Women’s Club begins centennial celebration Jan. 24

 

By C.S. GILBERT

 

A months-long, multi-event celebration of the Key West Woman’s Club 100th anniversary will begin next week with a gala dubbed KWWC Capital Campaign Gala-Membership Year-100.

“One hundred years ago, on a small, isolated island, a few good women acted with selflessness and dignity. They inspired civic   responsibility, recognized problems and effected the changes. The Key West Woman’s Club continues to work for the greater good,” stated Sandy Higgs and Karen Leonard, KWWC Centennial Co-Chairwomen.

The kick-off event, on Saturday Jan. 24, is open to the public and is in fact the third gala hosted to raise funds to restore the group’s historic mansion at 319 Duval Street. “It will be a night to be remembered as we celebrate the history, achievements and long term accomplishments of the women of the Key West Woman’s Club,” according to Higgs and Leonard. Tickets for the Gala are $125 per person and available on the Club website, KeyWestWomansClub.org under the Upcoming Events tab, they said.

The Woman’s Club of Key West came into being through a unique evolutionary process, according to a decade-by-decade history prepared to the centennial. “On January 14, 1909, the Mothers Club, an affiliate of the Hargrove Institute (a Methodist School), was organized by Miss Marion Wells with Mrs. C.H. Ketchum as its first president. Two years later, on March 22, 1911, The Ladies Civic Organization was organized with Mrs. Florence H. Dobbs as President. On May 3, 1915, Miss Marie Cappick, with the help of a few friends, organized the Woman’s Club of Key West. . . . On December 20, 1929, the present name, The Key West Woman’s Club, was adopted.”

Moving ahear to 2015, a “major event of the centennial will be a historic luncheon to be held on the grounds of the Truman Little White House on Saturday, Feb. 21. This will be in conjunction with the Garden Club and Friends of the Library, two organizations that were started by KWWC members,” they reported. This event is by invitation only due to limited seating.

The actual 100th birthday of the KWWC is on May 3 and plans are in the works for “something old-fashioned, currently planned as an event open to the public on a Sunday afternoon.”

Myriad other commemorative events and souvenirs are in the process of development: stamps and coins and original musical theater are being produced, the latter “an original short play, presenting the hardships as well as the hopes for the future of women in Key West 100 years ago.”

Also, a lecture series is being planned with possible topics such as the history the library, the garden club and the Red Barn Theatre; an exhibit and lecture on vintage clothing and accessories; Needlework Yesterday and Today; and Preserving and Canning Food.

Soon to be available is an 100-year historical documentary video including photos, music and voice-over. Also in production is a traveling exhibit of text panels, which will illustrate a century of community work and charitable contributions, emphasizing the Club’s early accomplishments, which include child care and education regarding sanitation and infant care. It also highlights the establishment of the library and garden club. Public and possibly scholastic locations will be announced.

But there’s still more to come. A hard cover centennial book will be published featuring the individual accomplishments of historically prominent club members as well as the personal views of some current members. “Members will have the opportunity to underwrite a page in the book,” noted Higgs and Leanard.

A six-foot stand-up cardboard cutout of three club members from yesteryear will appear on the porch for photo opportunities whenever docents are offering tours. Currently docents are available 10 a.m.till 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Finally, they confided, “there is a possibility of creating a float with the centennial theme for an upcoming parade.” The idea is being researched and more details will be forthcoming.

“As we celebrate the accomplishments of those who came before us, we are challenged to continue giving back to our community in the years to come,” the co-chairwomen concluded.

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