Palouse Xenodican Club marks 100 years

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Nov 29, 20180

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Palouse Xenodican Club members gather in December 2017, from left to right, back row: Diana Cochran, Mary Estes, Pat Flansburg, Bev Pearce, Carol Fielder, Teresa Myott, Holly White, Judy Willcox, Rosemary Gage, Nancy Wolf. Front Row: Iris Holway-Price, Nancy Prince-Hill, Carol Heinlen, Peggy Collier, Helen Smith, Gerry West, Jean Jeffers, Pam Alsterlund.

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In 1918, Palouse resident Irma Leusing invited six women to meet at her home, asking them to bring their sewing. They met again, and another time.

"They just got together to be together," said current Xenodican Club member Diana Cochran.

In two years, they joined the Washington State General Federation of Women's Clubs.

The federation required that each group had a stated purpose. The Palouse ladies chose to start a library, taking on the name Xenodican Club, after the Greek word for hospitality.

They went door-to-door for book donations and their work led to the town's first library in 1920,...