Woman's Club of Orange
Woman's Club of Orange
Reenactment, first meeting of
Mrs. Lee Collins and Friends
Celebrating 95 years in 2010
CLUB HISTORY
In 1922 a lot was purchased for a clubhouse which was constructed in 1924 at a cost of $30,000. Every member was asked to pledge
$5.00 and describe how the money had been earned. Each woman was also instructed to measure their waistline and put a penny for each
inch into a pocket. $150.00 was raised!
The clubhouse became the center of this community with dances, theater, opera, fashion
shows, luncheons, dinners and card parties. The first flower show was held in the spring of 1917, however WWI intervened and it was
not until 20 years later that it would resume. The clubhouse became a billet for GI's in WWII, as well as a facility for
the Red Cross. A vast collection of historic club documents have been donated to our new Orange Public Library & History
Center for cataloging and safekeeping.
W.C. of Orange was federated with Orange District in 1915, with California Federation
in 1921 and General Federation in 1950. Membership had grown to over 400 in the mid-50's. Today it is the second largest Federated
Club in Orange County with membership sometimes nearing 200.
We will be celebrating our 96th Anniversary in February 2011,
and our 74th Annual Flower Show on April 28, 2011.
It was in 1915 that Mrs. Lea Collins invited ten friends to her home; each in turn invited 10 friends and in February of that
year, Woman's Club of Orange was formed.
Meetings were held in a school, in the Capitol Theatre and in the Franzen
building
on North Glassell. It was noted that "we leased the second floor and decorated it as we pleased" (1916 - 1924)
