PARIS — The Paris Cape Historical Society’s monthly meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at the museum, 77 High St. It will feature an informal program relating to Paris 4-H clubs. Jean Record Federico, Janice Decato Guilford and others will recall their clubs’ activities over the years.
Members of these clubs, past and present, are invited to share their experiences of the movement. Any paper clippings, photos or other memorabilia will be welcome for show and tell at the meeting. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.
One hundred years ago in the state, F. Harold Bickford was appointed by the Agricultural Extension Service of the State of Maine to become the first state leader of what is known as the 4-H clubs. Prior to this the movement was called Boys’ and Girls’ clubs that were formed in homes and had as their goal the forming of agricultural and home economics efforts.
Later names were given to these clubs. One of the first active clubs was formed in Scarborough in December 1913 and centered on raising potatoes. Poultry, garden crops, growing corn and later raising beef and dairy stock, pigs, sheep and other phases of farming made up the agricultural branch of the clubs while canning, cooking, food preservation, sewing, crafts, dress style reviews and presentation of various demonstrations were under the home economics area.
Paris, being the central location for the Oxford County Extension office of the 1920s, became the headquarters for the Oxford County 4-H clubs. As each town formed clubs the movement served as a county venture to meet and share with other members statewide and even nationally.
Within the town some clubs had names, while others did not. Some were either all boys or all girls and others were mixed. The named ones that are known are the Ready Workers, Hungry Hollow HiHos, CanDo and Dalmatians. Faithful leaders led these clubs that instilled basic values and morals as well as learning how to conduct a meeting, make presentations and advance the labors of future farmers and homemakers.
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