Rotareminder for the Rotary Club of Kent
Hybrid Meeting on October 1, 2024.
Past President Asad welcomed the group by calling the meeting to order at ~12:15pm. Our patriotic song of the day was the National Anthem with David Dix (on piano); Dominique Bolenbacher (vocals) led the club in the singing of Edelweiss followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Invocation for today’s meeting was offered by Kaleena Gharky; Marc Pennell, Adam Alderson, and Roger Cramer working tech; Todd Kamenesh handling photos, and Brian K Bialik handling Rotareminder duties.
There were no visiting Rotarians.
Visitors / Guests
- Doug Fuller introduced his spouse Karen.
New Member Induction
- Andra Polasky, 36 year resident of Portage County, and current Executive Director of Leadership Portage County.
Student of the Month
- Peter Hill, 8th Grader at Stanton MS, and his parents, Gretchen and Derik, were introduced by principal, Kathy Scott. Peter’s list of acheivements up to this point are impressive: three year member of the drama club; student advisory council; swim team; band; as well as taking advanced mathematics classes.
Announcements
- Stacey Richardson thanked all rotarians who donated to the high school’s flag project in honor of the upcoming veterans day. Sixty-eight flags in all were recorded to matching donations for the project that is designed to support the Freedom House.
- Bill Childers distributed a flyer regarding an upcoming United Way Golf Outing on October 11th at Windmill Lakes GC. Encouraged all rotarians to participate.
- Janet provided a summary of trivia night last week at North Water Brewing. Results were mixed with the first round flopping, only to recover strongly in the second.
- Dominique announced that there will be a coordinated clean-up day in downtown Kent, with Main Street Kent. The event is October 10th at 10:00am.
- Dennis from the KACC is accepting nominations for Tree City Awards.
- Todd Kamenesh is looking for debate topics for the November 5th meeting where he and Amanda will go head-to-head in what is a highly-touted re-match of last year’s contest that Amanda won handily.
- Adam Alderson announced a theatre production of Cabaret will be opening on October 3rd. See Adam for details on how to acquire tickets.
- Tamara Hunter announced that the second annual sanctuary picnic, held at the Hometown Bank Plaza, on October 3rd from 11-3pm.
Happy Bucks
- Tom Hatch was not happy on “screwing-up trivia” on the first trivia night event.
- Jackie announced that Open Arms was able to place three children into new homes recently.
- Rebekah thanked all the people who participated – Larry Lohman, Sherry Joy, and Randy Smith.
- Dennis was able to see his nieces play soccer for the first time.
- Nelson is celebrating his 45th wedding anniversary.
- Bill thanked Rebekah for the ride back after the Homecoming Parade.
- Kathy recognized Rebekah, our student- of -the- month, and our newest inductee, Andra Polasky.
- Anne’s dollar was just because.
- Todd was celebrating his son’s eagle scout project.
- Asad was happy about his son playing in his first community orchestra concert near the campus of Kenyon College, where he is a student.
- John Flynn was happy that his youngest son, Ross, was okay and safe in North Carolina, and noted that a Kentite, Mary Goldthwaite, now living in the same area, lost her business as a result of hurricane Helene.
- Lee was unhappy he lost this past week’s lottery jackpot. He was well-prepared, however, in how the proceeds would have been spent.
Program
Past President
Rebekah Wright-Kulis
Patton House / Coterie in Kent
***
The story of the Patton house, the beautiful and historic home serving as the west anchor of Kent’s Main street begins on a farm in Trumbull County in 1834. Walter W. Patton, a man of very humble beginnings left the homestead as a teenager to enroll in Hiram College, with plans to become a teacher. With meager resources, he quote “worked at anything he could find to do” earning about $14 per month in the summer to finance his education, even teaching at a one-room school house at age 17.
After serving in several counties and graduating from Mount Union, he returned to Portage County in 1859 at age 25, where he studied law in addition to teaching. He then opened a clothing store and was elected to the Board of Education, which was active in the planning and construction of the k-12 Union school located at the corner of Mantua and Park Ave. The school opened in 1869 at a cost of $69,500. Union schools were the generic name of schools that combined local schools houses. Ravenna had a Union School, which opened 10 years prior. Kent’s Union school later became known as of Central school, with the construction of South school in 1880 and Depeyster school in 1888. It was torn down in 1953 to make way for the current Central school. WW Patton served the district as Head of the School and then Superintendent from 1872-1878. He established himself as person recognized, quote, “ in hundreds of homes, he is remembered as a teacher and advisor with the most kindly thoughts.”
Never forgetting his past, WW Patton went on to resume his law practice, was a Knights Templar mason and part of Rockton Lodge #316 which still meets at the historic Kent home, the Masonic Temple, where his photo still hangs along others of the time. The Kent’s hosted four US presidents, during which time Mr. Patton befriended Presidents Garfield and McKinley. He eventually received the appointment as Kent Postmaster from President Harrison in 1892. He was later elected mayor of Kent for two terms,and through 1902. It was after this time, Mr. Patton and former widow, Harriet Bueher Patton, married in 1863.
Mr. and Mrs. Patton, along with her children, John and Emma B. Patton, whom he adopted, settled in the 12 room, 2 story home at what was then known as the outskirts of town. (As a frame of reference, the Seiberling family did not move into Stan Hywet until 1915.) The Patton family, in 1906, enjoyed their time at the lovely Home, and it was there that Mr. Patton died in 1909, eulogized as a man of strong ability, active and loyal, and who served the people well, bringing integrity to his duties.
After her stepfather’s death, Emma B Patton inherited the home and she is the second part of this story. Emma was a woman ahead of her time. Born December 10, 1858 in Shalersville, Emma went on to study at Lake Erie College, Oberlin Conservatory and the Boston School of Music. For context, she would have spent all of her time in dresses, as pants or trousers were prohibited for women at that time. Never married, Emma led a full life through membership in Eastern Star, Kent Womens Club, Travellers Club, Kent Recital Club, the DAR, and Kent Coterie Club. As shown in this ad from the Kent Tribune from September 14th, 1922, she taught piano to many young people throughout the area. Foresightful, she was among the original stockholders of the Kent Hotel Company. One of a handful of women listed in the September 8th, 1920 program. This may not seem unusual now, but women had just earned the right to vote the year prior in 1919. Emma travelled widely, her last passport was issued June 14h, 1934. Emma died in Los Angeles in February 1939 following a trip to Mexico. Again, when we think of modes of transportation of the time, this was quite ambitious, especially for an 80 year old woman!
For the next few years the Patton House served as the official residence of two Kent State University presidents, Presidents Engleman and Leebrick (both of whom had residence halls named in their honor). In 1942, the terms of Emma’s will were finalized. Generously, she left all her shares of the Home Building and Loan Company to her alma mater, Lake Erie College, and remembered the Student Loan Fund of Kent State with all residual property. The stately Patton house, along with all the interior contents, was bequeathed to one of the most meaningful organizations in her life, the Kent Coterie Club, an organization that is now over 125 year old.
Now, we’ll learn more about the home and Kent Coterie, present steward of the home.
The white structure enjoys the southern sun and is marked by an expansive front porch. There is a beautiful stained glass window on the eastern façade, a focal point of the landing. Many original elements remain, including the hand-carved oak foyer. A pair of fireplaces in the parlor and living room anchor the spaces, while furniture from the Pattons remain, including a rocking chair, a globe lamp, tables and the piano Emma presumably used for her lessons. The family’s original oak dining room table and chairs, purchased from a firm in Chicago are still used and complement the carved and polished wainscotting. Also of interest is a sofa manufactured by Loeblien Brothers, which inhabited the silk-mill building from 1937-1957 before they relocated to the Carolinas. (A personal note, this was the family firm of dear friend and neighbor, Betty Gressard.) Her father-in-law, Mr. Merrill, was one of those who famously hosted the boozy bluegill brunch that brought Kent the university, rather than Ravenna. There is a watercolor painting by Russell Colley, which started as an evening program for one of the Coteries, hanging by the fireplace. Mr. Colley gained fame by creating and sewing the pressurized spacesuits of the Mercury astronauts. There is also a beautiful oil painting by noted artist and Coterie 3 member, the late Jance Lentz Hatch donated to the house by fellow Kent artist Ben Bassham and his wife Carlin. The spacious kitchen is shared with the caretakers, who live on the expansive second floor of the home. Framed photos grace the living areas, including group memberships photos, young and old, of each club through the years. One of the photos featured one of the dear Delta Gamma sorority sisters, Mildred Bumphrey, as a toddler, along with her mother and sister, Alice. A favorite tradition during the holidays is decorating the Christmas tree with miniature frames of Coterie members baby photos.
Today, the home is currently available for rentals and is an ideal setting for birthday or retirement parties, bridal and baby showers, luncheons and dinners. The warming kitchen stocked with tableware allows for catered events and can hold 45 seated at tables (or 60 seminar-style), or even a standing-style reception. Rotary brunch Reservations can be made by calling the Patton house.
As you might imagine, the strains of caring for an aging jewel are significant. We are thankful interested donors can make tax-deductible donations for the Patton House upkeep through the Kent historical Society. Additionally, our social media accounts highlight private events, as well as fundraisers, including teas coming up on Oct 12th, and Nov 9th, in tandem with the Kent Flea Market - the Victoria Sponge cake is fantastic! We also have a bourbon dinner coming up on October 18th, along with a holiday high tea planned on December 8th. (If you are interested in any of these, please see the announcements on the tables. If you may be interested in learning more about Coterie membership or the Patton House, please leave your name and phone on our list and follow our Instagram.)
Now, who takes care of this house? For 85 of it’s 125 year history, Kent Coterie, whose constitution is shown here, has been the steward of Emma’s gift, respecting her wishes that the home be maintained for use by local women’s organizations. After digging into some data, I can only find that The Patton House is one of two remaining in Ohio donated by individuals for specific women’s organizations. The other is the Marion Historic Women’s Club home. To help to carry out the will, Emma left Kent Coterie, as caretakers of the home, a significant stock portfolio, including stock of ATT, National City Bank and several railroad concerns. Pretty impressive when you consider the women who have maintained the home could not have applied for credit in their own names until the early 70’s.
A formidable group, the heritage of Coterie is significant to this town. From what I’ve been able to piece together, The First Congregational Church, established in 1819 was the predecessor of the United Church of Christ. In 1896, the wife of the newly appointed United Church of Christ minister, Mrs. Morgan Jones, decided Kent was, and I quote, “neither too cultured nor socially accomplished.” Despite the early rumblings of the Spanish American War, she met with the presidents of the Cooking Club, along with the Literary Club, brokering a combined organization, to be known as Coterie…the Scottish word for Circle of Friends. Per the Constitution, the purpose was and is to obtain knowledge of the worlds history, art, literature, and social welfare, They met on Saturdays at 2:30pm, eventually moving to evenings while their husbands, the downtown merchants, kept their businesses open until nine. Among the 12 original members, who would have cooked on coal ranges and swept their homes with a broom, was one Emma B. Patton. The first years programs were based on Prescotts book, The Conquest of Mexico, which is still regarded as magnificently epic. Refreshments were strictly limited to two “eats” and one “drink”. The eats at the first meeting were cheese wafers and chocolate cake. The program included a skit about the new streetcar, followed by discussion of Mrs. Tuttle’s new blue silk dress, which featured 17 yards of silk. Despite being close friends, they each referred to the other as Mrs. So and So.
The membership continued to grow and in 1916, Junior Coterie, (nka Coterie 2) was formed with the original members’ daughters and daughters in law. For reference, at that time, there were 374 students at the Kent State’s Normal School, Europe was torn by war and area people went to Brady Lake camping parties. At Christmas time, 1917, the ladies were sitting down to a tureen dinner and meeting, when they were alerted by their host, Mary Kent, an American Red Cross volunteer, who received a telegram – not a call – not a text – that a trainload of 800 soldiers delayed by a storm were coming into Kent. They sprang into action, going to the Old Erie Depot, (now home to Over Easy) where they made coffee and sandwiches for the men. Note there is a structure on the North side of the building I had never seen before! Keep in mind, they would have done this- for 800 men - without the benefit of electricity, microwaves, or even Mr. Coffee. They later returned home to continue their holiday celebration, likely riding the streetcar system which served the downtown. Although there was no TV or radio, no telephones or Facebook, these ladies educated themselves on topics of the day. The 1924 Junior Coterie, met in dining rooms and attic spaces, with programming including the following stimulating topics: Evolution of man, a year long study of France, Numismatics, and can Prohibition succeed?
As history would have it, in 1946, Coterie 3 was formed, followed by Coterie 4 in 1976 and Coterie V in 2007, with founding memberships of daughters, daughters in law and friends of the earlier groups. Most of whom, dating back to the beginning, like my sisters and I, helped/coats/peaked around corners
Over the years, to support different philanthropies, there have been nut sales, candy sales, garden parties, exquisite luncheons, even a pajama party and a memorial tree that raises thousands per year through the generosity of the membership. Coterie clubs have Supported the Red Cross, by packing first aid kits, aid to European orphans after the Great war, to Kent Parks, Tree planting through the city, and to the “soup and health” fund, likely the precursor to groups like Family and Community Services, who still benefit. (We’ve taken carloads of holiday gifts!)
In general, each group has up to 25 members, meets monthly and supports the larger organization, Kent Coterie, Inc. Membership is still active, hosting monthly dinner meetings and fundraisers at the Patton House. There continues to be a full board trustees for Kent Coterie, Inc. which oversees the operation of the home, finances, and upkeep. Everyone pulls together to make sure the home is well taken care of. (No husbands were hurt.)
Over the years, members have included the names of the streets, buildings and social fabric of this town, including, Davey, Longcoy, Bumphrey, Wiland, Getz, Merrill, Wolcott, Parsons, Spelman, Woodward, Satterfield, Herriff, Lovell, Gressard, Williams, Bissler, and Kent…generations of female philanthropists….women, like Emma, who believed in the power of friendship and common good…a circle of Friends.
Past President, Kathy Myers, responded to today’s speaker.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian K Bialik
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