Brownsdale Study Club

The Brownsdale Study club met on Feb. 15 at the home of Mary Gallaher. The meeting was called to order with the reading of the collect.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved and the treasurer’s report was given. Roll call was answered by naming a best book.

Nine members were present. There was no old business. For new business, Fern  announced that the blood bank will be in Brownsdale on March 6 at the Lutheran Church from 1 to 7 p.m. Your donation will be appreciated.

Hostess for our March meeting will be Shelley Vogel. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Rena and seconded by Beryl.

Joyce Juhnke gave the outside reading on “You just didn’t cook without an apron.”

In this space age, aprons seem to be an oddity but some people prefer to protect their clothing from dribbles and splashes by wearing one.

Some use them if they are entertaining during a holiday season. Others use a small towel buttoned to the handle of the refrigerator door and flick their fingers to wipe them and down. Grandmothers of days gone by usually made their aprons. Each day they donned a blue and white-checkered gingham apron that was on a hook behind the kitchen door. The large pockets bulged with many things that had been picked up from rom to room each day. It may be a ball of yarn or socks or buttons or an embroidery hoop or goodies like candy or gum or even an apple.

On Sundays, grandma or the ladies wore the fanciest apron they had. During the week, the women wore them to Quilty bees, church suppers or special dinners.

They exchanged apron patterns like recipes. They also used the apron like a tote-bag to carry things here and there; like baby chicks ro wood chips.

Men wore aprons depending on their jobs, like an ice man or cobbler or a baker. Today you only see people use them to barbecue at picnics or in the backyard.

People of royalty or servants wear them today or when they need them for special occasions.

Joyce brought her mother’s huge vintage apron to show us.

The main topic given by Rena was “Abraham Lincoln: Our 16th President —1861-1865.

In a one-room log cabin in central Kentucky a baby boy was born on Feb. 12, 1809 to Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. They named him Abraham.

The family was poor but kind and loving and shared with their neighbors. Abraham grew to be a tall, quick-witted, intelligent young man. He loved books and would walk to get some to read. He was also a hard worker, rail splitter, a surveyor and a postmaster. He enjoyed wrestling and lost only one of about 300 matches and earned recognition in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 1830, at the age of 21, he moved to Illinois; the place that claims the title of “Land of Lincoln.”

He earned a law license in 1836 and then married Mary Todd in 1842. They bought a home in Springfield, Illinois, the new state capital. He also ran for the state legislature and won. In 1849, he obtained a patent for a method that kept steamboats afloat in shallow waters.

He was a member of the militia and was a strong, fair leader. In 1861, he won the election and was president during the Civil War. On Nov. 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address to 15,000 people. He signed legislation that created the U.S. Secret Service and he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all slaved in January of 1863. In the White House, under Lincoln’s portrait, the marble mantel is inscribed with this quote: “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

Lincoln continues to inspire us.

More than 15,000 books have been written about him since his assassination on April 15, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre.

These are some of his memorable quotes:

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy off recognition.”

“Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

Duplicate Bridge

Tuesday, Feb. 21, four tables played at the Mower County Senior Center. First place, Gail and Ray Schmidt; second place, Edna Knobbe and Rick Stroup; third place, Millie Seiver and Larry Crowe; fourth place, Sue Mann and Gail Nelson.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, five tables played at the Mower County Senior Center. First place, Dave Ring and Stan Schultz; second place, Loren Cleland and Bud Higgins; third place, Eunice Michaelis and Warren Behrends; fourth place, Carolyne Higgins and Connie Johnson; fifth place, Joyce Crowe and Millie Seiver.

Players were from Austin, Albert Lea, Adams and Rose Creek. All bridge players are encouraged to join us at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and noon on Wednesdays.