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March 01, 2004 at 2:32 PM

       March is Women’s History Month and it is appropriate that the DuBois Area Historical Society welcome a queen as its guest speaker. Sue Raspetello, Queen mother of the Red Hat Society, will present a history of the organization on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the E.D. Reitz Museum, 28 W. Long Ave., DuBois. The presentation is free and open to the public.

       Raspatello, a native of Brockway, has lived at Treasure Lake since 1988. She is active in volunteer work in addition to her duties with the Red Hat Society.

       The Red Hat Society started with a group of older women in California, who were inspired by Jenny Joseph’s 1932 poem, “Warning.” The poem includes the line, “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple.”

       Taking this line to heart, the women formed a group, which met on a regular basis, wearing red hats and purple dresses in public. Once other women heard of the group, additional chapters were started. Today there are thousands of members worldwide, who celebrate the milestone of turning 50, and foremost have fun.

        Seventeen members and guests attended February’s DuBois Area Historical Society meeting, which featured Parker Dam State Park naturalist Eric Rensel’s “Parker Dan Tea & Talk.” Rensel discussed the history of Parker Dam and the uses of various plants and herbs, while serving mountain fern tea.

        Upcoming speakers include:  April 21, Tom Schott,  “The Washington, D.C., World War II Memorial, A Personnel Connection; and May 26, Galen Kilmer, “DuBois Area High School Local History Projects.”  All of these programs begin at 7:30 p.m. in the E.D. Reitz Museum and are free and open to the public.

       2004 DuBois Area Historical Society individual and business memberships are now due. Individual memberships are:  life, $100; family, $15; single adult, $10; student 18 and over, $5; student up to 18, $2; senior citizen, $5. Members may gain the designation of member/donor by including a special contribution of $6 or more along with their membership fee. Checks should be made payable to the DuBois Area Historical Society and mailed to P.O. Box 401, DuBois, Pa. 15801. Include name, address, and telephone number with all membership