The use of alcohol became a huge issue, even before the Prohibition Era, to those who felt concerned for their families who consume alcohol and died from it. This became known as the Temperance Movement.
Efforts were made across the United States from local organizations and groups to prevent the consumption of alcohol. One of those organizations was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
Its Humble Beginnings
The Women's Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio with Annie Wittenmyer as its first president. It all started with a lecture in Fredonia, New York, hosted by temperance leader Dr. Diocletian Lewis on December 13, 1873. He gave a presentation on alcohol and how to prevent alcohol trafficking. His lecture motivated the women in Fredonia to hold a meeting on the issue of alcohol trafficking. Thus, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) name was adopted in Fredonia.
In August 1874 in Chautauqua, New York during the first National Sunday School Assembly, a member named Mattie McClellan Brown requested a national, delegated convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio. She officially became the original founder of the WCTU, and held the largest audience at the first national convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fun Fact #1: Mattie Brown declined to be the WCTU's first president. This position was given to Annie Wittenmyer, an experienced wartime fundraiser and administrator.
When prominent feminist Frances Willard became president in 1879, she made improvements to the organization like expanding issues on labor laws and prison reform. Under her leadership, the organization became the largest and most influential women's group in the late 19th century.
"She believed that women, as the moral guardians of the home, should be involved in public and political activity. She increased the reform activity initiated by the WCTU with choices for local chapters. This made it possible for large numbers of women to work with the temperance movement and on issues that were of concern to themselves. This became know as Frances Willard's 'Do Everything' policy. It was passed at the National 1882 WCTU Convention. It encouraged local chapters to work on any and all issues they deem important."
- WCTU
After Willard's death, the organization focused primarily on prohibition.
Fun Fact #2: In 1879, Frances Willard suggested to add on the issue of "enjoining abstinence from alcohol." Annie Wittenmyer opposed the move, resulting in the end of her presidency to Frances Willard.
WCTU in Ambler
The WCTU was organized in Ambler on May 31, 1888, a few days before Ambler was officially incorporated. The organization was founded by Henry G. Keasbey's wife, and the WCTU was held at her home on Reiff Mill Road and North Spring Garden Street with only nine women. In the parlor of the Keasbey residence, they planned work that included distributing flowers to the sick, anti-narcotic work peace and arbitration, and school savings.
Even when they did many community services, they may have forgot the main purpose of the WCTU: to provide alcohol education and the discouragement of drinking it.
By acknowledging the main purpose of the organization, the WCTU of Ambler planned to impart the children "scientific temperance instruction." This was in the law passed in 35 states that was made necessary to include "the study of physiology compulsory in the public schools." Ellen Teas was appointed the superintendent of the WCTU, and was responsible to read the law and make sure the law carried out to the public schools recommended by the national WCTU. This action resulted in naming their organization the "Loyal Temperance Union." 80 children from ages 6 to 12 of Ambler held weekly meetings.
Fun Fact #3: The Loyal Temperance Union's motto was "No compromise in the Keystone State."
A Demand for Space
After the departure of Mrs. Keasbey, the WCTU proposed a library and reading room, but hearing about the Opera House being built on the other side of Butler Avenue, the organization planned to reserve a room on the second floor for their space. Unfortunately, they were being suppressed as many businesses and groups shared interest in renting rooms at the opera house. That was when they proposed to build their own building for their library and reading room.
Right away, people began to oppose their movement which motivated the WCTU to continue their efforts, thanks to their leaders Mrs. Keasbey and Mrs. Foster. With all of their efforts, they were defeated by those interested in renting the spaces at the opera house. The organization's dream to have a library was crushed and the funds raised were returned to those who contributed the effort.
Even when they failed to have their own building, they continued to do the work they intended to do since its founding: helping their community.
Bibliography
"Ambler, Yesterday: History and Fact Behind Ambler of Today By Dr. Mary P. H. Hough: The W.C.T.U. In Ambler, Part No. 1." Ambler Gazette. March 10, 1938. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/22122/rec/4.
"Ambler, Yesterday: History and Fact Behind Ambler of Today By Dr. Mary P. H. Hough: The W.C.T.U. In Ambler, Part No. 2." Ambler Gazette. March 17, 1938. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/22637/rec/1.
"Ambler, Yesterday: History and Fact Behind Ambler of Today By Dr. Mary P. H. Hough: The W.C.T.U. In Ambler, Part No. 3." Ambler Gazette. March 24, 1938. Page 4. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/22073/rec/1.
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"History of the WCTU." Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://www.wctu.org/history.
Hopley, Georgia. Founder of W.C.T.U., 15 March, 1898, Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera, Martha McClellan Brown Papers (MS-147), Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/360757701.pdf.
Smith, J.L. Montgomery County 1893, Ambler Borough, 1893.
"Woman’s Christian Temperance Union." HISTORY. Last modified August 21, 2018. https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womans-christian-temperance-union.
"WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION." Womens Rights 1920's. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://1920womensrightsmonopoli.weebly.com/the-wctu.html.