Woman's Club of El Paso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woman's Club of El Paso
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Woman's Club Building, 2008
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 Woman's Club
Location in Texas
Woman's Club
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1400 N. Mesa St., El Paso, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Otto Thorman |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002935 |
| Added to NRHP | July 22, 1979 |
The Woman's Club of El Paso is a special group for women in El Paso, Texas. It started a long time ago, in the late 1800s. Back then, it was the only group of its kind for women in the city. The club helped women get involved in helping their community and making changes.
The club's home is a beautiful building at 1400 N. Mesa Drive. It was built in 1916. Today, the Woman's Club is a non-profit group. It officially began in 1894 and still offers a place for members to learn and share ideas. This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of the Woman's Club
How the Club Started
A woman named Mary Hamilton Mills came to El Paso in 1869. She started a social group in 1881. This group included many important women from El Paso. They met in different places around the city.
At first, they called themselves the Child Culture Study Circle. In 1894, the club officially formed. Their first meetings were at Mary Mills' home. Mary Mills was the club's first leader. In 1895, she was officially chosen as president. At that time, the club was known as The Current Topics Club. Later, in 1899, they changed their name to the Woman's Club of El Paso.
Building a Home
In 1915, the Woman's Club decided they needed their own building. They raised money by asking members to pay more and by getting donations from local businesses. An architect named Otto H. Thorman designed the clubhouse. Construction started in 1916.
This building was very special. It was the first building in Texas built just for a woman's club. The clubhouse officially opened its doors on November 8, 1916.
Helping the Community
Members of the Woman's Club did a lot to help their city. They played a big part in starting Texas's first public school kindergarten. One of the club's presidents, Olga Bernstein Kohlberg, led this effort. In 1893, they worked to open a kindergarten at Central School, the first school building in El Paso.
Olga Kohlberg also helped create El Paso's first hospital. She did this by starting the Ladies' Benevolent Association. Club members were also very involved in setting up the El Paso Public Library. Mary Irene Stanton, who was the first president of the El Paso Library Association in 1895, was also the Woman's Club vice-president that same year. She even created the first children's library in the United States.
By 1913, El Paso had many women's groups. But the Woman's Club was known for its focus on helping the community. Another club president, Eugenia Schuster, helped refugees from the Mexican Revolution in 1916. The club also worked to make sure food was safe and to improve public cleanliness. They also helped protect San Jacinto Plaza, a local park.
What the Club Does Today
The Woman's Club of El Paso holds several events each year. They have a Fall Festival to raise money to keep their clubhouse in good condition. They also host a holiday party and a Spring Celebration.
The club has smaller groups that meet, like the Arts and Crafts Study Club and the Book Club. There is also a Junior Woman's Club of El Paso. This junior group started in 1934. They work with local charities to help improve the El Paso community. The club's building can also be rented for local events. The club often shows and supports the work of local artists.
Important Members
Some notable women who were part of the Woman's Club include:
- Kate Moore Brown, who served as president.
- Olga Bernstein Kohlberg, who also served as president.
- Eugenia Schuster, another president of the club.
See also
