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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 237/340

A History of Columbia County, Florida

tunities for participation in fair events as well as providing
valuable practical information and training. In 1912 Irene Henry
was appointed home demonstration agent. Using a horse and
buggy Mrs. Henry traveled throughout the county teaching farm
women canning techniques and other skills.50
Home demonstration offered much to improve the practical
skills and social life of rural Columbia countians. The Bethel
Homemakers Club was organized in 1914 by Mrs. Henry. Mrs.
Sally Hunter and Mrs. R. A. Bedenbaugh were active in the club
which presented canning and other household skills. A similar
group, the Mikesville Home Demonstration Club, was formed in
Mikesville. Mrs. D. L. Means, Mrs. Nina Means and Mrs. C. S.
Rumph were active in that group.51
During the early 1920’s home demonstration agent Marie Cox
was active in promoting girl’s clubs to grow and can tomatoes.
Such wares were regularly featured at the county fair. Home
demonstration work had become an important aspect of life in the
county by 1928, but the county commissioners voted in that year
not to continue the program. It was not formally resumed until
1937 although many of the clubs continued to meet. In 1928, the
program under Lassie Goodbread Black made considerable ad­
vancement. Not only did the agent continue to travel about the
county—now by automobile pulling a portable “covered wagon”
canning kitchen—but a health and sanitation program had been
instituted and was making considerable progress. At the court­
house, for example, a drinking fountain replaced the bucket and
tin dipper, and 4-H clubs volunteered their services to keeping the
toilets clean. Mrs. Black also arranged for the girls of the clubs to
receive free physical examinations at the VA Hospital in Lake

MMary Ethel Anderson, “The History of the Extension Home Economics
Program in Columbia County,” typewritten copy, Columbia County Historical
Society Collection.
51 Ibid.
184

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