Written by Carla Charter
The Royalston Women’s Benevolent Society is the second oldest charity in the state, celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
Beth Gospodarek, president of the association, said that according to “The History of the First Congregational Church of Royalston” written by the Rev. Ginger Asell, the Royalston Ladies’ Benevolent Association began as a women’s organization associated with the church, with the first record dating from Dec. 21, 1824. In the early years, the president was always the pastor’s wife.
By the mid-1840s, the Society was making significant contributions to the Congregational Church’s budget through fundraising and recruiting members. In 1848, enough money was raised to pay the pastor’s salary of $450 and annual expenses of $750. After a fire destroyed the church and city hall in 1851, the association paid for the replacement of church equipment, she said. The association was also instrumental in establishing the town’s library. Gospodalek said the association’s other early philanthropic efforts included sewing clothing for families in need and providing quilts to an orphanage in Worcester.
In the mid-1850s, men were encouraged to become honorary members, although they could not hold office.
During the Civil War, the association manufactured hats, flannel shirts, socks, bandages, and more. Gospodalek said Royalston had 147 enlistees during the four years of war, more than 8 percent of the town’s population, and Royalston’s farms and workshops were depleted of men of military age.
“It has been a difficult and stressful time for the women of Royalston as they have lost their sons, husbands, brothers and nephews,” she said.
After the war, the Society worked to support the Freemen, an organization of freed slaves. Gospodalek said Mrs. Almira Woodberry was “so passionate about this project” that she kept an open barrel at her home for anyone to drop by with clothing to donate.
From the beginning, societies have provided assistance to people in times of illness, bereavement, accident, or special distress. In the 1800s, “they brought flowers and wrote notes to cheer up heavy hearts,” Gospodalek said.
In May 1967, members voted to separate from the church and focus on good works in the broader community. The meeting was reportedly heated and the pastor’s wife was quite furious. Gospodalek said the change was due to many vocal new residents and an unwillingness of old members to assert themselves, according to Asel’s book.
Since then, the group has continued to raise money for good causes through public dinners, Thanksgiving pie sales, election bake sales, catering matches for families, and more. Other events include tree ornaments for sale at the annual Memory Tree Holiday event in South Royalston.
Gospodalek said the coffers will grow further through membership and donations. These funds are used to fund the Women’s Benevolent Association Scholarships, which are awarded annually to Royalston residents attending institutions of higher learning. They also fund the Amanda Putney Foundation, which pays entry fees for horse shows, so not everyone can compete due to cost. The association is offering free valentines, cards and gift baskets to those who qualify for the boost.
Gospodalek said membership in the society is open to all people, regardless of gender, religion or identity, who are interested in connecting with their neighbors and pursuing philanthropy.
Some of the upcoming events to celebrate the bicentenary include the Royalston Historical Society’s exhibit “Women of Royalston,” which also includes an exhibit by the Women’s Benevolent Society.
Among the items on display are society photographs from 1915 onwards and event posters from the 1920s to 1940s, refurbished by Ken Levine and Lorraine Cassinghino of Frames/Ink. These events included one-act plays, but Gospodarek said it was still unclear whether the association performed them themselves or had school children perform them.
The association also held its annual “After Turkeys What?” The event was held on Thanksgiving Day and allowed residents to gather at City Hall after the holiday dinner to enjoy musical entertainment. Another annual event was the President’s Day fundraiser, which included cherry pie and other cherry desserts, and residents were given the opportunity to participate wearing Colonial-era hats.
A “Food Made by Mom” dinner will be held at City Hall on June 8th from 6pm, followed by a lecture on palm leaf hats by Kathy Morris. A historic garden party and croquet will be held on July 24th from 2pm to 4pm on the Common at 9pm.
Kara Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writings focus on the history of the North Quabbin region. Contact cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.
