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Stevens Point Woman's Club

SPWC History

March 18, 1895�The Stevens Point Woman's Club (SPWC) was organized when Mrs. Edwin Joy invited ladies of two study clubs (the Chautauqua and the Monday Club) into her home. The club founders were Mrs. Edwin Joy, Mrs. G.E. McDill, Mrs. Owen Clark, Mrs. Morley Townsend, Mrs. Henry Curran, and Mrs. Byron Park.

March 30, 1895�The SPWC constitution and bylaws were adopted and signed by 21 charter members. The club's object was literary, social culture, and civic improvement. The constitution provided a membership of 75. Dues were $2. Eligibility for membership was intellectual ability and good character only.

April 27, 1895�Carnation was established as the club flower.

April 1995 to March 1996�Programs/presentations were literary in nature. A critic from the club judged the members' book reviews.

May 13, 1895�Committee appointed from club to confer with a committee from the Forum club to create interest in starting a library. Joint committee was the beginning of the present library board.

November 23, 1895�Requested each member to donate a cup and saucer for service in the club.

November 1895�On Thanksgiving evening, a variety show was held at the Opera House for the benefit of the library. $100 was raised.

March 1896�Membership was at 61 members, too large to continue meeting in private homes. Club began meeting at the Hesperus Club room. Meetings were usually held on Saturday so that teachers could attend.

June 5, 1896�Joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

September 12, 1896�Members invited to Milwaukee to attend a meeting on October 20-21, for the purpose of organizing a state federation. Mrs. Henry Curran attended that meeting.

October 17, 1896�Club voted to become a member of the state federation.

October 20, 1896�Joined the state federation.

1896 to 1897�Programs were literary, plus art, music, drama.

January 18-19, 1897�$225 was raised at the second benefit for the library "Brownies in Fairyland."

1897�Club contributed books and in cooperation with the city council, rented two rooms over Taylor's Drug Store for the first Library and hired a librarian, Miss Fannie Catlin. Four members from the club served on the library board. Money was appropriated for art work for the library.

May 1898�Art committee collected books and art work and sent them around to schools in neighboring towns as a traveling library.

1899�Ice cream socials were held on the Court House lawn and other private lawns during the summer to raise money for books.

April 28, 1900�The subject of the library quarters being too small was discussed. Mrs. Henry Curran started a nucleus building fund by contributing $5. Others joined and they had $25 toward the new library building. Also a motion was made that the club use its influence toward having a room provided in the new building for its meeting room. Members wrote to Andrew Carnegie and encouraged Dr. Southwick, the local doctor, to write also. They were successful, with the stipulation that a site was furnished and that the city council assume the upkeep. The club immediately began the task of raising enough money to pay for a site, which they did by popular subscription.

February 14, 1902�Canvassed for subscriptions for building site for library.

May 13, 1902�Collect all subscriptions and start to decide on a building site.

June 5, 1902�$4,445.28 raised!

July 12, 1902�$5,000 was raised and the Eaton property was bought for $4,403.75 and the deed presented to the library board and then to the city on July 18.

November 29, 1902�Voted to subscribe to the "Club Woman."

1904�The library was built at a cost of $21,000; and, on opening day, the members sold lunch and with the proceeds bought articles of furniture and kitchen supplies for their club room.

1895 to 1905�Club focus was the Library and other literary concerns, music, and art.

1896 to 1904�Club met at various club rooms: Hesperus, Foresters Hall, "at the Normal," Sodality Hall, and Moore's Hall.

1906 to 1920�Club focus expanded to other topics like civic improvements, child labor laws, women's suffrage, civic reforms, and prevention of tuberculosis. Direction came from the state and general federation.

May 1908�Club, along with mayor, established "Clean-Up Week" in the city.

May 15, 1909�$25 set aside as a permanent civic fund for "The Hospital." Before this, several small hospitals promised they would start one, but the people had given up hope on that promise. The club dropped all other projects to concentrate efforts toward securing a hospital.

1910�Hospital board was organized with 14 members (8 were club members). Planted 50 elm trees on Patch Street.

1911�Joined the suffrage movement. Later that year, V.P. Atwell gave the club 1 acre of land and the club bought another acre from him for $200. They deeded the land to the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother who had agreed to operate the hospital. Club raised $1,658 toward the building fund of the hospital. The fund raising efforts included: lectures, parties, tag days, benefit games, suppers, ice cream socials, and sold flags on the 4^th of July. The club also raised money to furnish and decorate a room at the hospital.

Saint Michael's Hospital, Stevens Point, WI

1913�$25 set aside as nucleus fund to provide city with a park.

1916�Club twice contributed financially to the suffrage movement and invited speakers on the subject.

1916�Stevens Point had 3 papers, The Journal, The Gazette, and the Rolnik which reported the events of the club.

1916 to 1918�Each member contributed 25 cents to buy books for the library with totals of 21 books and $100.

1916�Money raised for cause of child labor reform.

1917 to 1919�Committee formed to investigate ways of securing pure milk for children. Penny lunch was started at McKinley School. During World War I the Club filled 300 boxes to be sent to service men at Christmas. Money was sent to help in the relief for children of the allies. Funds raised for furlough housing for soldiers. Club donated books and musical instruments to soldiers, off duty. Mess Fund of $104 was raised for Company I at Camp Douglas. Club purchased $250 worth of Liberty Bonds. Club room at the library was used by the Red Cross.

1917 to 1918�Club contributed to National Child Welfare.

1917�Club responds negatively when school board decides to dispense with a visiting school nurse and met with city to resolve. Sold flags to benefit the Red Cross. Committee appointed to improve Forest Cemetery.

1918�Members worked every other Saturday at the Red Cross headquarters. Dispensed with the annual banquet and instead contributed dollars to the war efforts. Signed petition from State Legislature to ratify the federal suffrage movement. Dispensed with refreshments at each monthly meeting and sent money to War Relief Fund. Club adopted 2 French orphans.

September 1918�Refreshment committee couldn't serve, because the painters had painted the club room kitchen cupboards shut.

1918 to 1919�Some of the Committees during the two club years: Liberty Loan, Food Conservation, Nurses, Women of Industry, Child Welfare, Health & Recreation, Home and Foreign Relief, and Fatherless Children of France.

1919�Club adopted 2 Armenian orphans for 2 years after the war, at a cost of $120. Club paid the salary of a school nurse and her equipment from September until January, because the school board couldn't pay her until the taxes came in. Raised $425. Club membership was at 120 (an all time high).

1920 to 1950�Club focus was local, state, and national affairs, women's issues, arts, literature, foreign affairs, children's health and welfare, education, and the betterment of life for the people of Portage County.

October 30, 1920�The "Collect" by Mary Stewart first read at a meeting.

November 19, 1921�The "Collect" written by Mary Stewart was adopted as part of the order of business for each meeting.

December 1921�Recommended to city that it establish a maternity hospital in the old high school building.

1922�$1,800 raised for the Soldiers Memorial at South Side Park. Endorsed placing a woman on the fire and police boards. Fundraiser for Library. Has joint meeting with League of Women Voters (attendance 200). "Women's rights and the privilege of the ballot." Endorsed the movement for a gym for the new high school. Club voted to contribute $25 for three years toward the purchase of the General Federation of Women's Club home in Washington, D.C.

1923�Stevens Point's first flag was designed by Frank Nalaborsk; the club members made them, using silver thimbles, which they then engraved and sold.

1924�Club member Mrs. Parmenter established a library annual fund, which the club matched. The interest on the fund was to buy books. (Fund reached $500 in 1949.)

1925�Cooperated with theater managers to help secure better moving pictures for the area.

April and October 1927�Club held Past Presidents' luncheon. Nine Past Presidents were present, including Mary D. Bradford, first club President.

1928�Annual Guest Day held at club meeting (200 present).

1929�During the Depression, 300 jars of surplus fruits and vegetables were canned and given to the city for the needy. Clothing and milk were given to school children. Club conducted baby clinics and provided layettes and helped obtain and support a public nurse. Two French orphans were adopted.

1932�Donated furniture and accessories to the County Home. Also gave residents a Christmas party starting in 1937.

1936�Club instrumental in having penny slot machines removed from businesses. Club asked merchants to cover foods for cleanliness and good health.

1937�Took over sponsorship of the School Forest and planted trees. Sponsored health clinic for babies and prenatal care for mothers. Sponsored a Christmas or Valentine party for the residents of the Portage County Home (continued for at least 35 years). Donated to the Red Cross.

1938�Worked for decent literature and better movies in the city. Managed the sale of the first Anti-Tuberculosis Stamps. Planted 50 elms on Patch Street. Put bubblers and benches in Mead Park. Put bicycle path in Iverson Park. Contributed to the Boys and Girls Scouts and the building at Sunset Lake. Supported child welfare program. Joined fight against social diseases. Assisted campaign against marijuana use.

May 8, 1939�Started the Stevens Point Junior Woman�s Club for young women ages 18-30; 24 women attended the original meeting.

1940�Started the Past Presidents' Club.

1941 to 1945�Contributed to the war efforts at home, helping with the Red Cross.

1950�Helped raise funds for the municipal pool.

1950�Established Florence Whitney Memorial Library Fund, club matched funds (reached $500 in 1958).

1953�Installed 2 bubblers at Mead Park at a cost of $100.

1950 to present�Club focus falls into the departments of Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, International Affairs, and Public Affairs. Each two-year administration also had a Community Improvement Project.

1963 to 1964�Established a scholarship for high school student to attend a music camp.

1964 to 1965�Contributed to the St. Michael's Hospital Building Fund.

1967 to 1968�Served as hostesses for dedication of new public Library.

1968 to 1969�Established Mrs. McCarthy Memorial Library Fund $100.

1970 to 1976�Co-sponsored "Wonderful Wisconsin Week," along with the Juniors and several other organizations and businesses, one week in September. Won state award 2 years in a row.

1971�Portage County Home Woman's Club started (the first one in the nation).

1971�Community Improvement Project . . . Meals on Wheels (club started this project which continues today).

1972 to 1974�Community Improvement Project. . . Furnished a library/conference room at Community Industries, donating shelves, clock, and visual aids/board. Donated $443. Continued support of Meals on Wheels. Donated $200 to Old World Wisconsin. Provided a picnic for International students and a Valentine party for Portage County Home.

1974 to 1976�Continued support of Meals on Wheels. Continued Support of Community Industries with $150 of apartment furnishings plus beds, tables, chairs, lamps, dishes, stove, refrigerator, sink, and pictures. $200 for Nurses Scholarship.

1975�Community Improvement Project . . . donated household goods to Portage House.

1976�Mary Noble Fick was chosen at the state Theodora Youman�s Citizenship Award winner for her work with the disabled children in this community.

1976 to 1978�Continued support of Meals on Wheels. Applied to United Way for support. Incorporated Meals on Wheels.

1978�Community Improvement Project . . . Pfiffner Pioneer Park Memorial Arboretum Fund, (improved 8 pieces of playground equipment, planted 20 trees, 250 shrubs, and four flower beds) raised $5,000.

1978 to 1980�Promoted safety programs of �Whistle Stop� and �I Stop for Pedestrians.�

1980�Contributed $520 for "Jaws of Life" rescue tool.

1980 to 1982�Community Improvement Project . . . Family Crisis Center.

1984�Bridge Marathon started as a fund raiser. Trail of Trees fund raiser for Crisis Center. Donated $500 to Boston School Forest Pond Development. Donated Christmas Baskets to Red Cross, Crisis Center, and Mental Health �Operation Santa Claus.�

1984 to 1985�Community Improvement Projects . . . Meals on Wheels, $730; United Way, $50; Safety Patrol, $25; Special Olympics, $25; HOBY Scholarships, $90; Portage County Chemical Intervention, $50; and Red Cross, $50.

1986 and 1988�Community Improvement Project . . . Very Special Arts Wisconsin.

1989 to 1990�Donated to the Portage County Historical Society, White Library, and Operation Bootstrap.

1990�Community Improvement Project . . . Family Crisis Center.

1992�Investment Club started. Community Improvement Project . . . Books for Pediatrics.

1987 to 1993�Supported the annual Very Special Arts Wisconsin Festivals held in Stevens Point and Wausau, WI.

1990 to present�Give an Operation Bootstrap Shower annually.

1994 to 1996�Community Improvement Project . . . Portage County Historical Society.

Present Day Projects�Take Back the Night at UW-Stevens Point, Adopt-a-Highway, Green Circle Trail, SMILE project, Wisconsin�s Own Library, Holiday Sharing Basket, Operation Bootstrap Shower, Crisis Center Care (giving hours), Memorial Park Beautification, and Lifeline.

This history was compiled by Judy Weckerly, Historian, 1994-1995.