In 1924, Helen Breneman gathered a group of women to form what she envisioned as "a cozy little literary club." For 100 years, the Mountwaybia Club - named for the hometowns of the original members, Mountville and Columbia, as well as the Lincoln Highway that joins the towns - has been drawing women together.

Over the years, many things have changed for the club. Gone are the musical selections played on the Victrola during club meetings and the $1 annual dues. But despite the decades, most things are unchanged, as the club still provides an opportunity for women to gather in members' homes to carry out the motto "Culture, Friendship and Service."

The Mountwaybia Club meets twice a month on Wednesdays from October to April, concluding the year with a spring social in May. At each meeting, a club member serves as hostess, and another gives a report before tea and other refreshments are served.

"We run our meetings differently than other book clubs," said club member Marianne Nolt. "Some people just read a book and then they all discuss it. We have a business meeting to start, and then each person takes a month to be the reporter." The woman presenting the report may choose the topic, focusing on a book or a subject of personal interest.

At a recent meeting, club vice president Deanna Lawrence offered a biography about Robert Frost and then read one of her favorite poems of his, noting that she met the renowned poet as a 10th-grade student in York. Club secretary-treasurer Elaine Savukas gave a business report. Club president Kathy Hengst served as a hostess and also as the main presenter, giving a short talk about Longwood Gardens followed by a slideshow of the attraction.

When it was founded, the Mountwaybia Club included 12 women from Mountville and 12 from Columbia.

"It was an outlet for women to do something academic, stretching themselves and learning something new," Lawrence explained.

Club member Joanna Smith noted that when she moved to the area in the 1960s, she read about the club in the local newspaper, and she recognized club member names as the movers and shakers of the community.

Early on, the club set a priority on supporting the community, and today the group continues that mission. Each Christmas season, the members take up a collection to benefit organizations including the Columbia Food Bank, and the group donates annually to the Mountville, Columbia and Mount Joy libraries.

The club membership has dwindled over the years to about eight active members. Although the group is looking for more women to join, the members noted that it takes a commitment. "You have to be willing to give a report and be a hostess to join," said member Maria Wassell, who, with Linda Burrichter, rounded out the attendance at a recent meeting.

Burrichter, who calls herself an "emeritus member," moved to Lebanon a few years ago but found she missed the group so much, she wanted to attend meetings when able.

"There is no literary club out there that is like Mountwaybia," she said. "This is a really unique group."

Lawrence agreed, adding with a laugh, "I probably joined because I liked the idea of the tea. I was not a prolific reader. But I like the camaraderie in the group. Everybody wants to learn something. We're still lifelong learners here."

Club members are in search of descendants of former Mountwaybia members who may have memories to share of the club. For more information on the Mountwaybia Club, contact Smith at jorings@yahoo.com or 717-653-2019 or Lawrence at 717-490-0111.