After 69 years of service, Paragon Club disbands

    Changing times have seen Paragon Club dwindle to just seven members. After being active in the community for 69 years, the club recently made the difficult decision to disband.
    Remarkably, four of the charter members of the club were still involved up until the very end. They are Emily Haynes, Fae Lindgren, Lil Lindgren and Clydena Miller. The other three remaining members, Lois Carruthers, Lu Radtke and Gloria Beckius, were also involved for many years.
    Paragon Club was organized under Colorado State University Extension in 1950 with 22 members. In that service, they learned new methods and ideas in cooking, baking, canning, sewing, gardening and community service.
    In 1962, they instigated and planted a sign at Means Lake in honor of hometown doctor F.M. Means. In 1963, they worked on a drive to bring about a nursing care facility, which was successful.
    For 26 years, in cooperation with the hospital auxiliary, the club donated canned items to the hospital fair. At the hospital, members also did hours of sewing and mending. They made and donated hundreds of pinky finger puppets for the nurses to give to child patients. Members worked at the health fair, polio clinic and eye clinic.
    Paragon Club supported all 4-H activities and sponsored one group, the Paragonettes. The club did display booths, tea tables and achievement awards as well as building floats for the fair parades. Many members worked at the county fair exhibit building as superintendents and assistants.
    Now known as Holly Daze, the holiday fair was supported for many years by the Paragon Club.
    Members studied civil defense and made survival kits for their homes. They donated a United Nations flag they made to be displayed at Phillips County Court House.
    They once organized “Hill Billy Band,” much like “Hee Haw,” for a district Extension meet, which was said to be great fun.
    At Christmastime, a huge potluck was held at the old Boy Scout building with gifts given to about 70 children by Santa (who happened to be Frank Linnenbrink until his son Frank E. recognized his boots and announced who he was).
    Though Paragon Club gave up its affiliation with CSU Extension in 1971, it continued its community projects long after that.