More Than a Century of Service for Woman’s Club

Fashion has certainly changed since 1914, but for members of the Homestead Woman’s Club, the dedication to community continues into their 112th year.

Bob Jensen wrote a lengthy passage in the Homestead history book with a defining point: “Name a significant event in Homestead’s history beginning in 1914 and the Woman’s Club of Homestead has probably had a role somewhere in it.”

He opened with the following:

“Homestead and South Miami-Dade’s oldest civic organization is the Woman’s Club of Homestead. The Woman’s Club is responsible for some of the greatest accomplishments in our community’s history. Some of these accomplishments came at a time when women could not even vote, but they surely knew what needed to be done in our community and how to get it done.

“The club was formed on September 26, 1914 at the Evans Hotel, now the Hotel Redland. The club was probably organized primarily to lead the local efforts in establishing a state park in the Everglades, but its first task was to outfit the domestic science (home economics) department of the Homestead School.

“Also in its first year of existence, the club solicited donations of grapefruit, shipped an entire railroad car of the fruit to New York, sold it and donated the money to the Red Cross to aid those who suffered from World War I.

“By July of 1915 the club had established a lending library at the Evans Hotel. (The lounge at the Hotel Redland is named The Library for that reason.)”

Often in history, what begins as a single idea becomes something of far greater importance.

“In 1916, the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs constructed a lodge at Royal Palm State Park on land donated by Mrs. Henry Flagler, widow of the owner of the Florida East Coast Railway and by the State of Florida. Also in planning was the construction of a pavilion, plant house, garage and water tower, which were constructed later.

“May Mann Jennings, president of the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs took the preservation of the Everglades as a major project in 1914. One of her strongest supporters was FFWC conservation chairman Mrs. Kirk Munroe of Coconut Grove. The Florida Legislature established Royal Palm State Park as our first state park.

“May Mann Jennings came to Homestead in August of 1915 to speak to members from the Larkins, Longview, Princeton, Redland and Homestead women’s clubs.

“When Royal Palm State Park was dedicated on November 23rd of 1916 more than 1,000 people came from all over the state and all arrived by 168 automobiles from Miami where the FFWC convention was taking place. The Homestead club served everyone lunch at the park with a little help from husbands.”

This park ultimately became part of Everglades National Park in 1947.

Other notable actions spanned different areas.

“Local school faculty members were first honored by the club in 1921 and the next year the club was part of a Homestead shade tree campaign. In 1923 the club constructed a clubhouse at 410 NW Eighth Avenue on land donated by member Mrs. E.C. Loveland.

“Opening day of the first ever Redland Fruit Festival in 1924 was designated Woman’s Club Day. In 1925 when the Rotary Club of Homestead received its charter the Woman’s Club hosted the luncheon.

“The club obtained use of the triangular piece of land on which El Toro Taco now sits from the Florida East Coast Railway to use as a park in 1925 and paid for its landscaping and the laying of sod; it was most often referred to as Legion Park or Triangle Park.

“It remained a park until 1945 when the City of Homestead declined to purchase it for $6,000 from the FEC and it was sold to private interests who built a shopping center there.”

Then, “The club turned its library over to the City of Homestead in 1926; librarian and club member Lily Lawrence Bow was deputized, given a badge and paid as a Homestead policeman until the 1927 budget contained funds for a librarian.”

Their involvement has not wavered over the decades.

Alisa McPheron, current president, knows the deep sense of commitment of the members.

“The GFWC Woman’s Club of Homestead has proudly served the Homestead Community through generations of dedicated volunteer work. The objectives of our club are to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Through our fundraising, we provide scholarships to local students and work alongside other civic organizations to support and strengthen our community.”

The Homestead history book and largest organized collection of Homestead and area history items can be enjoyed at the Homestead Town Hall Museum.

Located across from Losner Park at 41 N. Krome Ave., it is open free of charge from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The first Homestead Woman’s Club was built in 1923 at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Fourth Street.