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Woman’s Club history recalled at History Bytes

BY  MARCY SHORTUSE – In 1948 it was a small of group of 25 friends, all brought together in Boca Grande, that started the Boca Grande Woman’s Club. Their purpose? To have fun, socialize, and to keep Boca Grande clean, beautiful, and ever-improving.

Anne Honey, a former president of the club, presented its history to a small group of listeners huddled in the loggia of the Johann Fust Community Library on Wednesday, March 3. The cold did not dampen their spirits, though, and they listened to the years unravel as Anne provided details from the club’s log books that were known by few.

That first group of 25 women, led by Mrs. Marvin Cannon whose husband worked for Rodney Sharp, were discussing the National Federation of Women’s Clubs with some women from Arcadia.

“These women knew everyone and their problems, and they were the island’s helping hands,” Anne said. “When they realized that some people couldn’t get up and down the stairs at the Boca Grande Health Clinic’s first office in the Depot Building, they helped get the clinic moved to the Fugate Building, where Parsley Baldwin is now.”

Anne said the fashion of the day when the first meeting was held was dresses, heels and hats.

In January of 1949, the club was elected to membership to the Federation. With the election came requirements, such as to travel and meet with other clubs within the area. This didn’t sit well with many, as in 1949 there was no bridge to get to the mainland.

“At that time, travel to and from the island was always an event,” Anne said.

Nell Adams became the second president of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club. She was married to Roy Adams at the time, who was a fishing guide.

The line-up of women who have since been president of the club consist of pilot boat captain’s wives, schoolteachers, shopowner’s wives, greenskeeper’s wives and everyone in between.

In 1957, a skirmish erupted when Mrs. Pierpont was elected to the presidency. She was the first president that was not a “local,” and soon became known as “That Beachfronter.” There was not another winter resident as president for 20 years.

In the ’60s Nell took over again, but this time with the last name Kuhl. After the death of her first husband, she married someone that the club’s books record as, “a popular bachelor-about-town,” Velpeau Kuhl. She was the leader of the District 12 Federated Club, and, according to Anne, it seemed fitting for her to be president of the local chapter.

It was also in the ’60s when the club’s popularity began to decline. Women started working, hours to meet were less flexible, and membership numbers dropped.

It was in 1962 when a president was elected to the Boca Grande Woman’s Club who had never even attended a meeting. A girl, just out of high school and 19 years old, married to the owner of the island’s hardware store took the gavel. Her name was Evelyn Darna.

“Evelyn was a bright new star,” Anne said. “She brought the club youthful energy and enthusiasm that gave the club new life.”

Under Darna’s presidency, the Gilchrist Avenue medial between First and Fifth streets was planted with hibiscus and grass. Though it was very beautiful, it required a lot of work.

“Water back then on the island came from cisterns and wells, and the women would haul large trash cans kept in the old bowling alley that was then a storage shed near where Park Place Condominiums are now,” Anne said. “They would haul the water in those cans in the back of ‘Mama Dear’s’ (Mrs. Fred Thompson) old woody station wagon to Fugate’s, where they would get water from a cistern under the store. The women would water the plants three times a week, and would take turns pushing the lawn mower that was kept in the front of Evelyn Darna’s beauty shop.”

Catherine Gilbert was another Woman’s Club president to make an impact on the island. She was the postmistress of Boca Grande in 1965, and spoke with everyone she saw about getting water to the island.

“As far back as 1962 the health department had been condemning wells and cisterns out here for brackish water,” Anne said. “Mrs. Slotterbeck, a member of the club, had support from the railroad. Through her contacts, and with the help of FHA loans, the island had water in 1966.”

Anne said that it was noted in the club’s log that there was a fight among the membership, as some of the members felt rejected that Mrs. Slotterbeck made getting water to the island her personal project, not involving the club.

Anne said one entry in the book said, “Now that the bridge is open, with water here imagine what kind of people it will attract.”

She also noted that four members of the group resigned at that meeting after a debate over what the cost of water would be.

Gilbert returned to the presidency in 1969, and in that term, with the help of Mrs. Slotterbeck, got sewer service to Boca Grande.

When Mrs. Joe Freeman took the gavel next, it was only for a year. She left after much pressure was applied by Mrs. Slotterbeck for the group to remain active in state and national-level affairs, and told her to run it herself.

In 1972, Mrs. Slotterbeck did.

“Mrs. Slotterbeck’s main interest was involvement in the state and national levels,” Anne said. “She went all over the country committing the club financially and physically to the state federation. She applied for another community improvement award based upon the fact she acquired the old schoolhouse. In her words, it was to be used as a ‘cultural, educational and recreational center for all citizens of Boca Grande.’ She received the award because of it.”

Another lull in membership occurred at the same time, and the official log books from that time record the words of Mrs. Slotterbeck.

“When I gave my final president’s report, I looked out at the members and thought I didn’t have a friend amongst them except my sister.”

Things soon cycled back though, and membership was up from as few as 30 to more than 120 members within a few years. The group was now meeting in the Boca Grande Community Center Woman’s Club rooms.

By the late 1970s, a treasurer’s report showed 150 members and holdings of $12,000.

In 1981, Sally Ketchum was president and the Boca Grande chapter made the decision to amicably depart from the Federation.

“Sally had a fight on her hands,” Anne said, “but she was encouraged by her buddies to make it an island club, for island women … run by island women without all of ‘those strangers.’”

The first spring fair was held in 1986, chaired by Dee Wheeler. Club notes read, “There will be a bike parade with an honorary leader and prizes for the best decorated bicycles. Two bikes, a boys and a girls, were donated as prizes. The auction was chaired by Cotton Hanley, and included items such as dinner for 12 cooked by local members, cocktail parties and boat trips with lunch.”

Anne said in that same year, mailings were sent out to all club members prior to the November meeting. All members were asked to list their talents on the questionnaire, and were asked to come to the meeting with their dues in hand.

“That November meeting was so sparsely attended, the December meeting was cancelled,” Anne said. “I think the members feared they would have to use their talents.”

Under the chairmanship of Donna Moore, Anne was the vice-chair in charge of fundraising. She proposed a dinner dance on Valentine’s Day, with simple decorations and held on a date when, as she said, “no husband could say no.”

That first gala was a huge success, and raised more than $18,000.

Twelve years later, the last Woman’s Club Gala raised more than $200,000.

“The Boca Grande Woman’s Club makes a huge impact on the whole island,” she said. “Last year we gave $115,000 in scholarships to 27 students, and $121,000 to other worthy reciprocants on the island.

“From its beginnings with 24 ladies to 150 active members, we are a force to tackle anything, or anyone, should the need arise.”