Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Woman's Club of Coconut Grove
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
On February 19, 1891, Flora McFarlane convened the initial meeting of the first woman's organization in Florida, the Housekeepers Club. The charter members were representative of the pioneering families of Coconut Grove: Mrs. Kirk Munroe, Mrs. Joseph Frow, Mrs. Charles Peacock, Mrs. Charles John Peacock and Mrs. Benjamin Newbold. Miss McFarlane came from New Jersey, in December of 1886, as a guest of Mrs. Thomas Munroe and her son Mr. Ralph Munroe. She became the first school mistress of the nascent community and later invited the mothers and those without children to sewing meetings at the school house. Community service and mutual support of members were integral parts of the organization. Club activities included the construction of the first church, city beautification, environmental conservation, sponsoring of the first Girl Scout troupe as well as involvement with the woman suffragist movement and financial support of World War II orphans in Europe.
Chronology
1891
Housekeepers' Club founded by Miss Flora McFarlane, 1st president, 1891-1893.
Constitution and by laws adopted.
First tea and social event held in the Sunday school room.
1894
Vote to disband the club.
Decision not to disband the club and "to work harder than ever".
1893
Mrs. J. H. Swanson (Emma) elected 2nd president, 1893-1895.
1895
Mrs. Kirk Munroe elected 3rd president, 1895-1897.
The Florida Federation of Women's Clubs organized in Green Cove Springs.
1897
First Housekeepers Club house built under the leadership of Mrs. J.S. Frederick, 4th president, with land donated by Commodore Ralph Munroe, Miss McFarlane and a contribution by Henry M. Flagler.
Charter obtained in order to own property. Document is signed by Isabella Peacock, Louisa Newbold, Flora McFarlane, Julia Thompson and Martha Peacock.
Sunday school building becomes the Union Congregational Church - later known as Plymouth Congregational Church.
1898
Mrs. Charles Peacock elected, 5th president, 1898-1901.
The Florida Federation is admitted to the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
1901
Housekeepers Club is federated in the state of Florida.
1906
The 10th Annual meeting of the Florida Federation of Women's Club held in Miami.
Mrs. John Gifford of the Housekeepers Club introduces a motion requesting that: "The Federation endorses a proposal to make a Federal Forest Reservation of Paradise Key in the Everglades in order to preserve the unique group of royal palms, this being the only spot in the United States where the palms are growing naturally."
1910-1915
Ms Flora McFarlane serves as club president.
1915
State of Florida deeds 4,000 acres of land, including Paradise Key, to the Florida Federation of Women's Club.
1916
Housekeepers Club charter amended to build a new club house.
Dade County Federation of Women's Clubs is organized by Mrs. A. Leight.
Mrs. Kirk Munroe elected 1st president of the Dade County Federation of Women's Clubs.
The Housekeepers Club House is sold.
1919
Incorporation of Coconut Grove and spelling changed from "Cocoanut Grove" to "Coconut Grove".
1920
Miss Flora McFarlane, club founder, passes away.
1921
Housekeepers Club members vote in favor of building a new club house.
Dedication ceremony for new club house designed by Florida architect Walter C. DeGarmo
"Blue Pheasant Tea Room" opens, 1921-1923 to pay for clubhouse expenses.
1922
"Trip Around the World" pageant organized as a fund raiser to pay for the new club house construction debt.
1923
First Girl Scout troop in Dade County is organized by Mildred Emerson Crawford, member of the Housekeepers club.
1925
City of Miami annexes Coconut Grove.
1926
Club house is "unroofed" by Hurricane. Memorial Shelter in honor of Miss McFarlane is "swept away".
1930
Jr. Housekeepers Club formed and disbanded.
1941
Celebration of the Housekeepers Club 50th Anniversary.
1942
Mrs. Florence P. Haden burns the mortgage note. The Housekeepers Club pays off debt incurred because of Hurricane damages.
1946
Jr. Housekeepers Club formed again, Mrs. Fred A. Sutton Jr., 1st president.
Housekeepers Club hosts General Federation of Women's Club.
1949
Florida Legislator passes the bill initiated by the Jr. Housekeepers Club to remove "the stigma of illegitimacy" on children's birth certificates and records.
1957
Housekeepers Club changes its name to the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove.
1966
Diamond Jubilee of the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove.
1975
The club house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1984
The club house is placed on the City of Miami Heritage Conservation List.
1991
100th Anniversary Celebration of the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove.
2007
The Woman's Club of Coconut Grove is still in existence at 2985 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida.