Woman's Club of Evanston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woman's Club of Evanston
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1702 Chicago Ave., Evanston, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Mayo, Ernest |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001020 |
| Added to NRHP | November 9, 2006 |
The Woman's Club of Evanston is a special old house in Evanston, Illinois, where a social club with the same name meets. You can find it at 1702 Chicago Avenue. This clubhouse became a recognized historic place on November 9, 2006, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
How the Club Started
The Social Group
The Woman's Club of Evanston began on March 2, 1889. It started at the home of Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, a leader in the movement for women's right to vote. At first, it was just an informal group of women.
A year later, the club wrote down its official rules. Their goal was to help women have "better homes, wiser motherhood, better laws, truer citizenship and a nobler womanhood." They wanted to help members grow in many ways: physically, socially, mentally, morally, and spiritually.
Three years later, they made their goal simpler: "Mutual helpfulness in all affairs of life, and united effort toward the higher development of humanity." This meant helping each other and working together to make humanity better.
Building the Clubhouse
In February 1910, the club decided they needed their own building. Mrs. Avis Grant led a committee to plan the new clubhouse. In January 1911, they bought land at the corner of Church Street and Chicago Avenue.
They hired architect Ernest A. Mayo to design the building. Construction began in February 1912, and the first stone was laid on May 28, 1912. The completed building was officially opened with a big party on March 11, 1913. This beautiful building has been the home of the Woman's Club of Evanston ever since.
Clubhouse Design
The Woman's Club building looks like a classic old house from the late 1800s or early 1900s. This style is called Revival style. Both the bottom part and the walls are made of strong brick. The roof is made of slate, which is a type of rock. The frames around the outside windows are white, and one side of the club has very large glass windows.
Club's Impact on the Community
From the very beginning, the Woman's Club worked hard to make a difference. They helped locally and around the Chicago metropolitan area. They supported important causes like women's right to vote and fair child labor laws. They also worked on public health, keeping places clean, and helping with home management. By the early 1900s, their events were big social gatherings in Evanston.
One of their first major projects was to help create a hospital in Evanston. In the 1880s and 1890s, diseases like typhoid fever and smallpox were a big problem. The club raised $3,600 to help build the Evanston Hospital. The Woman's Club of Evanston has always cared about public health. In 1897, they helped start the Visiting Nurse Association and even paid the first visiting nurse's salary.
During World War I, the club helped soldiers and supported the American Red Cross. They organized knitting and sewing groups and even provided an ambulance for the Red Cross in France. After the war, they helped open a community kitchen to support food conservation efforts.
The Woman's Club of Evanston has also always promoted art and culture. In 1922, they started an annual art show in their clubhouse for local artists.
In 1989, the club celebrated its 100th birthday! Evanston Hospital, the Visiting Nurses Association, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Boy Scouts of America all honored the club for its long history of service.
On November 9, 2006, the club's main building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historic site.
The Club Today
Today, the Woman's Club has over 350 members. They are still very active in volunteer work and helping the community. They also focus on bringing women together.
Besides being a meeting place for the club, the clubhouse is a popular spot for many events. People use it for weddings, fundraisers, parties, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and other community gatherings.
Their current mission statement is: "Connecting women behind a shared purpose of volunteerism, social empowerment and community support." This shows their ongoing commitment to helping others and building a strong community.
