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In the 1930s there was an organization of young girls in Elgin called Rainbow Girls. They were part of Eastern Star, which was composed of adult women. My mother, Mattie Belle Upchurch Smith, was a Rainbow Girl along with her friends Betty Wilson Dildy and Joy Cole Fromme.
They were having an election to vote on accepting into membership a girl that most of the group did not like. One girl was chosen to “black ball” the unpopular girl. The girls lined up, and Miss Nell stood by the voting box and watched each girl drop in her ball. The black ball was dropped in the box and then my mother voted immediately after with a white ball.
My mother saw the look on Miss Nell’s face. Mother was afraid that Miss Nell thought she was the one that voted with the black ball. After everyone voted, Miss Nell said, “Never in the history of the Rainbow Girls have we ever black balled anyone. This is a democratic election and we will keep voting until all the balls are white.”
They did, and the unpopular girl was made a member. My mother always felt she had black balled the unpopular girl. So, about 30 years later Mother decided to set the record straight. She told Miss Nell that she did not black ball that girl. Miss Nell said she wasn’t completely certain, but really didn’t think my mother had been the one. So they both made peace about the incident.
Wonderful stories by Elgin locals let readers in on the funny things, the sad times, while telling the history of Elgin. “More Stories- Elgin, Etc” available in museum.
