BATH — What do Helen Keller, the City of Ships, and tea have in common?

They all come together this year at the Cosmopolitan Club, a women’s club that is celebrating its 100th anniversary on April 11.

On the heels of a Women Merchants Tea, held March 23, comes a tribute to Keller – who despite being deaf and blind, became a renowned activist, author and lecturer – and her teacher and friend, Anne Sullivan Macy.

Sagadahoc Preservation’s Dreamland Theater will sponsor that tribute at the Winter Street Center on Wednesday, April 17, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

In the first event sponsored by the Cosmopolitan Club exactly 100 years ago that day, Keller and Macy visited the Winter Street Congregational Church.

Six hundred people, paying 50 cents a ticket, filled the church to hear Macy speak for an hour of her relationship with Keller, who then spoke for about another half hour. Newspaper clippings documenting the visit will be read at the April 17 event.

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James Phipps, executive director of the Portland-based Iris Network, will speak before the showing of the 1962 film “The Miracle Worker,” which stars Anne Bancroft as Sullivan and Patty Duke as Keller. A portion of the proceeds from the suggested $5 donation will benefit The Iris Network, formally the Maine Institution for the Blind, and also the maintenance of the Cosmopolitan Club house.

Baked goods, beverages and popcorn will be available for $1 each.

A “100th Anniversary Open House and Tea” will be held Saturday, April 20, from 2-5 p.m. The event is open to women of all ages, and current members will show guests the club’s past work in areas such as partnerships, philanthropy and volunteer service with local organizations. Past members or relations to past members can call club President Michele Ober at the clubhouse, 443-3231, to obtain an invitation to the event.

Coming up in mid-May is the 60th annual Senior Tea, where the club hosts Morse High School’s senior class; the July 4 Strawberry Shortcake Festival, and the Gingerbread Social in late November.

Log onto cosmopolitanclubofbath.org or call 443-3231 to learn more about the club, to apply for membership or to rent the clubhouse meeting room at 894 Washington St.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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The Cosmopolitan Club of Bath, 894 Washington St., is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.


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