St. Petersburg Woman's Club
OUR HISTORY
The Full Story
How It All Began
St. Petersburg Woman’s Club began because Mrs. Benjamin A. Greene moved here from Evanston, Illinois, where she served as president of her Federated Woman’s Club. She missed the wide intellectual and cultural interests, its civic participation, and charitable concerns, as well as her club’s social events. She was rebuffed in her attempt to start a woman’s club here since most people thought the Women’s Town Improvement Association, engaged in establishing Williams Park and the Audubon Club, were enough for this small city (US Census of 1910 – population 4127). Nancy Greene then gave a series of lectures on Mormonism. At the conclusion she was urged to provide more similar intellectual entertainment. It was then that Mrs. Greene started St. Petersburg Woman’s Club with 14 chartered members. The date was February 7, 1913.
Throughout 1913 club programs were on women’s suffrage, state laws in regard to women and children (since only 15 states gave parents equal rights to their children), immigration and its effect on the country, social welfare, lives of famous women, child labor, the Pope and the Vatican, travel talks by members and famous guests, legislation about public health, parenthood, aiding more traveling libraries for use in the state. They worked with other clubs in the city “to determine what sanitary requirements shall be demanded of the bakeries” and visited them and reported.
In November 1913, 5 of 9 bills urged by the women had been passed by the State Legislature. From the start, the club tithed, giving one-tenth of its income to civic and charitable causes. At the meeting of December 18, 1913, called “Housekeeper’s Day”, the discussion was on iceboxes, handling milk after delivery, danger of flies, typhoid vaccination, domestic science courses in college.
What a busy and momentous year they had! They even battled the city about turning off the gas/curtailing service to homes and fought to stop spitting on the sidewalks. The first anniversary luncheon on February 5, 1914, had 75 members present. The address was on “Civil Service Reform”. They planned for study to be on the Seminole Indians and Parliamentary Laws. There was continuous Bible study.
The War Years
St. Petersburg Woman’s Club was the first club in the State to begin War Work, with their Belgian Relief in 1915 exceeding all clubs. They worked closely with The National Red Cross. Locally they worked for better sanitation for Negroes, child welfare, aided tubercular patients, took care of individual needy families and constantly worked for the Susan B. Anthony Amendment promoting women’s suffrage.
Hospital and war work were continuous. Mrs. Greene became Mrs. Charles A. Esterly in 1917. During that year, Mrs. Esterly called the initial meeting of what became the local Red Cross, drawing many of its officers from St. Petersburg Woman’s Club.
There was always support for the National YWCA, but “St. Petersburg was not large enough for a local branch.” Undaunted, in February 1918, women’s club members enlisted 150 girls as members of the National Patriotic League, which early in 1919 became the city YWCA. The Christmas Concert in 1918 had over 1000 in attendance.
November 25, 1928
The Fire
In the early morning of May 24, 1940 the interior of the clubhouse was ravaged by a fire started in the unfinished room over the kitchen which had been planned for a custodian’s apartment. Energetically, members went to work and by fall opening tea in September, the club was repaired. They remodeled with new equipment and furnishings, the apartment was readied, a central heating system installed and the sliding platform put under the stage. Insurance provided them with $1680.00. The oil fired furnace and water heater cost $1445.00. In October, 1940, custodians moved into the free apartment and were paid $50 a month.
Surviving War Again
During the 1940’s the women again shouldered the varied activities of war work while keeping the club alive and growing with courage and vision. As men went to war, women filled in temporarily – like member Jane Lanier who became a welder.
Later, the clubhouse needed re-decorating and a new roof. The club aided the city project of developing a recreational park for Negroes and provided playground equipment for the new Wildwood Park.
The evening coterie was established, providing a pleasurable way for career women to also enjoy club activities. A choral group was formed as the 1950’s began. The club provided medicines to needy children and flags to all the elementary schools in the city. Club membership grew to 788 again. A monthly bulletin was sent to every member.
Classes and programs continued, scholarships were given to Seminole Indians, a fireplace was donated to the Girl Scout Camp and a 15-foot-high cross on a raft was displayed in Mirror Lake during Christmas & Easter.
The club provided materials to build a blockhouse for the Seminole Village at Dania. Equipment was donated to Kathryn Payne Rehab Center and to Mound Park Hospital (now Bayfront Medical Center). A storeroom was built off the patio and car parking spaces provided.
In 1960 new heating & air conditioning was installed and the club assumed a debt of $22,500.00. A community clothes closet was begun. St. Petersburg Woman’s Club won a state Federation award for raising the most money to support Radio Free Europe. They also initiated the idea of St. Petersburg becoming the sister city of Takamatsu, Japan.
1960 – Great Recession – 2010
Three days of gala events celebrated our 50th year golden anniversary! Efforts to increase membership paid off by offering bridge & charm lessons, family night programs, drama by a church guild, Know Your America Week, and Federation Follies.
Six notes totaling $7000 were paid with sufficient funds in the treasury to pay another note. The club’s folding doors and 70 card tables were re-enameled. A new water fountain was installed. Thousands of garments were delivered to the Community Clothes Closet. A defensive driving course at the club was one of the largest in the city. Tuition was donated to two police officers to complete college law enforcement training. Three oriental rugs and new drapes were added to the tearoom. Blackout drapes were hung in the auditorium (ballroom) to permit slide presentations and movies. In 1968 membership increased by 110 members!
In the 1970’s a new record room was completed along with a new sidewalk to the new double entry front door. The club amplifier was replaced, 50 new chairs were purchased, and doors were added to the long kitchen counter. Additions included matching handrails from the stage, a fire hood for the kitchen stove, and an electric typewriter. In 1976 the building was completely rewired and additional wall outlets and all new ceiling fixtures installed. A year later a sprinkler system was added. In 1981, the pictures of our past presidents were hung in the auditorium in line with a rekindled interest in our heritage.
During the 1980’s and 90’s women returned to the workplace. Membership began to shrink again. New interest in saving the environment erupted. Through the decades, programs reflected changing times with emphasis on ecology, conservation, equality for all citizens, coping with child and spouse abuse, increased crime, rape, drugs, pornography and lowered moral standards expressed in literature, movies and television. National pride in our space triumphs & technology were presented.
Another war broke out. Club members knitted skull caps for under military helmets. St. Petersburg Woman’s Club was designated as a local, state and national historic place… preserved for generations to come!
A copier, computer classes, email, cd player, digital cameras, lock box providing 24-hour club access, light dimmer switches, sound system upgrades with new surround sound speakers, microwave, convection oven – all additions for the new millennium. In 2005, the club began and sponsored a teen division GFWC St. Petersburg Juniorettes. Snell Isle Civic Association and donors provided funds to replace & storm proof the arched windows in the tea room. In 2010 our ladies’ room was renovated with vacuum flush toilets and faux granite vanity top. Members began sending text messages on cell phones. The club has staunchly held true to our founding objectives, evidencing social conscience, civic responsibility and educational progress along with cherished ties of friendship. We continue to preserve the past while planning the future!
Resilience and Renewal: Our Club's Journey through Pandemic and Disaster
The year 2020 marked a significant transition for our club. The global COVID-19 pandemic impacted operations considerably; thousands contracted the virus, resulting in widespread loss of life and shortages of essential items, including toilet paper. In response, the club suspended all activities for several months. Members remained at home, adhering to public health guidelines such as wearing face masks.
Social distancing protocols were observed, with stores implementing one-way aisles and lines spaced six feet apart. The introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine prompted high demand and lengthy waiting periods for appointments. Throughout this challenging period, our club was forced to cancel weddings and events for nearly a year, raising concerns about financial sustainability. However, member support and donations facilitated the continued operation of the club.
By September, in-person meetings resumed under strict safety measures: seating was arranged six feet apart, masks were required, and refreshments were limited to prepackaged snacks and bottled water. These adaptations enabled the club to reconnect its members safely.
In 2023, we undertook renovations of the upstairs apartment, adding architectural arches between the remodeled kitchen and living room, repainting throughout, and updating the bathroom to meet standards. The lower stage in the ballroom was rebuilt as a permanent fixture and the dance floor refinished.
October 2024 brought Hurricane Helene followed by Hurricane Milton, both causing extensive damage. Floodwaters reached 2.5 feet on the ground floor, destroying carpet, antiques, banquet tables and chairs, kitchen cabinets, and the recently remodeled lower stage and dance floor. Seven trees and numerous shrubs were lost due to saltwater intrusion, necessitating the cancellation of weddings and events for three months. Club members and the community quickly mobilized to restore operations.
NexGen Constructors were engaged for remediation, with all damaged materials removed within the first month. Plaster replacement up to three feet on the downstairs walls was completed in the following month, with discarded materials and furniture forming a substantial pile along the building’s length.
Despite ongoing repairs, the club successfully hosted a wedding and fundraiser in November without finished walls or carpeting. Restoration efforts concluded by year-end, with all facilities replaced, repainted, and improved, including new appliances, kitchen cabinetry, carpeting, dance floor, lower stage, and banquet furniture.
March 2025 saw the celebration of the Grand Reopening, attended by the mayor and other dignitaries, formally acknowledging the dedication of contractors and club members.
Subsequently, the office was converted into a handicap-accessible restroom and relocated to the former library area. As all books were destroyed in the flood and demand for physical books declined, it was decided not to maintain a library within the club.