As the world worked to return to normal after a Second World War and the Korean Conflict, some things would not go back to where they were before.  Women, for example, had experienced a real taste of freedom and responsibility during those war years and now wanted more.  They wanted meaningful careers plus homes and families too.  Who was to say they couldn’t have it all?

Some women expressed themselves through the groups they joined – all kinds of groups: service clubs, auxiliaries, political and even garden clubs.  They became Girl Scout leaders, they joined groups with a single purpose, such as the dedication of the new post office, or the celebration for the borough’s centennial.  A quick glimpse in the booklets that accompanied these two activities reveals some of the same names, over and over again.

Some have already been acknowledged in other areas, but the following is a good sampling of the women who went about improving the “social fabric” of their community.

From the 1963 booklet Dedication of the Post Office –   Look closely, you will see some faces more than once!

 

Left photo:  The Post Office Dedication Committee.

 

      Right: the Fairview Firemen’s Auxiliary.

 

 

Left: the Priscilla Rebekah Lodge.

 

 

 

 

 

And from the 1968 booklet Fairview Centennial, 1868 – 1968.

Left:  The Centennial Committee. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                    Right  the Republican Women

 

 

To the left:  the American Legion Auxiliary.

                                                   

 

And there were one-time-only committees.  

Women joined the committee to bring a doctor to Fairview in 1952.  That committee still functions and is now called the Fairview Community Council. Over the years it added many more worthy causes, including the Christmas Baskets for the Needy, which is a current project.  (Photo is right)

 

The committee to guide Fairview’s Bicentennial activities:

 

 

 

These photos also reveal many men who took on leadership roles in the community.  In fact, Fairview was fortunate to have so many men throughout its history who stepped forward to lead.  But, this is a series about women.  Perhaps Ruby Cobb stands out more than others because she was a “transplant” from West Virginia, yet she sought to be part of every worthwhile forward step taken in the community. 

Here she is with two of her friends who were just as active, Esther Hetz and Shirley Palmer. 

 

Life in Fairview has been good, thanks to all these wonderful women.