HISTORY OF THE SATURDAY CLUB

The Saturday Club was formed to fill a 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 - so began the history of Pennsylvania's (and possibly the nation's) oldest women's club.

The motto "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 the 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 to ensure its future as a community resource.

Over the years, The Saturday Club has demonstrated its permanence in, and commitment to, the surrounding community by serving those in need. An abbreviated list of the Club's historical accomplishments include:

• 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 Influenza Pandemic
• Starting a theater group called The Footlighters (now in Berwyn, PA)
• 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.