Florence Jodzies (1887-1969) was passionate about the need for all rural communities to have access to libraries and worked toward that goal while serving as the State Library Chairman of the Virginia Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs.
   She travelled throughout Virginia to educate women about the federation’s newly developed Library Project to stimulate interest in reading by providing books and other reading materials, conducting library campaigns in clubs and localities, and establishing and supporting community and county libraries.
   By May, 1937, under Jodzies’ leadership, all counties in Virginia where home demonstration projects were conducted had an active club library program.
   In addition to her statewide leadership, under Jodzies' guidance the Vale Club raised funds to purchase the old schoolhouse. It took two years during the Great Depression of the 1930s for the women to raise the $270 for the old schoolhouse, which they purchased in 1938. By doing so, they became the first Home Demonstration Club in Fairfax County to own its own building.
   Funds were raised by hosting socials at the Community House, including performances of plays. Here club members cast in "How the Story Grew" are pictured in 1936.  (Photos: Southern Planter (top left), Virginia Tech Digital Library (right), and Vale Club Archives)