Plantation Woman's Club History
THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF THE PLANTATION WOMAN’S CLUB
Information put together by Helen Ackerman, Club Historian 2022
Information put together by Helen Ackerman, Club Historian 2022
HIGHLIGHTS of 1949-50
1949 - February 28th: First official meeting of the club with 35 women in attendance at the offices of “Plantation Homes” located on Broward Boulevard where the Village Shopping Center is now located. The club named itself “Plantation Community Club”. It was also referred to as “Plantation Homes Woman’s Club”. Branch’s Country store was also located in the area. Grantham’s General Store/post office was on the SW corner of State Road 7 and Broward Boulevard. Bulletin boards were placed in these establishments to let residents know of community activities. The Club was initially organized for “social purposes only” and wanted to work with the newly organized Men’s Club to have shuffleboard courts, other “social projects” and youngster’s playground equipment installed.
Background data: Many events were held outside, like square dances, barn dances and hayrides at the Peter’s Ranch. Fund raisers were primarily card games, bridge, poker, canasta and bingo. Club interests centered around tropical gardening, playground equipment purchasing for the Community House and supporting, via donations, the maintenance of the Community House that was being maintained by the Plantation Home Owner’s Association.
Three groups shared the “Community House” located at Farmington Drive and Cypress Road: The Plantation Community Church, The Plantation Woman’s Club and the Plantation Home Owner’s Association. The remaining “Community House” is now the front-west small meeting room of Deicke Auditorium.
In June of 1949 new grass was placed behind the Community House by volunteers for the holiday BBQ on July 4th.
There was also a warehouse trailer which housed the offices of “Plantation Homes”. It was located somewhere in the area where the Village Shopping Center is now located at East Acre Drive and Broward Boulevard. Club meetings and other events were sometimes held there.
In December of 1949 the club changed its name to “Plantation Woman’s Club”. Club dues were set at $3 per year.
Our club purchased a second-hand piano for use at the Community House along with the Community Church’s donation for the piano.
IN 1949 THE CLUB MEMBERS PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION AS RECORDED IN THE MINUTES: “THAT WE HEREAFTER USE MARRIED NAMES OF THE MEMBERS INSTEAD OF THE MEMBER’S FIRST NAMES, WERE, UPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED”.
HIGHLIGHTS of “fiscal year 1950-51”
The Community House began to be called “The Community Center”- later to be the home of Deicke Auditorium which is located on the Hoffman Park area.
The club purchased a first aid kit, one dozen chairs, two card tables, ash trays and outside flood lights for the Community Center along with plastic serving ware, punch bowl and ladle. The club shared the expense of purchasing a heater with the Community Church.
THE FIRST DONATION OF $100 WAS MADE BY THE CLUB FOR “A UNIVERSITY FOR BROWARD COUNTY”. The funds came from the first bazaar event and baked goods sale.
ANOTHER $100 WAS MADE TO THE HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION FOR A TREE FUND.
The Plantation Golf and Country Club opened in December of 1950 and became a major venue for Plantation and club activities.
HIGHLIGHTS from the 1950’s
Our Club began the Plantation Summer Children’s Program at the Community Center. Playground equipment was purchased.
The Club organized a learn-to-sew class as well as learning how to play bridge. A Mother’s Committee was organized to set up plans for holiday parties, supervised play and pre-school activities.
The Club gave donations to the Daniel Rehabilitation Institute of Florida for indigent patients needing physical rehab services. The Institute was located at 619 West Broward Boulevard.
Donations were given to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis by raising funds via card parties.
The Club sponsored the Children’s Pet Show at the Community Center.
The First Annual Thanksgiving Charity Ball was held at the Plantation Country Club and raised funds for the Southeast Florida Tuberculosis Hospital in Lantana and baskets for the needy. The Club ladies sewed pajamas with scruffs for the patients in
Lantana.
ON MAY 8, 1953, THE CLUB AFFILIATED WITH FLORIDA FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUBS.
Every year there was a Holiday Fund raising dance at the Plantation Country Club or larger venues beginning in 1954. This became a major Broward County benefit event with well-known orchestras, hundreds of door prizes, ten grand prizes with special balloon drop giveaways and an all-male revue called “First Class Male” featuring a floor show of male chorines dancing to a themed program (Hawaiian, ballet, etc.). These are the husbands of Club members. This event and the dancers get major local newspaper publicity every year and it raises thousands of dollars for the Club’s major charities. It is even featured on all Broward County U.S. mail trucks as a poster for PWC’s advertising of funding for the United Fund. In 1958 our Club donated $2,100 to the United Fund as part of the proceeds from the fifth annual Charity Ball held at the Governor’s Club in Ft. Lauderdale. (As a side note there is a mention that “babysitters are at a premium” when this event is held).
(In 1959 the population of the City of Plantation is 3,200 - scrapbook notation).
In the 50’s the Club sponsors “Over the Coffee Cups” and “Spring Coffees” which were events to welcome new residents to Plantation at various member’s homes.
The 50’s also saw the beginning of “block card parties” to raise funds for the Club’s projects and charities.
The Club sponsored “sewing days” for welfare projects. Conversational Spanish was also offered to members at no charge.
THE CLUB ACTIVATES THE FIRST LIBRARY IN PLANTATION IN 1959 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THIS LIBRARY IS OPEN ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 1:30 TO 2:30 FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO USE. BOOKS ARE FREE TO TAKE OUT FOR ONE WEEK. THERE IS A 5 CENT DAILY CHARGE FOR LONGER BORROWING TIMES. THE CLUB HAS RESPONDED TO THE FLORIDA FEDERATION
REQUEST TO UPDATE LIBRARIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES. CLUB MEMBERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THEIR BOOKS.
Plantation phone numbers start with LU such as LU3-5791.
The Club is involved with numerous fund-raising projects such as the Lantana Tuberculosis Hospital, the Daniel Rehabilitation Center, The Seminole Indian Girl Project - providing food and clothing for several indigent Indian families, the Broward County Dental Clinic, and the Broward County Crippled Children’s Society.
In September of 1956 the Club begins the sale of Florida Driver License renewals at the Westgate Shopping Center in a storefront. There is no Chamber of Commerce in Plantation and our Club is the only registered non-profit that sees the opportunity to provide a community service and make money for the Club’s charities. This activity continues until Florida starts renewing licenses by birth month instead of only once per year.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1960’s
The Club is continuing to sponsor the Annual Charity Ball which is now open to the general public via pre-paid tickets. It is held at major venues like the Galt Ocean Mile Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale that “has at least three ballrooms for the event.”
The Club supports the United Fund, Cerebral Palsy Fund, Haven of Rest for the Aged, Police Athletic League, the Seminole Indian Welfare and Scholarship Fund, the Sun Dial School, the Children’s Home Society of Broward County, the Visiting Nurses Association, the Ft. Lauderdale Oral School for the Deaf, the Lantana Tuberculosis Hospital and the Mental Hygiene Clinic, just to name a few.
In Plantation, our Club begins the “Civil Defense Program” in cooperation with the Plantation Police, Fire Department and Peters PTA to form the Civil Defense Action Corps - an informational program to let residents know what to do in “case of an air attack or storm”.
THE CLUB PROVIDES THE FIRST TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP TO THE NEWLY FORMED “JUNIOR COLLEGE OF BROWARD COUNTY”. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS TO GO TO “ONE BOY AND ONE GIRL” CHOSEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE, DR. JOSEPH RUSHING. IN FEBRUARY OF 1961 TWO STUDENTS RECEIVE AN ALL-EXPENSE SCHOLARSHIP FROM OUR CLUB. THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE: FLORENCE J. GRANDE, 6021 SW 3RD TERRACE, PLANTATION AND ROBERT HAROLD STRICKLAND, 5732 SW 10TH COURT, WEST HOLLYWOOD.
The Club is running summer socials such as bridge and canasta parties along with splash party events. The Club sponsors book reviews and brunches which are open to the public at the Pier 66 Yacht Club.
THE BUILDING FUND FOR THE PROPOSED CLUBHOUSE BECOMES A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR FUND RAISING EFFORTS BY 1960.
The Broward County Federation of Women’s Clubs held their 41st Anniversary Silver Tea in December of 1960. The hostess club was the Lake Forrest Woman’s Club of Hollywood. Having a silver tea service set was the norm for this annual event and explains our Club’s silver tea service that is in storage.
In 1960 The Junior Woman’s Club is sponsored by the “Plantation Senior Woman’s Club” (Ft. Lauderdale News--March 8, 1960). The Juniors form when members of our Club want to go in another direction. They meet at Peter’s Elementary School in mid-March of 1960 and become another community support organization.
All information is from the Minutes of the Club as well as the scrapbooks. The Minutes are in the process of being copied by the Plantation Historical Museum so that anyone will be able to reference them in the future.
1949 - February 28th: First official meeting of the club with 35 women in attendance at the offices of “Plantation Homes” located on Broward Boulevard where the Village Shopping Center is now located. The club named itself “Plantation Community Club”. It was also referred to as “Plantation Homes Woman’s Club”. Branch’s Country store was also located in the area. Grantham’s General Store/post office was on the SW corner of State Road 7 and Broward Boulevard. Bulletin boards were placed in these establishments to let residents know of community activities. The Club was initially organized for “social purposes only” and wanted to work with the newly organized Men’s Club to have shuffleboard courts, other “social projects” and youngster’s playground equipment installed.
Background data: Many events were held outside, like square dances, barn dances and hayrides at the Peter’s Ranch. Fund raisers were primarily card games, bridge, poker, canasta and bingo. Club interests centered around tropical gardening, playground equipment purchasing for the Community House and supporting, via donations, the maintenance of the Community House that was being maintained by the Plantation Home Owner’s Association.
Three groups shared the “Community House” located at Farmington Drive and Cypress Road: The Plantation Community Church, The Plantation Woman’s Club and the Plantation Home Owner’s Association. The remaining “Community House” is now the front-west small meeting room of Deicke Auditorium.
In June of 1949 new grass was placed behind the Community House by volunteers for the holiday BBQ on July 4th.
There was also a warehouse trailer which housed the offices of “Plantation Homes”. It was located somewhere in the area where the Village Shopping Center is now located at East Acre Drive and Broward Boulevard. Club meetings and other events were sometimes held there.
In December of 1949 the club changed its name to “Plantation Woman’s Club”. Club dues were set at $3 per year.
Our club purchased a second-hand piano for use at the Community House along with the Community Church’s donation for the piano.
IN 1949 THE CLUB MEMBERS PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION AS RECORDED IN THE MINUTES: “THAT WE HEREAFTER USE MARRIED NAMES OF THE MEMBERS INSTEAD OF THE MEMBER’S FIRST NAMES, WERE, UPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED”.
HIGHLIGHTS of “fiscal year 1950-51”
The Community House began to be called “The Community Center”- later to be the home of Deicke Auditorium which is located on the Hoffman Park area.
The club purchased a first aid kit, one dozen chairs, two card tables, ash trays and outside flood lights for the Community Center along with plastic serving ware, punch bowl and ladle. The club shared the expense of purchasing a heater with the Community Church.
THE FIRST DONATION OF $100 WAS MADE BY THE CLUB FOR “A UNIVERSITY FOR BROWARD COUNTY”. The funds came from the first bazaar event and baked goods sale.
ANOTHER $100 WAS MADE TO THE HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION FOR A TREE FUND.
The Plantation Golf and Country Club opened in December of 1950 and became a major venue for Plantation and club activities.
HIGHLIGHTS from the 1950’s
Our Club began the Plantation Summer Children’s Program at the Community Center. Playground equipment was purchased.
The Club organized a learn-to-sew class as well as learning how to play bridge. A Mother’s Committee was organized to set up plans for holiday parties, supervised play and pre-school activities.
The Club gave donations to the Daniel Rehabilitation Institute of Florida for indigent patients needing physical rehab services. The Institute was located at 619 West Broward Boulevard.
Donations were given to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis by raising funds via card parties.
The Club sponsored the Children’s Pet Show at the Community Center.
The First Annual Thanksgiving Charity Ball was held at the Plantation Country Club and raised funds for the Southeast Florida Tuberculosis Hospital in Lantana and baskets for the needy. The Club ladies sewed pajamas with scruffs for the patients in
Lantana.
ON MAY 8, 1953, THE CLUB AFFILIATED WITH FLORIDA FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUBS.
Every year there was a Holiday Fund raising dance at the Plantation Country Club or larger venues beginning in 1954. This became a major Broward County benefit event with well-known orchestras, hundreds of door prizes, ten grand prizes with special balloon drop giveaways and an all-male revue called “First Class Male” featuring a floor show of male chorines dancing to a themed program (Hawaiian, ballet, etc.). These are the husbands of Club members. This event and the dancers get major local newspaper publicity every year and it raises thousands of dollars for the Club’s major charities. It is even featured on all Broward County U.S. mail trucks as a poster for PWC’s advertising of funding for the United Fund. In 1958 our Club donated $2,100 to the United Fund as part of the proceeds from the fifth annual Charity Ball held at the Governor’s Club in Ft. Lauderdale. (As a side note there is a mention that “babysitters are at a premium” when this event is held).
(In 1959 the population of the City of Plantation is 3,200 - scrapbook notation).
In the 50’s the Club sponsors “Over the Coffee Cups” and “Spring Coffees” which were events to welcome new residents to Plantation at various member’s homes.
The 50’s also saw the beginning of “block card parties” to raise funds for the Club’s projects and charities.
The Club sponsored “sewing days” for welfare projects. Conversational Spanish was also offered to members at no charge.
THE CLUB ACTIVATES THE FIRST LIBRARY IN PLANTATION IN 1959 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THIS LIBRARY IS OPEN ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 1:30 TO 2:30 FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO USE. BOOKS ARE FREE TO TAKE OUT FOR ONE WEEK. THERE IS A 5 CENT DAILY CHARGE FOR LONGER BORROWING TIMES. THE CLUB HAS RESPONDED TO THE FLORIDA FEDERATION
REQUEST TO UPDATE LIBRARIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES. CLUB MEMBERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THEIR BOOKS.
Plantation phone numbers start with LU such as LU3-5791.
The Club is involved with numerous fund-raising projects such as the Lantana Tuberculosis Hospital, the Daniel Rehabilitation Center, The Seminole Indian Girl Project - providing food and clothing for several indigent Indian families, the Broward County Dental Clinic, and the Broward County Crippled Children’s Society.
In September of 1956 the Club begins the sale of Florida Driver License renewals at the Westgate Shopping Center in a storefront. There is no Chamber of Commerce in Plantation and our Club is the only registered non-profit that sees the opportunity to provide a community service and make money for the Club’s charities. This activity continues until Florida starts renewing licenses by birth month instead of only once per year.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1960’s
The Club is continuing to sponsor the Annual Charity Ball which is now open to the general public via pre-paid tickets. It is held at major venues like the Galt Ocean Mile Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale that “has at least three ballrooms for the event.”
The Club supports the United Fund, Cerebral Palsy Fund, Haven of Rest for the Aged, Police Athletic League, the Seminole Indian Welfare and Scholarship Fund, the Sun Dial School, the Children’s Home Society of Broward County, the Visiting Nurses Association, the Ft. Lauderdale Oral School for the Deaf, the Lantana Tuberculosis Hospital and the Mental Hygiene Clinic, just to name a few.
In Plantation, our Club begins the “Civil Defense Program” in cooperation with the Plantation Police, Fire Department and Peters PTA to form the Civil Defense Action Corps - an informational program to let residents know what to do in “case of an air attack or storm”.
THE CLUB PROVIDES THE FIRST TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP TO THE NEWLY FORMED “JUNIOR COLLEGE OF BROWARD COUNTY”. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS TO GO TO “ONE BOY AND ONE GIRL” CHOSEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE, DR. JOSEPH RUSHING. IN FEBRUARY OF 1961 TWO STUDENTS RECEIVE AN ALL-EXPENSE SCHOLARSHIP FROM OUR CLUB. THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE: FLORENCE J. GRANDE, 6021 SW 3RD TERRACE, PLANTATION AND ROBERT HAROLD STRICKLAND, 5732 SW 10TH COURT, WEST HOLLYWOOD.
The Club is running summer socials such as bridge and canasta parties along with splash party events. The Club sponsors book reviews and brunches which are open to the public at the Pier 66 Yacht Club.
THE BUILDING FUND FOR THE PROPOSED CLUBHOUSE BECOMES A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR FUND RAISING EFFORTS BY 1960.
The Broward County Federation of Women’s Clubs held their 41st Anniversary Silver Tea in December of 1960. The hostess club was the Lake Forrest Woman’s Club of Hollywood. Having a silver tea service set was the norm for this annual event and explains our Club’s silver tea service that is in storage.
In 1960 The Junior Woman’s Club is sponsored by the “Plantation Senior Woman’s Club” (Ft. Lauderdale News--March 8, 1960). The Juniors form when members of our Club want to go in another direction. They meet at Peter’s Elementary School in mid-March of 1960 and become another community support organization.
All information is from the Minutes of the Club as well as the scrapbooks. The Minutes are in the process of being copied by the Plantation Historical Museum so that anyone will be able to reference them in the future.