User:JasperFLugo/Fuquay-Varina Woman's Club Clubhouse

The Fuquay-Varina Woman's Club Clubhouse
The Fuquay-Varina Woman's club clubhouse is a historic building located in Fuquay-Varina, Wake County, North Carolina. The clubhouse was constructed in 1937, and in 2007 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The clubhouse is significant for its role in developing the civic and cultural life of the surrounding Fuquay-Varina community.

Formation of the Varina Woman's Club (1926-1936)
The Varina Woman's Club was founded in 1926. The original eight members of the club were the wives of key business and civic leaders in Varina, North Carolina. The impetus for the formation of the club was a desire to serve their community. The club was federated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1927. The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) is one of the world's oldest nonpartisan and non-denominational women's volunteer service organizations. The GFWC emphasized the development of education in one's community. The club originally met in the home of one of its founding members, Mrs. Bessie Hopson. From 1928 until 1937 the club met in a rented room of the Judd Building in Varina, North Carolina. Early actions by the club focused on purchasing needed supplies for local schools. For example, several women launched a drive to purchase lights and shades for the elementary school building. A productive relationship was established early on with the local municipal government.

Construction of the Clubhouse (1937-2000s)
By the late 1930s the membership of the club grew to twenty. The decision to construct a clubhouse was made, largely owing to the desire to accommodate their growing needs. In 1936 the lot was deeded for the construction of the club clubhouse. Constructed in 1937, the clubhouse is a one-story, "T"-shaped building that is influenced by American Craftsman and Bungalow styles. The building consists of a large meeting room, a kitchen, a pantry, and a bathroom. By 1940 the club reached thirty-seven members, eventually peaking at ninety-seven members in 1960. The expansion of new members allowed the club to undertake new projects, including hosting dinner's for the Lion's Club to raise money for the Cancer Control Movement and working with the local PTA to establish a teen club. The club successfully lobbied the school district to hire a special education and art teacher in 1950.

In 1954 the club renamed to the Fuquay-Varina Women's Club, reflecting the close growth of the two communities. The club also reached a major goal of the GFWC: the establishment of a public library. This had originally begun in 1950 as a "little book shelf" program in the school library. Through member fundraising, the club was able to convert a three-room house into the first public library in Fuquay-Varina. The library began operations in 1954 with 537 books, most of which were purchased and donated by the club. The first librarian, Mrs. Bruce Gunter, was a club member and several club members sat on the library board. The club also helped to establish a ceramic center in the local park, which today is a multiuse room.

Present day
Today the club has forty active women over the age of forty. The club remains active in civic engagement, continually hosting fundraisers to support various causes. Outside of fundraising, the club began frequently hosting art festivals to help further cultural life in Fuquay-Varina. As for the clubhouse, little has changed on the exterior. The only major renovation to occur is the original wood floor of the entry-way porch being replaced with concrete. Internally several updates have occurred to keep the building well maintained. Carpet that previously covered the floor in the meeting room and plywood that covered the kitchen floor have been removed to expose the original heat pine flooring. The original fireplace was hidden behind closed glass doors and a new modern brick chimney piece was constructed. Lastly, the bathroom plumbing was modernized in 1957.

The clubhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Its listing is due to the continual effort of the members to preserve the clubhouse in its original integrity. Notably, this clubhouse is one of the few in the country to have documentation of continual ownership by members, with most clubhouses being purchased as existing private homes. Additionally, the women's club movement is sparsely documented and many sites associated with the original clubs have been lost to history.