It was a great pleasure indeed to have the Shawangunk Journal’s editor John D’Amico as a guest at the February meeting of the Ellenville Noonday Club. During our discussion period, John invited Noonday to submit a guest editorial to the Journal. Noonday regards this as a wonderful opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to the community and to make recent residents to the area aware of who we are and what we do.

Noonday Club was founded in 1923 by a group of businessmen who took the opportunity to enjoy lunch and discuss issues and problems affecting the Town of Wawarsing. The Noonday Club was influential in many areas, particularly advocating for road improvement during the first half of the 20th Century (Noonday was once referred to as “agitators” in the local press!).

The club soon moved its meetings to the evening and began a long period of innovative service. In 1938 Noonday sponsored a “Glider Meet” near Sam’s Point. In 1952, the Club sponsored an Amateur Elimination Contest as a way of supporting Veterans Memorial Hospital. District winners eventually competed at Madison Square Garden for a $5,000 prize. Beginning in the 1940's, Noonday participated in the hanging of Holiday Lights, making the village what then-committee chairman Reuben Benson called “a fairyland of lights.” Noonday continues to hang the holiday lights and seasonal banners to this day.

Over the years Noonday has held charity golf tournaments, Mardi Gras and Halloween events for children, and even sponsored a Little League team. Continuing activities include the annual Citizen of the Year Dinner and the Senior Holiday Dinner, where we provide scores of senior citizens with a free turkey dinner at Ellenville Central School. We also have an Adopt-a-Highway committee that organizes a periodic cleanup on Route 209 just south of the Village.

For years, the Noonday Club met at Mitchell House, a hotel and restaurant that was torn down in 1956. In recent years, Noonday has met monthly at different local restaurants, though lately we seem to be enjoying recurring hospitality at Tony & Nick’s Italian on Canal Street. The club has evolved from a businessmen’s luncheon to a diverse group of members who meet once a month during the winter and spring to enjoy a great meal and learn more about developments and improvements in our area through invited guest speakers.

We’re not a political advocacy group and we welcome residents of all ideals and persuasions. For a benign evening of getting together, sharing some laughs and good food, and coming away knowing just that much more of what goes on around you, we invite you to visit and perhaps join the Ellenville Noonday Club. For more information you can contact Mary Sheeley at (845) 647-8100.