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It’s not unusual, when browsing through
the old DeLeon newspapers from the 1940s and 1950s, to see numerous
mentions of bridge clubs. These days, even though there are fewer
mentions, and for that matter, fewer clubs, there are still players in
the DeLeon area.
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BRIDGE
CLUB. Those attending one of the most recent meetings of the
Bridge Club were: seated, left to right, Barbara Nowlin, Polly
Bradley, Ruth Ann Gilbert and Ann Jay. Standing, left to right,
Betty Bettis, Doris Pair, Arlene Pies and Wilma Keen. |
Every second and fourth Wednesday
afternoon, a group of DeLeon area women meet for an afternoon of
bridge. Bridge is a bidding game, with tables of four, two teams of
two players. Although this particular group has no official name, they
refer to themselves informally as the Wednesday Bridge Club.
Some meetings are held in member’s homes,
and some are held at the F&M Bank hospitality room.
This particular club has been active since the late 1970s.
Some of the past members, including those
who started the club, are Nancy Brown, Polly Caraway, Glenda Weaver,
Beverly Stewart, Judy Williams, Lena Taylor, Janis Calhoun, Ardine
Hammitt, Pat Wolf, Pat Eisenrich, Beth Morgan, Kayla Sult, Evelyn
Moore, Clara Livingston and Mary Burk.
Current members include Ruth Ann Gilbert,
Wilma Keen, Ann Jay, Barbara Nowlin, Arlene Pies, Betty Bettis, Polly
Bradley and Doris Pair.
Gilbert and Keen are have played bridge
with this club since they moved to DeLeon in 1978 and1979,
respectively.
“This bridge club is nearly 30 years
old,” Gilbert said. “I really enjoy playing, because it’s a chance to
see your friends.”
Gilbert said she also enjoys the mental
challenge bridge affords.
“Bridge keeps your mind going,” she said.
“Of course, every now and then you make a boo-boo, but then you catch
yourself. It’s very challenging.
Gilbert said that the partnerships vary
each week. “We have a tally, and we rotate players each time.”
“It’s just a fun thing,” Gilbert said. “And these are special people,
such special friends.”
Through the years, bridge players have
dropped out for numerous reasons.
“Some of them had children in school,”
Gilbert said, “and just didn’t have time. Then some went to work.
One of the current members recalls that
Mary Burk was teaching some younger women in the community to play
bridge, a few years ago, and that many of them had become quite adept.
“If you can play “42” you can play
bridge,” Gilbert said, adding that she has played for years. “And my
parents played as well,” she said.
Wilma Keen said she learned to play
bridge in 1941 in Johnson City.
“There was a couple there who said that
my husband, Aaron, and I, needed to learn to play bridge,” Keen said.
“And I told them that we had never played, but we agreed to learn, and
I have enjoyed it ever since.”
Keen agrees with Gilbert, that the mental
challenge is one of the better benefits to playing bridge. Keen also
plays with two other bridge clubs in DeLeon, including one which meets
each Thursday afternoon.
“And I really enjoy the companionship,”
she said. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful pastime.” |
