[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO THE HIGHLAND WOMEN'S CLUB

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 1998

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your 
attention today the fine work and outstanding public service of the 
Highland Women's Club of Highland, California. Earlier this year, the 
club marked its centennial as an active and vibrant part of the local 
community.
  On January 14, 1898, ten ladies in the village of Highland met to 
organize the Pleasant Hour Club. From this small beginning, the first 
library hall was built and, with the assistance of the members of the 
Pleasant Hour Club, furnished and manned. Later, after this first 
building burned, another library hall and public library was built in 
what is now the Knights of Pythias Hall on West Main Street. The 
Pleasant Hour Club met in both of these buildings.
  In 1926, the people of Highland raised money to build a facility at 
the corner of Palm Avenue and Main Street. A lovely large Spanish style 
building, it housed the public library, the Chamber of Commerce, and a 
very large beautiful meeting room with a stage, fireplace, and large 
kitchen. The building was finished in 1926 and was given to the 
Highland Women's Club to maintain.
  Over the years, the building was used for a variety of purposes--
Chamber banquets, church affairs, community service work, square 
dancing, and even the crowning of several Miss Highland contestants for 
the National Orange Show. Largely because of the expense of maintaining 
the building, the women of the club sold the building to the Highland 
Temple Baptist Church in 1975.
  The outstanding work of the Highland Women's Club is well known and 
deeply appreciated by local citizens. It has been actively involved 
with the PTA, little league, scouting, 4-H and other activities 
relating to the youth of our community. It has also played a role in 
raising awareness of fire safety rules among grade school students and 
purchasing supplies for the first paramedic truck in Highland, as well 
as the Jaws of Life for the local fire station. The Women's Club also 
assisted the Highland Citizens Patrol with the purchase of uniforms as 
well as with the purchase of radio equipment for the local sheriffs 
office.
  The contributions made by the Highland Women's Club to education has 
been nothing short of remarkable. It has adopted the Highland Head 
Start School in recent years and has also taken part in the Pennies for 
Pines Program since the 1950's. All of these activities underscore one 
fundamental point: the Highland Women's Club has made a difference for 
100 years and is well on its way to making a difference for at least 
another 100 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me and our colleagues in recognizing 
the outstanding contributions made to our local community by this 
tremendous organization. The Highland Women's Club represents the very 
finest in civic and community affairs and it is only appropriate that 
the House recognize this organization during its centennial 
celebration.

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