What began as a women’s social club in the early 1950s has developed into a staple community-organization in Ozark, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
The GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) Utopia Club of Ozark is made up of 20 women who reside in Ozark, dedicated to communal philanthropy. The club’s largest annual event is the three-day Ozark Craft Fair held at Finley River Park. Through events like the craft fair, the club has raised nearly $1 million for local organizations over its 70-year history, according to craft fair Co-Director Kay Johnson.
The Utopia Club was founded in 1953 by the late Mrs. John Boyle. She held the first meeting at her home on Feb. 24, 1953 at 2 p.m., according to a Utopia Club of Ozark history pamphlet.
“It was quite an honor to be in the Utopia Club back then,” Treasurer Sandy McKee said. “The women got dressed up like they were going to church. If you were hosting the meeting that month, you had to clean every inch of your house. It was quite the ordeal to get ready for club.”
McKee is one of several club members who grew up attending club events with her mother, who joined around 1955-56. McKee recalls fond memories of helping at community dinners and March for Dimes, which at the time was dedicated to research for the polio vaccine. McKee said she has been an official member of the club for about 14 years.
Up until the pandemic, the majority of the club’s meetings were still held in members’ houses. Today, the Utopia Club meets in public spaces, often the Ozark Senior Center.
Vice President Debi Achor joined the Utopia Club in 2019, shortly after retiring. Originally from Troy, Achor said the club has allowed her to make close friends and get involved in the community.
“When I retired, we hadn’t lived in Ozark about five years, and I worked from home, so I didn’t know very many people and I wanted to get involved,” Achor said. “When I met this wonderful group of ladies, it was like they’ve all become dear friends. We work hard, but we play hard too. We build these wonderful relationships. It’s great club, we do great work and I’m proud of it.”
The Utopia Club began hosting the Ozark Craft Fair in 1974. Until about 1982, the fair was held on the Ozark Square, but it was moved to Finley River Park, where it is held today, for more space. Originally, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce helped host the fair, but after a few years, the Utopia Club took over entirely.
A key part of the craft fair, when it was on the square, were ham and beans served on Saturday. Former club president Linda Carter, who also grew up attending club meetings with her mother, recalls women cooking big pots of pinto beans and pans of cornbread for the meal.
Another memory McKee and Carter remember from the craft fair on the square was the year an inmate escaped from the courthouse jail.
“Years ago, the jail of course was in the courthouse, and one of the inmates escaped during the craft fair,” McKee said with a laugh. “It was quite an ordeal … everyone was trying to recapture the inmate.”
Last year, the craft fair featured about 350 vendors from 12 states. The largest crowd the fair has hosted was close to 35,000 people over the three-day weekend, Johnson said. This year’s craft Fair is Oct. 6-8. The free fair is open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Events like the Ozark Craft Fair and others held by the Utopia Club help pay for member dues and support community organizations. Over the years, the Utopia Club has supported organizations like the Ozark School District FFA chapter, Project Graduation and senior scholarships, Ozark Police Department, Least of These, Freedom’s Rest Family Violence Center and the Ozark Senior Center.
“I think we are kind of a well-kept secret, as far as what all we do to help the community,” Achor said.
McKee said many of the craft fair’s vendors will pre-pay for the next year’s registration during the current fair because of its popularity. In order to secure a booth for the fair, vendors must register by February of that year, eight months prior to the fair.
While the club has evolved over seven decades, many aspects remain the same, including its limit to 20 members. Johnson said the club is operated on an invitation-basis. Members must be women who reside in Ozark. Today, the club has about 15 active members.
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