Come and party at the Hormel Historic Home

Published 5:52 am Saturday, September 7, 2019

The Hormel Historic Home is having a party from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, and we want you to come.

Historically speaking, membership party season was a very special time of year for the YWCA in the 1920s and 30s. The parties began in February 1928, shortly after the Hormel family donated to that organization their home.

According to an article in the February 1929 Austin Daily Herald:

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“The object of these yearly gatherings is to create and encourage a feeling of fellowship, among the membership at large, and not primarily for financial gain. For less and less does the Young Women’s Christian Association conceive of the payment of a membership fee as a purchase of a privilege, but more as an interest and participation in a world-wide movement, whose field of work is among women and girls.”

Following the parties of 1929, the newspaper reported the following recap of the events:

“Few social events in Austin are so enthusiastically attended and by such a large number of women as the annual membership parties given by the board members of the Y.W.C.A. … to the invitations nearly 300 acceptances were received … Mrs. J.G. Havens, president of the YWCA board appeared for the board members and in her usual pleasing manner outlined briefly the work of the organization…”

Live music including piano selections and singing was presented at each party and refreshments of cake and tea were served.

The object of the party we are hosting on Sept. 8, will mimic the purpose of the membership parties of days gone by. We invite our current roster of members as well as the whole community to come to socialize and be recognized for their interest in and support of the Hormel Historic Home and the legacy we preserve.

Live music will be offered by Mac & Reino, JCA, and Sena Ehrhardt and Cole Allen. Complementary food and refreshments will be provided by a variety of caterers including Hy-Vee, the Austin Country Club, Signatures Supper Club, Piggy Blues, Sugar Dreams and more. A cash bar will also be available.

Music, history and food together will make for a party that all can enjoy. And, if you choose to become a member of the HHH while enjoying the festivities, we would be ever grateful.


10 Year Anniversary Celebration of the Carriage Hall Event Center

2-6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 8

History, food and fun with Mac & Reino, JCA, Sena Ehrhardt & Cole Allen. Free for the Community.

History Happy Hour-Event Center:  Historic Bar Bands of Austin Presented by Wendy Larson and area musicians

5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. presentation Monday, Sept. 9

Free for members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society and Friends of the Library. $5 nonmembers.

ASD Parent/Caregiver Network-Historic Home

6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9

Benefits of Music Therapy for those on the Autism Spectrum. Free.