Catholic Women’s Club begins 125th club year

GREEN BAY – The Catholic Woman’s Club was formed in the fall of 1900 as an organized society of St. John’s Church and then christened with the name “Social Workers.”

Through 125 years of charitable work and community enrichment, the club will now enter its quasquicentennial club year.

The organization originated at the hands of Mrs. Frank Van Laanen to raise funding for the St. John the Evangelist parish school.

Social Workers club meetings rotated around the homes of club members, focused on the intellectual, social and charitable work for area youth.

In May 1907 — the end of the organization’s club year — the Social Workers became the Catholic Woman’s Club.

“Since the organization in 1900, the work has broadened and the old name had become something of a misnomer, consequently it was decided to adopt a name which would better express the aims of the club,” a May 29, 1907, Press-Gazette article stated.

The Catholic Woman’s Club combined literary and social programs and events with charitable works for those in need and continued to focus on their own literary and cultural enrichment.

The women met every Tuesday for nearly six decades.

One of their largest fundraising projects started in 1910 and ran for a decade, collecting new shoes for area school children.

The club even went as far as collecting tin foil to use for the shoe funds, which in large quantities had a market value at that time.

Club members asked area residents to save the foil from gum, candy, cigars and other items to use for this purpose, stating that “a piece of foil will put a button on a shoe.”

In 1913, the organization removed the “Catholic” requirement for membership — focusing more on “good character, intelligence and general uprightness of conduct” — and its 50-member limit.

The club doubled in size and retained the word Catholic in its name.

During the organization’s earlier years, prospective members were voted on using black and white balls, with a majority of white balls signaling approval.

“People used to think Catholic Woman’s Club was for the elite. I don’t think anyone was ever turned away, but that was the image (people) had (of the club.) You had to be invited at first but… later on… you could just apply to join,” former member Bea Linzmeyer stated in an oral history collected by Eileen Coe.

In 1919, a new group project became synonymous with the club as members began to see that the children of working parents had a need for daycare.
Following an eight-month trial term, the “Green Bay Day Nursery” was made a permanent program in Green Bay.

“The nursery will continue its work in the former quarters in the building at 128 South Monroe Avenue, with greatly increased facilities and with plans for obtaining a larger income for the work,” a Nov. 6, 1919, Press-Gazette article stated.

The facilities were donated by trustees of the Cathedral parish.

The following year, the organization purchased the property at 423 E. Walnut St., Green Bay, for use as a clubhouse.

A nursery and auditorium were added in the rear of the building.

The Green Bay Day Nursery would later become Encompass Child Care.

To be continued