The M. Louisa Chitwood Club

Springfield Township, Franklin County, Indiana

Subject:                        M. Louisa Chitwood Club

Erected by:                  The M. Louisa Chitwood Club,

                                      March 24, 1958

Located:                        Highway 252, Mt. Carmel, Franklin County, Indiana  

Text:   The first Woman's Club in Franklin County was organized on this farm    on March 24, 1898, called the Ladies Literary Social Club of Philanthropy. In 1912, it was renamed for one of Indiana's foremost poets. It has a noteworthy record of continuous service to the community.
History: 

Although Miss Chitwood was only 23 years old when she died (in 1855),  she left more than a thousand poems.  Her first published poem was in the Brookville American when she was twelve years of age.  In addition to her poetry, she also wrote much prose.  There was a plaintive note of sadness in her prose, a questioning of the motives which actuate people to do certain things. 

The following is a verse from “The Graves of the Flowers.”

“Upon no stone is carved the name

Of April’s children fair;

They perished when the sky was bright,

And gentle was the air.

To the soft kisses of the breeze

They held half trembling up

Full many a small transparent urn

And honey-ladened cup.”