After several months of postponement due to COVID 19, Woman’s Club of Warren resumed its program and luncheon on Monday, March 15 with social distancing.

Retired teacher and gardening columnist of the Times Observer Rebecca Ryan celebrated Women’s History month with a presentation on Louisa Mae Alcott. She honored the author of “Little Women,” the quintessential book for young ladies, rivaling Treasure Island for the boys of the time.

Published in 1868, Little Women, based loosely on Alcott’s childhood memories set in the two family homes both Orchard House where Louisa was born in 1832 and Hillside, in Concord Mass. Abigail Alcott, Bronson Alcott and their four daughters Anna, Louisa Mae, Elizabeth and Abby Mae moved into Orchard House in the year 1858 and this is where she wrote Little Women. Orchard House has been restored with furniture and objects and is open for tours.

Although her father, Bronson Alcott, was an intelligent man with high ideals, they proved to be unworkable and led to failure and financial struggles. Louisa’s gentle and overworked mother, Abigale Alcott, wished for a home and some land but her family moved 30 times in 15 years due to Bronson’s inability to support his family. His philosophy of Transcendentalism led them to a home called Fruitlands and communal living.

Transcendentalism is a philosophy that believes life is to be lived in honesty, sincerity, and unselfishness. Bronson and a few other men philosophers tried to live the perfect life. Animals should not be killed for food or even to work on behalf of men. They bathed in cold water, ate only fruit, vegetables and bread, wore linen smocks because wool robbed the sheep and cotton was grown by slaves. Abbie and the children did all the washing, farmwork and cooking on a wood stove for the community. The philosophers spent their days philosophizing.

When harvest came Bronson and the men traveled to a conference in Boston. By autumn Mrs. Alcott was exhausted. Her brother took pity on the little family and rented them the home called Hillside. Louisa was always writing of dashing heroes and damsels in distress. The sisters were the actors in her plays. Louisa remembers her childhood, despite grinding poverty as incredibly happy. Emerson, Hawthorn and Thoreau often stepped in to help the family with the necessities of life. As a teenage at Hillside Louisa remembered these as the happiest of her life. In 1857 the family moved to Orchard House which was their permanent home. It was not until 1868 that Little Women, followed by Little Men, were published and met with great success. That income allowed her to support the family.

Louisa Mae Alcott remained unmarried her whole life, raising her orphaned niece. At age 55 she had a fatal stroke March 6, 1888 and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery near Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorne on a hillside known as Authors Ridge. Mrs. Ryan encouraged the attendees to read Little Women and to visit Concord, MA.

Dr. Ruth Barnes Shaw conveyed appreciation for Mrs. Ryan’s Women’s History Month program.

Luncheon theme was St. Patrick’s Day and table decor included shamrock folded napkins, coins and shamrock plants. The Fashion Show will take place on May 6 with Cherie Greenstein of GG My Love presenting clothes and accessories from the Chautauqua shop. Usable Discards will be held June 4 and 5 and the annual dinner will be May 18.

Team Up membership drive has begun and details can be found on the WCW Facebook page or call the Club at 723-5910.