When women come together for the benefit of the community, great things can be achieved. There are, perhaps, no better examples of that than woman’s clubs. Spanning time, they have worked together to build schools, feed the needy, house the homeless, educate the underserved, enhance each other’s lives, and ensure that history is preserved so that future generations can enjoy and learn from the past.
It was Coretta Scott King who said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” For over a century, two woman’s clubs in Virginia have exemplified that sentiment as they work to not only lift others up but also to better the lives of those in their community through the preservation of historical sites and the expansion of community services.
In Tappahannock, the local library has become a valuable hub in the community. There are programs for children, meetings that highlight regional history, and, most importantly, it supports literacy and access to education that would be sorely missed in the small, rural community. What many locals might not know is that the facility would never have existed in its current form had it not been for the work of the Woman’s Club of Essex County (WCEC).
Founded on May 16th, 1923, the club recently celebrated 100 years of service. For its founding members, it would have been a dream realized and an effort well worth the work. The group’s humble beginnings were fostered during a dinner conversation at the home of Peyton and Frances Hundley. Just a few years after the end of World War I, the country was still reeling from its aftereffects. During a family dinner, Frances had mentioned to her husband that local women would be a wonderful asset for the community, and that perhaps it was time that they learn about and get involved with local government.
Her husband agreed, saying “Well then, why don’t you do something about it?” She did just that. With the support of her sewing circle, the group began inviting other women in the county to meet and discuss the idea. With countywide support, the Social Betterment Club – which evolved into the WCEC – was founded. The Hundley’s daughter, Lena, was elected its first president with the goals of promoting “ideal conditions in the community and the development of intelligent citizenship.” By 1926, there were over 100 members promoting their lofty goals. The club blazed forward and became a success, adopting the motto of “Service, Citizenship, Culture.”
The group quickly outgrew the Hundley’s home. They sought and gained permission to move into the county’s small, abandoned brick jail. Built in 1728, the structure was lovingly restored by club members, with generous donations from Mrs. Jessie Ball DuPont and Mrs. Elise Bowley, becoming not only a meeting place but also a regional public library.
Since its inception, the Woman’s Club of Essex County has been responsible for some of the most amazing local services, including a dental clinic and both the first public health nurse and welfare worker. Girl Scout troops were formed, committees launched programs to help the needy, including veterans and underserved citizens, and books began to line the shelves. During WWII, members participated in bond drives, making bandages, working with the Red Cross, and even providing wedding gowns for British war brides. Offshoots were founded, including the Junior Woman’s Club.
Over the years, the club has supported and donated to local causes such as building improvements at the public schools, the Rotary and mental health support groups. They have promoted local artists, and made sure that area veterans were fed, clothed, and have access to medical care. They back UNICEF, Operation Smile (an organization that helps children in third world countries), provide funds for medical support dogs, and trash pickup along the highways and more. They have advocated for local police and military organizations, sponsoring programs on the Courthouse Green for Veteran’s, Memorial, and POW MIA Days. They have also added beauty to the courthouse with shrubbery and public benches, as well as the granite memorial statue – funded by the Ware family and the woman’s club – which honors those people from the region who have died in service for their country from the Revolutionary War forward.
Perhaps one of their most important current causes is helping Essex County students with college. The first scholarship was awarded in 1981, and over the years hundreds of young men and women have benefitted from the club’s dedication to education. There are two memorial scholarships, a renewable one established by the Ware family in honor of Catesby and Lila Maddox Ware, and another being the Louise Miller Clopton Memorial Scholarship, started by her husband in her honor. A third scholarship is funded by the Woman’s Club of Essex County. To date, over $475,000 has been bestowed, and in the past year alone $60,700 was given to 2023 Essex County graduates.
In 1979, the library expanded to the point that the club felt it should best be turned over to the Essex County Board of Supervisors where it was established as a regional public library. Although the WCEC moved into new headquarters, they continue to support the library including ensuring that there is public computer access. The facility was expanded in 2000, when the county built a newer, larger structure.
Today, nearly a century later, club members continue to support the dreams of Mrs. Frances Hundley as one of the most generous foundations in the county, helping to foster community in nearly every aspect of public life.
While some groups have cast a wide net of fundraising efforts to support a myriad of causes, the Gloucester Woman’s Club has focused on one important mission: creating a positive environment for contemporary women in their historic home central to the county’s busy Main Street.
“We are a very unusual club,” former president and long-term member Christine Evans said. The group focuses on female empowerment. She added that the historic house owned by the group is also an important fixture in the community.
Built circa 1750, Edge Hill House sits on a busy street central to the hustle and bustle of the historic town of Gloucester Courthouse. For most of its life, the building served as a private residence for various families and a place of trade to a range of businesses. Women had long accompanied their husbands there and gathered as the men conducted business. In 1913, one of those women - Mrs. John Marshall Lewis – got the idea that the house would make an ideal meeting place for local women. Along with Mrs. Henry Williams, Mrs. Snowdon Hopkins, and Mrs. Frank Weaver, the group formed the Gloucester Woman’s Club, renting the first floor for their headquarters.
In 1920, the women of the club purchased the home and were able to pay it off in just a couple of years from the proceeds of tea dances. The home itself has its own unique history. Originally a two-story home, in 1832 the main part of the building was placed on logs and rolled downhill onto a new, one-story foundation – making it a three-floor building. Today, much of the original building is still incorporated, including glass panes and woodwork. According to Evans, the club benefits from the responsibility of being safekeepers of the home and acting as its stewards.
“There is a great sense of the historic atmosphere of the historic house,” she said, explaining that although the building has been restored, it was kept to its original design and is a beautiful example of the residences built during the economic boom the area experienced during the 1800s. A tour of the house includes museum quality examples of eighteenth century life. “Visitors get a very realistic experience. We host various lectures and meetings,” Evans said, noting that club members enjoy offering women the chance to meet new people.
“We are really succeeding in giving women from all across academia, various demographics and color an environment that enhances each other lives,” she said.
At one point, the Gloucester Woman’s Club had been experiencing a downturn in membership, however, Evans credits current president, Betty Dovel, with increasing numbers and involvement.
“We represent an environment that is positive for contemporary women. We exist to provide for the needs of modern women,” Evans said, adding that new members are welcome and are invited to their meetings on the third Monday of the month at 2pm.
Although the Essex and Gloucester Clubs differ in their approaches, they are united in their dedication to enhancing the lives of local women through membership and community. The same can be said of any woman’s club in the country. Across America, such clubs are gaining traction, as women look to unite and create a better experience through the strength that they find in each other. Essex and Gloucester clubs open their doors to all newcomers.
For more information on the Essex club, feel free to contact Catherine Steorts at 804-445-5596. In Gloucester, Christine Evans can be contacted at 804-642-6093.