The Ebell Society of the
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Girls' Ebell A group of girls of junior and senior high school age, daughters and granddaughters of Ebell members, organized on November 13, 1931. According to the local newspapers, one of the first events was a formal dance. “Dancing opened with a grand march whose intricate figures were led by Miss Elizabeth Downie and Bob Spurgeon in the first division, and Miss Mary Tuthill and Jimmie Wilson in the second. A succession of fox trots and occasional waltzes, had for variety, two cymbal dances which were highly successful. So happy an evening was enjoyed, that it is possible that a regularly organized Junior Ebell dancing class may be a logical outgrowth.” Indeed, this prediction did come to pass with the “Promenade” dances. Among the early activities were a Depression Dance where the boys wore corduroys and the girls wore print dresses, a wiener roast at Laguna Beach, a Spring Fashion Review, and another formal dance. In December 1933, the members were hostesses for a Christmas party for 30 children from the Day Nursery, complete with presents from Santa Claus, and treats. Among many of the early activities were dancing classes, and a drama class that produced one-act plays, three produced in 1934. Through the years, the programs offered information, variety, and training. The girls heard talks on sports wear, style, hair styles, college life, drama and singing by Joan Hockaday, football by Sky Dunlap, and flower arranging by the Posy Shop. Their Christmas welfare project was a party at the Day Nursery, which they did for several years. In 1939, in addition to their social activities, their St. Patrick’s Day Charity Carnival raised enough money to build a playhouse for girls at the Nursery and to make repairs to their drinking fountain. They also helped with the Christmas Seal campaign. During the war years, in addition to enjoying their meetings and dances, in spite of blackout curtains covering every window, they bought two War Bonds, and paid for their service activities for Orange County Hospital. Another activity was making tray favors for the Santa Ana Army Air Base Hospital. They also made afghans. A house party at Forest Home over the Thanksgiving vacation was a delightful change. A few years later, their Thanksgiving stay was at Lake Arrowhead. In the early 1950’s, the girls contributed handicraft materials to the TB ward at County Hospital and toys to the Children’s Ward. They returned to Lake Arrowhead for a short holiday. Another year their charity project was making bean bags for the children at Carl Harvey School. At the end of the decade, their philanthropies included making ornaments for Juvenile Hall and stuffing 12,000 envelopes for the Orange County Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Through the years, the girls actively support the Children’s Ward at Orange County Hospital. Some years they made candy wreaths, sometimes marshmallow bunnies, whatever was appropriate for the season they chose. Some of the fun things the girls did in the early 1980’s were a week end ski trip to Big Bear, a father/daughter night, an experimental make-up session, and a lecture/demonstration from Nordstrom’s on how to put a wardrobe together effectively and economically. Fashion shows were enjoyed, as were dinner dances, and a year end formal dinner dance. In the late 1980’s, they continued their week end skiing trips to Big Bear, and enjoying their Starlight Ball, which was a beautiful dinner dance for members and guests. The end of an era came at the end of the 1989-1990 club year, when, like Junior Ebell, Girls’ Ebell faded into history.
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© The Ebell Society of the Santa Ana Valley, 625 French St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
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