Woman's Club of El Paso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Woman's Club of El Paso
|
|
Woman's Club Building, 2008
|
|
 Woman's Club
Location in Texas
Woman's Club
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1400 N. Mesa St., El Paso, Texas |
|---|---|
| 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 was started a long time ago, in the late 1800s, and was the only group like it for women in the city back then. The club helped women get involved in helping their community and making positive changes. The beautiful building where the club meets is at 1400 N. Mesa Drive and was built in 1916.
The club officially began in 1894. Today, it is a non-profit organization. It continues to be a place where members can learn and enjoy cultural activities. The building itself is very important and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of the Woman's Club
How the Club Began
The story of the Woman's Club started when Mary Hamilton Mills arrived in El Paso. She came with her husband, William Wallace Mills, on March 8, 1869. Mary Mills soon began to create a social group. This group started meeting in 1881.
Many important women in El Paso joined this early group. Some of them included Flora Hague, Octavia Magoffin, Olga Kohlberg, and Eugenia Schuster. The group met in different places around El Paso. At first, they called themselves the Child Culture Study Circle.
From Study Circle to Woman's Club
The club was officially organized in 1894. Their first meetings were held at Mary Mills' home on San Francisco Street. Mary Mills was the unofficial leader until 1895. In 1895, she was officially chosen as the president. At that time, the group was known as The Current Topics Club.
Later, in 1899, the club changed its name again. It became known as the Woman's Club of El Paso. This name has stayed with the club ever since.
Building a Permanent Home
In 1915, the Woman's Club decided they needed their own building. They wanted a permanent place to meet. To get money, they increased their membership fees. They also asked local businesses for donations.
The famous architect, Otto H. Thorman, designed their new clubhouse. Construction on the building began in 1916. This clubhouse was very special. It was the first building in the state of Texas built just for a woman's club. The clubhouse officially opened its doors on November 8, 1916.
Making a Difference in the Community
Members of the Woman's Club were very active in helping their community. They played a big part in starting Texas's first public school kindergarten. One of the club's presidents, Olga Kohlberg, led this effort. In 1893, they worked to get a kindergarten started at Central School, the first school building in El Paso.
Olga Kohlberg also helped create the first hospital in El Paso. She did this by forming the Ladies' Benevolent Association. Club members were also very involved in starting the El Paso Public Library. Mary Irene Stanton was the first president of the El Paso Library Association in 1895. She was also elected the Woman's Club vice-president that same year. Stanton even created the first children's library in the United States.
By 1913, El Paso had many women's groups. However, most of these were social clubs. The Woman's Club was different because it focused on helping the community and people in need. Another club president, Eugenia Schuster, helped refugees during the Mexican Revolution in 1916. She worked with a group called Amigos Listos. The club also worked to pass laws for safe food and clean public spaces. They also helped protect San Jacinto Plaza, a local park.
What the Woman's Club Does Today
The Woman's Club of El Paso hosts several events each year. They have a Fall Festival to raise money for keeping their clubhouse in good condition. They also have a holiday Wassail party and a Spring Celebration.
The club has smaller groups, called auxiliary groups. These include the Arts and Crafts Study Club and the Book Club. There is also the Junior Woman's Club of El Paso. The Junior Woman's Club was started in 1934. This group works with local charities to help improve the El Paso community.
The club's building can also be rented for local events. The Woman's Club also regularly supports and features local artists.
Important Members of the Club
- Kate Moore Brown, who served as president.
- Olga Kohlberg, who served as president.
- Eugenia Schuster, who served as president.
See also
