Southport Woman’s Club History Timeline

1909

  • Formation of Southport Civic Club on Oct. 6 with officers Miss Kate Stuart (President), Mrs. Charles Fisher (Vice-President), Mrs. Roy Cool (Secretary), Miss Florence Price (Treasurer)
  • First met at the Masonic Building with dues set at 1 cent per week
  • Persuaded downtown merchants to place garbage receptables behind businesses rather than in front
  • Proposed local legislation concerning anti-smoking, anti-swearing, and curfew-ringing
  • Members painted the local street signs

1910

  • Provided new benches on the Garrison lawn at a cost of $17.73
  • Advocated for the first gas streetlight in town (corner of Nash & Dry)
  • Designated the last Friday of each month as General Cleaning Day
  • Provided Southport its first hearse at a cost of $102 and bought the driver a suit to wear for the funerals
  • Arranged for Southport’s first Arbor Day celebration 

1911

  • Helped to fund construction of a board-sidewalk from the steamer “Wilmington” dock, up the hill to Bay Street

1912

  • Organized the first Southport library with 500 books in the Garrison House and paid the librarian’s salary until 1927, when the City started paying half

1912

  • Constitution adopted by all 48 members.  Dues were set at $1.00 per year.

1913

  • Continued to wear the Federation Hat at National, State, & local meetings

1914

  • First trustees elected for the Library Board.  It was specified that they consist of 4 club members and three men

1915

  • Began bestowing medals and awards for various competitions:  Better Babies, Debates, Recitations, Better Yards, Holiday Décor

1917

  • Opened Sunday reading room for soldiers stationed at Ft. Caswell 
  • Allowed Boy Scouts to use the reading room for their meetings

1920

  • Name changed from Southport Civic Club to Southport Woman’s Club 

1922

  • First flower show conducted

1922

  • Adopted colors of blue and gold and the Goldenrod as the club’s official flower

1924

  • Members visited every Southport home to get out the vote

1925

  • Lobbied for women to be placed on local school board
  • Presented a flag to the school with the best attendance at the county-wide Field Day.  

1926

  • Began  to host dinners for teacher appreciation 

1927

  • The “Collect” was first used at meetings
  • Requested the Southport Aldermen to have traffic stopped through Franklin Square
  • Sponsored Southport’s first community Christmas tree
  • Collected $51 for flood sufferers in Mississippi
  • Club provided free lunches for needy school children 

1928

  • Mrs. Jessie S. Taylor was elected president of District 11, with Mrs. Jessie Harper as VP
  • Conducted a Better Yards contest
  • Money was given to Frankin Square Commission for beautification
  • Purchased a new stove for the library

1929

  • Founding members Miss Kate Stuart & Miss Florence Price passed away

1931

  • Began support of TB Seal sales
  • Began providing sandwiches at local health clinics

1936

  • Succeeded in having WPA paid for a part time librarian to keep library open one extra day per week

1937

  • Cleaned up Franklin Square and planted 7 trees
  • Each member donated a spirea plant for the park  and cleaned up the cemetery 

1945

  • Donated 8 garbage pails to the local hospital 

1946

  • Club continued to contribute to NC Federation projects:  Sallie Southall Cotten  Scholarship, Penny Art Fund

1947

  • Purchased library supplies of new books, 12 new current magazines, and joined the Sears Book Club
  • For 6 months sent $5 per month to Welfare Department to help support two underprivileged children
  • Donated $10 toward purchase of stove for school lunchroom
  • Planned community Christmas party to be held in front of the Court House with gifts for children up to age 8
  • Paid various medical bills for x-rays and individuals at Samarkand 

1948

  • On recommendation of Mrs. James Harper, the club reorganized its departments to correspond to those of the NC Federation 
  • Started a book wagon at the hospital and each member donated a book
  • Club paid for plowing at the cemetery at $1 per hour plus gas and oil for 8 hours maximum

1949

  • Club changed its flower from Goldenrod to the Azalea
  • Organized the Southport Garden Club and paid $5 initiation fee for it to federate with the NC Garden Club
  • Initiated discussion of a museum for Southport

1950

  • Voted to secure the TB mobile x-ray unit for Brunswick County & members would serve as hostesses during visits
  • Sent $70 to NC Headquarter Fund
  • Had a tree surgeon examine city trees and directed the American Home Department to secure plants for the Court House

1951

  • Provided new shelving for the library
  • Purchased screens for Garrison House windows
  • First raised the possibility of a bookmobile service for the county
  • Continued to raise money for the hospital with donations and fund raiser dinners ($50 +$90)
  • Mrs. Lois Jane Herring raised $124 for the hospital with a dinner at her home
  • Christmas Concert at the school raised $124
  • Mrs. Harper raised $161.50 with the hospital doll
  • Club reported raising $833.66 for hospital and $94 for lunches for needy children

1952

  • Mrs. James Harper was elected District President, Mrs. R.C. Daniel, District Secretary, and Mrs. Bryant Potter District Music Chairman

1953

  • Joined with Garden Club  hosting Christmas Home Tours
  • Members attended December meeting wearing hats made entirely from Christmas decorations
  • Appointed first committee to investigate the possibility of a Community Building in Southport

1954

  • Appointed committee to beautify hospital grounds
  • “Help-a-Home” project was adopted in cooperation with the county welfare department for collection of usable articles for needy families

1956

  • Club secured  TB Mobile X-Ray unit in Oct and Nov at a cost of $900
  • Donated $110 to plantings at the hospital
  • Focused attention on the problems facing educators and the Pearsall Plan effects on local education

1958

  • Mrs. Margaret Harper was elected second Vice President of the NC Federation of Women’s Clubs and served for 2 years
  • First participated in the “Oscars for Teachers” project. Club nominee, Miss Gertrude Loughlin, went on to win in the County

1959

  • Celebrated Club’s 50th anniversary with a series of skits at the Masonic Building 

1962

  • Mrs. Margaret Harper was elected President of the NC Federation of Women’s Clubs and served 2 years in that capacity.  Following her term as State President, she served the General Federation of Women’s Clubs on the Bylaws Committee

1964

  • Scholarship funds for nursing students awarded along with various smaller scholarships

1969

  • Raised money to purchase fans and air conditioners for Dosher Memorial Hospital 

1970

  • Collected S&H Green Stamps to fund an Anti-Drug Project aimed at eradicating the use of illegal drugs

1972

  • Raised money to purchase dictionaries for the Boy’s Home in Lake Waccamaw

1974

  • The Club was thanked by the Lions Club for cooking & serving the Lions at their meetings throughout the years
  • Continued to contribute time, items, and funds towards upkeep and maintenance of the Community Building
  • Donated $2500 toward roof repairs at Community Building

1975

  • Organized a three-day Flea Market for the benefit of Dosher Memorial Hospital 

1976

  • Recognizing the need for renovation at the hospital, the Club voted to donate $500

1978

  • Stood “Steadfast in support of the Hospital” and donated $500 to the Obstetrics Department
  • Hosted “Kitchen Shower” for community building since much kitchen equipment had gone missing over the years
  • Raised $300 with an Election Day dinner
  • Donated $100 to “Jaws-of-Life”

1979

  • Members participated in a variety show put on by the choral group The Sea-Notes and raised funds to purchase a Baldwin piano available for community use in the auditorium
  • Club, along with Juniors, Green Thumb Woodbine, Southport Garden Club, Associated Artists, Hospital Volunteers, Jaycettes, Lions Club, hosted Holiday House

1980

  • Hosted “Margaret Harper Day” honoring longtime leader and presented her with  a Life Membership in the NC Federation

1982

  • Assisted with the purchase of a shell cabinet for the Library 
  • Assisted with a recital for the Dance Studio

1983

  • Members handcrafted a cross-stitch quilt which was auctioned off for charity at the Holiday House event

1984

  • Celebrated  Club’s 75th Anniversary by hosting a luncheon for 15 past SWC presidents
  • Hosted a Sadie Hawkins B-B-Q and a Sanford & Sons Flea Market to raise funds for the Community Building 
  • Organized paper drives and book sales to raise funds to purchase a mammograph machine for Dosher Memorial Hospital in memory of Lorraine Bellamy a past SWC president
  • Conducted first used-book sale to benefit the library 

1985

  • Continued raising funds to maintain Community Building with paint, landscaping, car barriers, storm windows, doors & a stove

1986

  • Helped to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Library

1987

  • Hosted District Arts Festival and won the Silver Bowl for the most Blue Ribbons

1988

  • Donated to Hope Harbor Home for services to victims of domestic abuse

1990

  • Community Building was officially transferred  from the Lions to the City of Southport.  No mention of SWC!

1991

  • Voted to fund up to $100 to provide “Academic Letters” to eligible students, thus recognizing academics along with athletics
  • Mrs. Margaret Connaughton received Lifetime Membership in the NC Federation 

1992

  • Hosted Bridge Party, Bake Sales, Quilt Raffle, and “Tacky” Party to raise funds for local and State charities

1993

  • Conducted a letter writing campaign to protest the prevalence of violence on TV
  • Working with GFWC, SWC distributed “Buckle Up” bumper stickers to emphasize importance of wearing seat belts

1995

  • Community Building destroyed by fire

1997-1999

  • Collected 1,200 books worth nearly $5,000 for the benefit of local libraries

2000

  • Sponsored clean-up of roadside litter using the slogan “Pick Up a ‘Litter’ Bit”

2001

  • Joined with Parks and Recreation to renovate and refurbish the former Jaycees Building

2002

  • With completion of the new Southport Community Building, SWC resumed the tradition of hosting an annual Holiday House

2003

  • Received grants from GFWC and Proctor & Gamble in support of the “Books for Babies” project focusing on early literacy
  • Sponsored a “Heritage Tea” on July 4th honoring past SWC presidents
  • Sent the Club’s newsletter by email for the first time

2004

  • Raised funds to support “Operation Smile”

2005

  • Participated in “Generation Next” sponsoring a young father of 2 who was working to obtain his GED

2006

  • Working with Southport Juniors, collected recipes, printed, and sold cookbooks to raise money for local charities
  • Collected Teddy Bears for the Southport Police Department to give to children in crisis situations

2007

  • Organized and hosted the Club’s first Health Fair focusing on health & safety issues of importance to women
  • Started an ongoing program to assist Hope Habor by printing and distributing cards in English & Spanish offering information  to victims of domestic violence

2008

  • Adopted the 3 girls’ cottages at the NC Home for Boys & Girls, giving each girl a handmade quilt and a basket of cosmetics 
  • Organized Food Fest and Cooking Demonstration fundraiser featuring local chefs

2009

  • Passing of Margaret Taylor Harper, 8-time past president of SWC, and past president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of NC
  • Hosted Centennial Gala to benefit Southport & Oak Island Library programs for children
  • Hosted Centennial Tea for the community
  • Participated in Vintage Car Float in July 4th Parade
  • Continued hosting Arts Festival for Middle & High School Students
  • Awarded SWC Sallie Cotten Southall scholarship & donated to nursing scholarships
  • Hosted “Three Cups of Tea”(Greg Mortenson)  reception and Symposium (Central Asia Institute)
  • Hosted 21st Annual Card Party fundraiser
  • Organized “Jewelry for a Cause”  – fundraiser to aid Ugandan women to rise from poverty by creating jewelry from recycled paper