HISTORY

The Saturday Club grew out of the need for women in the community to enrich their own lives outside the home. The first meeting was held on Saturday, February 16, 1886, in Wayne Hall adjacent to the Wayne Presbyterian Church, and so began the history of Pennsylvania's oldest women's club. Their motto of "Dare to be Wise" gives a clue to what ladies of the late 1880's faced when attempting to widen their horizons. At the time it was radical for women to meet outside the home or even call their association a club. In the beginning their meeting programs focused on presentations of papers on such topics as literature, science, art, music, and of course, the household. The Club's purpose soon became more oriented toward activism with the addition of the Philanthropic and Legislative sections. As early as 1907, Saturday Club members were vigorous campaigners for child labor laws and the protection of women from assault. In 1895, the Club's meetings were changed to Tuesdays when Saturday became a school and business holiday. The name of the Club, however, remained unchanged.

In 1898, members pooled their resources to buy a lot and build a Clubhouse on West Wayne Avenue. It was modeled after William Shakespeare's home in England and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005 the Clubhouse underwent extensive restorative work to maintain its beauty and ensure its future.

Over the years the Club has demonstrated its permanence in, and commitment to, the surrounding community by serving those in need. A small list of the Club's past accomplishments are:

• Founding the first kindergarten in Wayne
• Raising funds for French orphans during World War I
• Converting the Clubhouse into a 60+ bed temporary hospital, when hospitals were overflowing during the 1918 Flu Epidemic
• Starting a theater group called The Footlighters
• Entertaining the troops and establishing the Clubhouse as an emergency Red Cross hospital, and selling War Bonds during World War II

Today, the Club has a vital membership of 150 women who, like their forerunners, look to "find fellowship and enrich their lives outside the home." We are always looking for more womanpower to support our initiatives. Join us in our commitment to community.

The Saturday Club is a member of

The Wayne Business Association and The Main Line Chamber of Commerce