A little Woman's Club history

I was speaking with the ladies at the Woman's Club, they were telling me so much about the history.

One funny thing is that if you read the minutes from over the years - yes, they have all the original minutes locked up and safe - you'll see them discussing the same issues in 1891 that they discuss today. The club was started as the Housekeeper's Club that year by Flora McFarlane and other pioneers of the time.  The current clubhouse was built in 1924. The ladies names line the streets today - McFarlane, Gifford, Frow, etc.

Public domain photo

Ms. McFarlane ran the schoolhouse which was built in 1887, she taught classes 1889-1894 and organized the Coconut Grove Housekeepers Club, oldest federated women's club in Florida. The Club met in this building till 1894. The building was located at 2916 Grand Avenue, across from where the Mayfair Promenade is today; sort of where the parking lot is across from that. The actual building was moved to the Plymouth Congregational Church property, where you can see it today at 3400 Devon Road.

Originally, the Woman's Club encompassed the Sonesta property and it went all the way down to the water's edge - where the Sailing Club is today. South Bayshore was not there and the big front lawn reached the water.

The land was divided and unfortunately up until this day, developers are always approaching the club, they wish to buy it and make waterfront condos on the spot.

This new address sign was made by club member Yudit Orlando. What's extra special about it is that the broken mosaic pieces are old, historic tea cups from the club, saved from over the years.