May Heath - Public Speaker - And the Douglas O. E. S.

Time and time again, over the course of decades, May Heath was called upon to be a toastmistress or a speaker for local groups. She served as toastmistress to many Alumni and Woman's Club Banquets in the 1910's and 1920's, and was a frequent speaker in each decade of her life, particularly on historical topics. We can thank her family for preserving many of her hand written texts and presentations from the 1890's onward. Of the organizations she helped found or lead, her focus was on Saugatuck, with one exception. For some reason, she was a member of the Douglas chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.).

At the 35^th Birthday banquet of the Douglas O.E.S. (Chapter No. 203) on Feb, 24, 1932, she was asked to respond to the toast "The Charter Members".

"I well remember when I joined over here, 32 years in March (1900), how I drove over with my aunt and uncle Leland in an old democrat buggy- a two seater and high up in the world too, and it was drawn by his old farm horse, Molly. Was it cold? Oh those March winds in the open buggy- why it seemed like the bridge was miles long! But that was 32 years ago when there were no autos in this section, as yet."

May spelled out the history: The chapter was chartered Oct. 14, 1897- 1^st Worthy Matron Mrs. Sarah Kirby; 1^st Asst Matron Mrs. Abbie Kerr; 1^st Worth Patron- Milton Gerber. The 31 charter members were: Mr. Frank Kerr, Mrs. Abbie Kerr, Mr. John Hoy, Mrs. Mary Hoy, Mr. Fred Herbert, Mrs. Anna Herbert, Mr. John Durham, Mrs. Jennie Durham, Mr. Elmer Weed, Mrs. Lizzie Weed, Mr. H. A. McDonald, Mrs. Abbie McDonald, Mr. Joshua Weed, Mrs. Mary Weed, Mr. William C. McVea, Mrs. Rachel McVea, Mr. Milton Gerber, Mrs, M. Belle Gerber, Mr. Frank Wade, Mrs. Lizzie Wade, Mrs. Sarah Kirby, Miss Helen J. Kerr, Mrs. Jane Kibby, Mr. Wm. Kerr, Mr. H. G. Welch, Miss Blanche Slack, Mrs. Alice Devine, Miss Lenore Spencer, Miss Hattie Spencer, Miss Minnie Walbreuck, Mr. Thomas Martin.

She went on that of these "ten have passed on- It is really amazing that after 35 years more that 2/3s of the charter members have been spared, have seen the organization prosper and grown, have welcomed the younger generation into it's ranks, and such is life." Almost 30 years later, she was to post a note on the member list used in her speech "Alive in 1961 Rachel McVea". This last charter member died in 1968 and is buried in the Douglas Cemetery.

(According to the Michigan state O.E.S. "Douglas Chapter No. 203 consolidated with Saugatuck No. 285 on September 25, 1962 and became known as Riverview Chapter No. 203. Riverview Chapter consolidated with Bethel No. 173 on December 27, 1978 and
became known as Saugatuck-Douglas Chapter No. 173. Saugatuck-Douglas Chapter No. 173 consolidated with June Chapter No. 343 on December 27, 1987 and became June No. 343. June Chapter No. 343 surrendered their charter on October 14, 2002.)

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