life of the community what the proverbial oasis is to the desert
traveler. Eighteen years of very active life have proved her simile most apt.
Among the outstanding deeds of the Oasis have been; Red Cross work, financial
assistance for the fire relief, maintenance of the schoolroom, help with the
church debt and Christmas charity work at home and among the missions.
The social life of the club has been full and varied. There have been box
socials, card parties, benefit shows, dances, receptions for University
students, for the parish, and for disabled soldiers, parties for the children of
the parochial school, teas, and uncounted social evenings just for the members
themselves. The enduring friendships thus formed have helped greatly in keeping
the Oasis through so many years, the vital, worthwhile organization which it is.
Since the meeting of May 12, 1919 Community hall has been uninterruptedly the
club home. In November, 1919, it was decided to hold meetings on the first and
third Tuesday of every month, except July and August and they aer still being
held on those dates.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook