Link to: Chatsworth Women's Club Centennial Presentation from our March 16, 2022 Luncheon
- IT WAS 1921.
- THE WAR TO END ALL WARS had been fought and won.
- THE 19th AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION had been ratified and women were given the right to vote in all municipal, state and federal elections.
- WOMEN were "heady" with power and a sense of being able to contribute to something in a new-found way.
- IN CHATSWORTH, women translated this new sense of power into a Women's Club dedicated to improving their community.
- DURING THE 75 YEARS since then , women's role has changed dramatically. What was considered the woman's role when the club was formed is almost non-existent today . The community itself has changed. The occupational structure is different, the economy, the demographics - - all have been altered, changing the everyday contribution of women to society.
- THE CHATSWORTH WOMEN'S CLUB has not only kept pace with
these changes, but has flourished through its up-to-date
innovative accomplishments and contributions in all areas of
the community.
READ ON TO SEE HOW THE CHATSWORTH WOMEN'S CLUB GOT FROM "THERE" IN THE '20s TO "HERE."
1920's
Chatsworth was a small town surrounded by family farms, and hard work was the order of the day. Neighbors knew each other, and were always ready to help other families in times of sickness or new babies. Homes held the good smells of bread baking or pickle-making, perhaps a roast in the oven, and always wood fires burning in the big black stove. Clothes were sewn on a peddle sewing machine and ironed by hand. Laundry was scrubbed on a board, then hung out to dry in the bright California sunshine. Devonshire, leading to Chatsworth was a country road lined by towering eucalyptus trees.
It was also a time for something new. Women were bobbing their hair and wearing shorter skirts. They were eager to help improve their community.
It was on Valentine's Day, 1921 that Mrs. Grace Hageman, later to
become Mrs. Armstrong, invited 24 ladies to her home for the
purpose of forming a woman's group. They chose a name, The
Woman's Community Club of Chatsworth, and Mrs. Hageman was elected president.
At that first meeting, the membership adopted a constitution and a
purpose, chose the colors pink and green, and agreed on a motto. It
was: "Bite off more than you can chew, and chew it; plan more than
you can do, and do it; hitch your wagon to a star; sit tight, and there
you are!".
They also decided that a plate luncheon be given at each meeting
and the "fifty cents per plate realized therefrom, be turned into the
club treasury". They agreed on a constitution and held a St. Patrick's
Day Dinner at the "schoolhouse". At first, they met in one another's
homes, later in a community building.
During that first year, the ladies did much needlework, sewing for the
Red Cross, for local needy families and the McKinley Home for Boys
in Van Nuys, and doing "fancywork" for their Vanity Fair. They
enjoyed music at their programs and "Hi-jinks" where they performed
for entertainment. Their children and young people of the area
performed at the meetings. Club members worked with veterans and
veterans' families, traveling over the hill to work in the wards at
Sawtelle Veterans Hospital, distributing jams and jellies made from
fruits grown locally.
On May 9, 1922, they had a "Guest Day" with Mrs. Jacob Jensen,
president of the Owensmouth Woman's Club, Mrs. Williams
representing the Van Nuys Woman's Club, and Mrs. Alex Jeffry,
president of the Marian Mothers' Club. The club became federated in
1922 and in 1924 they broke ground for the first club building. ( It
became the Lombardi Building on Devonshire Street at Owensmouth
Avenue).
Throughout the decade, they continued to work for veterans and veterans' families. Club members started a Mothers' and Children's Day, studied the League of Nations, worked for Children 's Hospital (in Los Angeles), formed a reading club, enjoyed music and had many young singers, orchestras and dancers perform. It was a good solid beginning for a new club.
1930's
The depression of the thirties was devastating to the Chatsworth community, as it was to much of the country. One third of the
American work force was unemployed, and one fourth of the banks
had failed. Welfare was the key work of the Club for the Thirties. Many projects were local, such as helping a sick child. Members sewed for needy families, making over old clothes and constructing new garments.
The club hit rock bottom in the 1932-33 year when Mrs. R.L. Johnson wrote: " This year marks the darkest year of the club's history." No dues were paid by the members and no regular meetings were held for carrying on business or programs. Many of the members gathered at the clubrooms, however, and sewed for needy families
and in other similar ways carried on welfare work.
In 1933-34, (at the Lombardi Building) they decided to "turn off the gas" ( during the summer), but keep the lights on as the Boy Scouts held their meetings in the building. The club also held a benefit to help repair the library. In 1934, they voted to reduce the dues to $1, plus the county, state, and national dues of forty cents, hoping that lower dues would stimulate membership, and the checking account was closed because of a new $1 monthly charge being imposed by the bank.
By 1935, matters had improved a little and the club held a "White King Party", produced by a soap company, and began participating in local problems again, such as writing to the telephone company to complain about the San Fernando Valley telephone numbers not being listed in the Los Angeles book. By the end of the year, the club
had recovered sufficiently to give $10 to the Red Cross flood relief!
In 1937, the Chamber of Commerce was not active and the president, Mrs. Annette Hughes, urged members to encourage their husbands to organize a Chamber of Commerce. In the meantime, the women took on the problem of inadequate mail service and other civic problems to end the decade in an up-beat mood.
1940's
World War II and its consequences dominated the decade of the 40's. Members began sharing their meeting room with the Red Cross, and helping with Red Cross work. Club members still assisted local needy families, especially helping other organizations to provide baskets of food for Christmas. Sewing was a big project - - as in the Twenties. Members sewed for the Red Cross, making layettes for the families of servicemen, "convalescent slippers" for the hospitals and working at the new Birmingham Veterans' Hospital in Van Nuys. They knit socks and sweaters and completed 200 service kits for soldiers. Remember that was the time of "Bundles for Britain"? And,
members donated to the USO for servicemen.
Fund raising for a clubhouse was the second-most important goal. The club needed $4,000 to join the Chatsworth Chamber in ownership of the community building to be constructed on land donated by Mr. And Mrs. Frank Schepler. Frank Schepler belonged to the Chatsworth Chamber and Mrs. Eleanor Schepler belonged to the Chatsworth Women's Club, and jointly they gave the land to build the building.
A puppy helped the Women's Club to raise the funds. The club president donated a purebred Kerry Blue Terrier puppy to be auctioned off to benefit the building fund . Club members lightheartedly gave a surprise shower for the mother dog and the newspapers featured it. The puppy received canned milk, puppy biscuits, a raincoat and toys , in addition to cards and ribbons.
Other fund raisers included a Radio Barn Dance in Canoga Park square
dancing, -- and the Can-Can. Popular movie star Marian Marsh was honorary mayor of Chatsworth, She held a benefit at her ranch home. Bob Bums, honorary mayor of Canoga Park, attended with Edgar Bergen who announced that Charlie McCarthy couldn't come, "he had to stay home and learn his lines" .
The Club's dream was realized when the first meeting was held in the new building October 11 , 1949. Altogether an eventful decade for the club.
The News May , 1948 Chatsworth Woman 's Club Hi Jinks
Copy Courtesy: Chatsworth Historical Society,
HI-JINKS - Mrs. Dudley Davis, center draws a bead with her trusty firearm at am annual costume party for the Chatsworth Women's Club. Mrs. A. H. Klaoss . left is a farmerette and Mrs. Edmund Loritz, right, samples lollipops. In back row, left to right, Mrs. Minnie Lanahan simulates a grand lady with a lorgnette, Mrs. G. O . Vier... is
peasant, and Mrs. Frank Hageman a Gay Nineties cutie. (Johnny Corbin photo)
1950's
The "Fabulous 50s" were smooth and full of service. Members continued to work with the Veterans Hospital, and magazines for Foreign Lands was an important project.
A wheel chair was donated to the Lowman School for Handicapped Children, and the club sponsored the Northridge-Chatsworth 4-H Club, reflecting the agricultural atmosphere of the area; rich in citrus and walnut groves, horse ranches of movie stars, and chicken ranches .
On December 10, 1958, the club voted to endorse the drive to build a hospital in Northridge. The beginnings of Northridge Hospital! The club assisted with a Christmas Party for 400 children at Orcutt Park (known today as Lanark Park and the only city park in the area at that time) .
TO HELP HIM GET AROUND-Chris Honicky, pupil at Lowman School for Handicapped Children, will use chair presented by Chatsworth Women's Club. With Chris are Mmes. D. A. Young, center, president of club, and
Bruce Garoutte, philanthropy chairman. Lowman School is club's 1958 project.
Virginia Somerville was honored for ten years of service at the Veterans Hospital and was presented with the Gold Emblem Award from the Veterans Hospital Administration in Sepulveda. The club actively supported the hospital with visits and volunteers, helping in many ways . Grace Hageman Armstrong, founder of the club, was
honored by the City of Los Angeles.
A Junior Club was formed in 1959 for younger women and the two
clubs cooperated on many projects - such as the Salk Vaccine
Clinics, etc.
'Twas another decade of service.
1960's
The 1960's changed Chatsworth from a quiet, eucalyptus-lined agricultural community, to an upscale suburb of a vibrant, growing Los Angeles. They were eventful years for the club. Membership was up and club members were very active . Many social events benefited the club's philanthropies. A "Beachcombers Ball ", an"Aquacade" with a Hawaiian theme , and a fashion show to benefit the John Tracy Clinic were a few of the events.
It was a time of relative affluence and successful projects. The club continued to work for parks and realized that dream with the opening of Chatsworth Park North, the first Los Angeles city park in the community. Club women spearheaded the drive for a local branch library to replace the mobile truck that came every two weeks. This too became a reality . Chatsworth got its first high school and the club participated in the dedication and helped in other ways. Virginia Watson and Evie Bowers of the Women's Club, along with Lillian Schepler, Sheila Watts of the Junior Women's Club helped to found the Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council and the Chatsworth
Historical Society, for which they received an Award of Achievement.
The Mother-Daughter Tea, sometimes called the Debutante Tea, where daughters were presented and scholarships announced, continued to be a major event. The Literature Section was active, and several art shows were held. The club co-sponsored the publishing of a booklet on the history of the area with the Chatsworth Junior Women's Club and distributed the booklets to local schools and libraries.
A clinic was held to distribute the new polio vaccine , and club members led the drive for the Heart Association.
But, it wasn't all work - - there was lots of time for fun with the Adventure section and a trip to San Juan Capistrano, fashion shows and bridge.
It was a decade of awards and accolades, making members proud.
The Mother-Daughter Tea or as it was sometimes called, the Debutante Tea, was a highlight of the year, in the late fifties and in the sixties. Pictured above is a group of girls and their sponsors, usually
their mother.
1970's
The 1970's were difficult years for club members - - in September,
1970 a huge fire enveloped the area burning more than 40 homes,
some of them belonging to members. The club joined the community
in providing emergency services for six weeks at the clubhouse. The
debris was not even cleared up by the time the floods came, followed
by the devastating Sylmar earthquake on February 9, 1971, the club's
50th birthday . But the clubwomen carried on, realizing that trying
times are no time to quit trying . They helped their neighbors, had a
shower for members who lost their belongings, and continued to hold
meetings in the building they shared with the Chamber of Commerce.
Although troubled with their own problems, they found time to set up a milk station for women and babies in Honduras. This was arranged
through a local girl (formerly a Northridge-Chatsworth 4-H Club member) who kept in touch with club members. The club celebrated its 50th anniversary in Federation at the clubhouse on Topanga Canyon, on Tuesday, February 15, 1972. Later that year, the building was sold and members began searching for a place to meet. Many items were stored, but still the work of looking for a new home continued.
A Canteen Club started by the Chatsworth Business and Professional Women, sent monthly packages and a newsletter to Vietnam soldiers. The Chatsworth Women's Club provided money and woman power to make the project a success.
Haven Hills is a continuing project that the club has supported over the years, as was work with the Veterans and local scholarships. Members raised $400 for career testing at the high school and contributed to the elementary school reading labs. With the American Legion Auxiliary, they sent a representative to Girls' State. They joined the Chatsworth Juniors in a fund-raiser and together they bought a plaque for the Alicia Ann Rush Burn Center. They
contributed to the Chatsworth Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.) to help find jobs for young people, had a bake sale benefitting the local convalescent hospital and won many awards at the Fine Arts Festival.
Another decade of meeting community challenges and solving problems.
1980's
The 1980's may have been the "me" era for most of the country, but in
the Chatsworth Women's Club, philanthropy was the key.
The club did not have a building , so they met at the Calabasas Inn. Many different projects busied the club . Haven Hills, a home for battered women and children, continued to be a recipient for fund raisers . The club contributed to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty for its 100th birthday celebration. Club members continued to support the local library, Fish and the Chatsworth Historical Society. Money was given to the Cystic Fibrosis and Arthritis Foundation, the Heart Association, the Jules Stein Eye Clinic at UCLA, Children's Hospital and guide dogs for the blind.
The club continued to raise funds for scholarships for the local high school and other schools. The Literature section was active. Participation in the Fine Arts Festival and the Fine Arts Shows was high and many awards were garnered by the Club.
Like a golden thread stitched through the club's history tapestry are articles
telling of the many worthy projects that resulted in generous checks being presented .
Shown in the photograph is a group presenting a check to a Chatsworth High School student.
L to R- Phyllis Lorbeer, Dr. Gjertrud Smith, first principal of the school, Clio Sunde, president of the Chatsworth Women's Club 1962-63, and the unidentified happy student .
Near the end of the decade, our club participated in the 100th birthday celebration of Chatsworth. One of our talented members - Mary Tartaglia - created two beautiful scrapbooks to hold those memories. These scrapbooks are now on public display at the Chatsworth Museum in Chatsworth Park South.
Due to attrition, the Chatsworth Club became smaller in number, but remained consistently successful in accomplishments and winning awards from district and state.
1990's
Attrition was still plaguing us in the 90s. However, our members, as
usual, worked towards scholarships for the Chatsworth schools,
assisted in the local community/ecumenical Fish program (which
provides temporary relief for those in need) and Friends of the
Library. The Literature section was actively reviewing books and the
club supported the Meals on Wheels program.
Then the January 17, 1994 earthquake struck and gave the club and its members a shaking up!!! It was such a damaging event, so disastrous to members and their homes, that it took two years to recuperate. But members rallied, continuing to work for the "general advancement of both club and community."
The club continued to support: Haven Hills, The Heart Association, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Smokey the Bear's 50th Birthday Bash by sending checks. They also crocheted bears for the tops of pencils for schoolchildren. Other projects included: raising funds for a local third grade to attend a weekend ecology class, collecting grocery receipts for local elementary schools to receive educational and athletic supplies and equipment, and money for hospitalized veterans to spend at the commissary for comfort items. Crafts were enjoyed and helped raise funds throughout the 90s. Many awards were won for fine arts, especially writing , and the two Lillians were honored for unusual service. Lillian Baker received recognition for 50 years as a women's club member in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. Lillian Schepler was recognized for 50 active years as a member of first the Chatsworth Junior Women's Club and then the Chatsworth Women's Club.
As we approach the millennium, the Chatsworth Women's Club, with
renewed vigor, looks forward to another century of service.
NOTE: This history through 1996 was Composed and Edited by Laurie Dager and Virginia Watson for the Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary
Research by: Virginia Watson
Photographs: Chatsworth Historical Society
and Lillian Schepler
Contributors: MardiI Clark, Laurie Dager, Virginia Watson,
Mary Belle Wells and Beverly Wright
History to present:
Since 1996, the Chatsworth Women's Club has
continued to provide scholarships for outstanding graduating students at Chatsworth Senior High School. We give a scholarship to a graduate of Ranch San Antonio "Boys Town of the West" and now the District provides one as well. The Hugh O'Brian Youth Scholarship is also presented at Chatsworth High School annually. Donations of box tops, soup labels and scrap aluminum have bought library books and playground equipment for Germaine Street Elementary School.
In 2000 we took part in a Wheel-a-thon pushing persons in wheelchairs in that park. We support parks. At the Mason Park Annual Crafts Fair we sold baked treats and beautiful jewelry, handmade by one of our members, for many years. We supported maintenance of the Chatsworth Nature Preserve and Chatsworth Oaks Park as undeveloped parkland, and petitioned for the improvement of trails in Chatsworth Park South. Through Pennies for Pines, we aid the California State Park reforestation program.
Several of our fund-raisers have become community events in themselves. since 2000 our Literature group's "Meet the Author" luncheons have drawn large crowds, proceeds go to the charity of the authors choice. From 2002-2006 we presented large, spectacular fashion shows. At our Christmas Parties, we sell crafts and backed goods. From 2005 on, we saved aluminum soft-drink tabs and donated them to help build the Ronald McDonald House for the families of sick children.
From 2001-2009 the Chatsworth Women's Club organized and sponsored a remake of the Rancho San Antonio Boys Town Library as a major community service project. Repairs, replacing shelves, stocking the shelves with donated books, cataloguing books and more. The air conditioning and heating in the main library was replaced along with the purchase of tables, chairs and rugs for the library and the learning center. Mini-libraries were created in the cottages and an electronic checkout system was created for the entire facility. That effort included book drives and solicitation of funds from the entire community. The project earned the Chatsworth Women's Club 3rd place Nationally.
In 2010-2021 Our veterans' support group provides holiday gifts, recycled magazines and personal toiletries for veterans at Sepulveda Medical Center. We have committees active on Consumer Affairs, Crime Prevention, Health and Environmental issues, and at our meetings we enjoy interesting speakers and musical events. Just for fun, we have an active Cards section, and go on adventures together.
We try to continue in the footsteps of so many dedicated women by helping the less fortunate by supporting those groups that do. We offer scholarships to outstanding students and continue to supply the library at Rancho San Antonio Boys Home with needed items. We support and honor our female and male Veterans.
Yes, for over one-hundred years the Chatsworth Women’s Club has been a joy, a stimulus, and a source of life-long friendships for generations of women.
For current philanthropic activities see the Philanthropic page.