Chuckatuck Agricultural Club
The following data is taken from an extract from the “Chuckatuck Agricultural Club” proceedings communicated for the Farmers Register. “The “club” met on Wednesday 9th day of January, A.D. 1839 at the Masonic Hall in Chuckatuck, at 10 A.M.” This particular meeting was to discuss some issues concerning the growing of crops and suggesting that some form of competition in agriculture as well as other pursuits in life will improve the product and profit. With this in mind, each of the members was to set aside certain parcels of land (as reasonably as possible) and, by using their own seed, manure, and cultivation methods, report the results of their efforts at the regular meeting in November of that year. This was done for corn using good and poor land parcels. They were to do the same for rutabagas and turnips, with the report being made simultaneously. The rationale for this is as quoted here: “that the members of this society will give increased attention and diligence to the improvement of their lands and stock, the developments of science, and to any and everything that may tend to advance their interest in a pecuniary, moral and social point of view.” A committee was formed and appointed to memorialize the General Assembly of Virginia on the subject of agriculture and to request aid and assistance as necessary. Those appointed were Doct. John French, John Crocker, John C. Crump, Dr. Crawley Finney, and Robert Lawrence, esps. On Thursday, March 11th, the club met again and set the prizes for the aforementioned competition. The best crop is twenty dollars, the best pen of hogs ten dollars, the best milk cow and calf five dollars, the best yoke of oxen five dollars, and the cheapest and best construction manure cart five dollars.
The reason for this memorialization of the General Assembly was to get help from the assembly to improve the quality and productivity of the land, which would benefit everyone in the end. Writer’s Note: We suspect that the massive growth of tobacco and lack of crop rotation had driven the farms' nutrient value to an all-time low. This quote for the article will solidify their concerns. “Your memorialists will not presume to dictate to your honorable body the measures to be adopted to accomplish the object they have in view, but will venture to suggest that, since all scientific and practical improvements in agriculture contribute to the public benefit, it justly becomes the subject of legislative enactments, and a portion of the public treasurer may justly be appropriated for its encouragement; a measure, which if successful, would add to the wealth and resources of the state—–.” This would be the beginning of farm subsidies.
Chuckatuck Bridge Club
The Chuckatuck Bridge Club was formed in 1960 with eight charter members. They were Janie Vicars Morris, Chasie Sykes Laine, Peggy Rudacille Chapman, Betty Staples Glasscock, Jean Tomko Chapman, Joyce Reams Winn, Doris Smith and Beverly Whitley. These were, for the most part, young mothers who treasured their time with their girlfriends.
During the many years of playing bridge in Chuckatuck, some other members joined and moved on to other things: Martha Glenn Howell (deceased), Peggy Brown Byrd (deceased), Dottie Seward, Jane Youngk, Iola Holland Saunders, Jean Rutherford, Lundy Nickelson, Marie Jordon Melton (deceased), and Barbara Richardson Newman Parrish (deceased).
The club was limited to eight members and two tables, and the rules were very simple for the hostess, which revolved around the members. Serve Cokes (in the bottle) and peanuts; prizes are not to cost more than $1.00; do not dress up and come as you are, but come. Today, those rules have changed slightly in that drinks are served in glasses or cans, some snacks on the side, usually one sweet and one salty, make your best dessert with either a new or old recipe, and still come as you are.
In 2011, the current membership now has nine members, so a substitute is available, but when nine do show, they all get to play. These are Beverly Rogers Whitley (51 years), Ella Mae Farmer Winslow, Bette Britton Begley, Ann Games Berard, Lorraine Speers Myers, Lynn Kirk Rose, Anne Pretlow Henderson, Pam Martin Saunders, and Lila Eure Pretlow.
There was another bridge club, made up of many women from local churches, which Lynn Rose joined in 1967. These members included Dottie Bradshaw, Betty Pretlow, Edna Saunders, Margaret Kirk and Ellen Glasscock. There would typically be two tables with eight players. This group was a bit more formal, as linen tablecloths and napkins were used, creating a more refined atmosphere. It was a pleasure to host these events as it allowed you to express yourself as you desired.
There was a setback club, a type of card game in the early years. However, bridge became the more common form of card playing, and the setback club eventually stopped meeting.
Greater Oakland-Chuckatuck Civic League
The Civic League meets monthly in Chuckatuck and has a strong record of achieving results within the community. They have been instrumental in getting streets paved, sidewalks installed, and streetlights put up in dark areas, as well as in looking after the general welfare of the communities they represent. Roosevelt Jones has been the President of the League for several years and continues to hold that position. They continue to sponsor a National Night Out, with the meeting being held at the Volunteer Fire Department in Chuckatuck. The food is great, and it's a good opportunity to meet members of other communities in the league.
Junto Woman’s Club
A book club meeting in a log cabin on the Godwin estate in Chuckatuck, Virginia, was the actual beginning of the organization we know today as the Junto Woman’s Club. In November of 1924, twelve Chuckatuck women met to organize a book club to promote a circulating library for the community. The book club continued until early 1926 when the focus was changed to a literary club whose purpose would be to promote individual and civic betterment. At this time, a constitution and bylaws were adopted. Dues were set at five cents per month with an initiation fee of fifty cents. The first president was Mrs. David Corbell Cotton, who served from 1926-1927. Through her efforts, much interest was aroused in public health issues.
The first permanent meeting room was a one-room cabin of the colonial period owned by Mills Godwin (Father of Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr.). A name was needed, and “Junto” was adopted. It was Junto that Benjamin Franklin and his literary friends founded in 1727 as a society to stimulate their literary activities.
In February of 1927, Mrs. Henry S. Eley of Suffolk, then the Director of the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, spoke before the Junto Club on the subject of “Federation and its Advantages”. The visitor’s address was acclaimed by immediate action to federate with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. In May of 1927, the Junto Club received its charter. The original group then invited ladies from the neighboring communities of Crittenden and Eclipse to join them. The club quickly outgrew its meeting place and moved to the larger quarters of the Chuckatuck Masonic Lodge #77. The Junto Club reciprocated this kindness by completely remodeling and renovating the entire spacious lower floor of the building, resulting in a kitchen, powder room, new piano, and a place for books, which it was hoped would become a circulating library. Regrettably, the library was a failure. With patience, the Club would succeed in this worthy endeavor, but it was not to happen soon, not for over 50 years, as events turned out.
The Club grew to a membership of 51 during the thirties. The focus was on Public Health issues with lectures given by distinguished physicians. Departmental work, stressing educational and garden activities, was undertaken.
On October 17, 1941, the Junto Club hosted the Seventh District Convention at Benn’s Church. The Second World War was less than two months away. The trying war years made rigid demands upon everyone. The Club held together and made a fine contribution toward the war effort. Scrap iron and metal were collected; each member contributed fifty cents toward the Red Cross ambulance, which was sponsored by the Seventh District (now known as the Southside District). The Club observed its 21st birthday in the fall of 1945 with 50 members. During the year, through its sponsorship, the Junto Club sold war bonds totaling $4500.00
On the 25th anniversary of the federation in 1952, the club attained distinction in uniting four communities—Chuckatuck, Crittenden/Eclipse, King’s Fork, and Everets under our motto “Our Community – a Better Place to Live”.
Junto Woman’s Club began its 50th anniversary of the Federation in the same spirit of community involvement by forming a committee to study the means of upgrading telephone service in Crittenden. The Junto Club played a leading role in the successful effort to petition the State Corporation Commission to extend telephone service to Crittenden area residents. The establishment of this service entitled residents to call downtown Suffolk, their seat of city government, toll-free for the first time.
In 1977, three members formed a steering committee to determine if there was adequate interest to charter a Junior Woman’s Club. Invitations were sent to outstanding young women, and they were invited to join the program. Forty-five women met for the first time and voted unanimously to organize a Junior Woman’s Club. Six months later, a record 70 juniors were listed as charter members of the federated Nansemond Junior Woman’s Club.
In 1983, a board member of the Morgan Memorial Library in Suffolk requested the establishment of a library station in Chuckatuck, with a goal of collecting 2,000 books. One of our members, Georgia Anne, and her husband, T. A. Saunders, donated the necessary location at the Saunders Supply Company. The Morgan Memorial Library assisted volunteers in organizing and cataloging 600 books. Seven members of the Club volunteered untold hours towards the opening of the new library station. On April 26, 1983, the Chuckatuck Library opened at 2:00 p.m. with thirty-one patrons. Our club’s fifty-year-old dream had finally been realized.
After serving as president of the Junto Woman’s Club and 1st Vice President of the Southside District, Mrs. Jennifer Bradshaw became President of the Southside District for the 1988-1990 administration. Our club continues to support the district and state federation by contributing to their respective projects. We always have representation at the district and state meetings.
The Junto Woman’s Club continues to enjoy successful years. Of our sixty-three members, each one serves in a Department and participates fully in our three major fundraisers. Over the past year, our Fashion Show/Luncheon, held in both the spring and fall, raised approximately $ 2,800. The Second Annual Spring Fling raised an additional $2800 to fund the Junto Education Scholarship which is given to a senior from the two high schools in our immediate area, Meals on Wheels donation of $500, donations to two local Fire Departments, two Girl Scout troops, the new Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and the Suffolk Red Cross. This allows us to support the state projects and other needy organizations as well.
The Spring Fling was held at a member’s home, which was selected for its historical significance and interest to the community. This provided another opportunity for several members to display their artistic talents and to earn money for the club’s charities. It was a marked success. The annual Arts & Crafts Show has grown in scope each year, showcasing the talents of our members.
The annual Christmas Tea, sponsored by the board, is an opportunity for the club to showcase its organization and invite prospective members to enjoy holiday music and delicious refreshments. Once again, our club sponsored a family for the Christmas season. Members donated over $500 to buy gifts, clothing, and food for a family selected by the Salvation Army. Dolls and toy bears are dressed by our members for the Salvation Army each year.
Our programs ranged from talks on safety, conservation, and civic affairs to a presentation by a retired college professor discussing his first book, which he had published while still in college. Our club continues to be involved in several projects. We continue to supply volunteers to the Chuckatuck Library. We grant requests for items for the elementary schools. Soup labels and used printer cartridges are collected and donated to an elementary school in the area. The Junto Book Club has an active membership of eighteen, which conducts programs each month featuring speakers and book reviews. The Junto Bridge Club is another area of interest where members can join and benefit from the expertise of one of our experienced members. This group of twenty-one members meets twice a month. In addition to contributing money to the Suffolk Meals on Wheels organization, we have a team of members who deliver meals to recipients every Thursday. Twice in the past year, we had a shower for the Genieve Shelter, a home for abused women and children. Members donated non-perishable foods, paper products, and toiletries, and used their cell phones. We also supported the shelter monetarily.
As it has for over 80 years, the Junto Woman’s Club continues to provide many fellowship opportunities, building bonds with the communities in North Suffolk, and gaining leadership experience within the club.
The above information was provided by Mrs. Jennifer Bradshaw.
Village Garden Club
The Village Garden Club was established in 1966, under the sponsorship of Mrs. Betty Pretlow, with Mrs. Betty Glasscock serving as its first president. The current president, Mrs. Susan Reed, confirms that the organization is doing well and provided the following details. The object of the club is to share the art of flower arranging and horticulture. This sharing is presented through superb programs featuring visiting artists and flower experts who share their knowledge on creating items like “Dried Apple Dolls” using an apple and a knife, as well as specific flower arrangements. The club also held a contest within the village to determine who could decorate their door the best with
traditional, religious, or whimsical décor. Additionally, during the year, each member is required to submit two flower arrangements and two horticulture exhibits, with a variety of awards being presented after careful consideration by a judging team. The club meets on the second Wednesday of September through May in members’ homes. The club supports the historic garden Christmas tours by helping to decorate and act as hostesses at various homes, as well as the Spring Garden tour, which raises funds for the reclamation and excavation of historic gardens, such as Bacon’s Castle and others in the local area.