Houston Heights Woman’s Club History – October, 2009
Detailed records and minutes of the meetings for the HHWC can be found at the University of Houston in the archives for Women’s Studies
- The club was organized on January 15, 1900 as the Houston Heights Literary Club. Sixteen women attended the meeting at the home of Mrs. C. R. Cummings. In April, the group voted to make a small monthly assessment so that calls for charity might be met. This was the beginning of much charity work sponsored by the club.
- During 1905 the club members wanted to start a library for the high school. Money was raised to buy books and equipment. With assistance from city libraries and cooperation from the school board the library became a reality.
- Under the leadership of Mrs. W.G. Love, the fourth president (1907-1909), Heights Woman’s Club members started the first Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Cooley Elementary School.
- By 1909, the membership had grown so that members’ homes were not large enough. In March 1909, Mr. O.M. Carter granted permission for the meetings to be held in a room at the power house of his electrical plant on W. 19th Street.
- The charter for the club was obtained by Hortense Ward in 1911, the same year in which Mr. and Mrs. D. D. (Helen) Cooley (Dr. Denton Cooley’s grandmother) donated the lot on which the clubhouse would be built.
- On March 7, 1911, the Houston Heights Music Study Club was organized and subsequently become part of the HHWC
- The members of the club borrowed $1,200 and had the club house built. It opened September 3, 1912. The HHWC club house is the oldest club house in Houston, and has been used continuously since it opened.
- In 1912, as a result of the enthusiasm to learn china painting, the Arts and Crafts Club was formed and became part of the HHWC.
- As a testimony to the importance of education and learning, the HHWC erected the Memorial Reading Garden at the Houston Heights Public Library in 1936.
- During World War I and World War II, the American Red Cross used the club house to make surgical dressings for the soldiers. HWC members volunteered many hours to assist the ARC. (All social activities at the club house were suspended during this time.)
- In 1922, a make-shift kitchen was added back of the stage and in 1926 the heating system for the club house was changed from coal to gas.
- In 1932 the current kitchen was added to the original structure.
- In 1953 the membership voted to spend $1,032 for capital improvements on the club house including the addition of the oak hardwood floors, painting, and bracing the building.
- In 1957, the membership voted to install five window unit air conditioners in the club house.
- In 1978, because the members could not afford to maintain the house, the HHWC sold the club house to the Heights Homeowner’s Association for $10 The HHA used the building until they secured the Heights fire station for their meetings. The HHWC is grateful to the HHA for maintaining the building and donating the chairs still used today in the club house. The club house was deeded back to HHWC in March, 1997.
- A need was identified to include women who were unable to participate in the events of the HHWC day group, and therefore in November, 2006 the first meeting of the HHWC evening group was held. Women can become a member of either the day group or the evening group.
- Both groups have community outreach programs and social activities.
- During 1905 the club members wanted to start a library for the high school. Money was raised to buy books and equipment. With assistance from city libraries and cooperation from the school board the library became a reality.
- Under the leadership of Mrs. W.G. Love, the fourth president (1907-1909), Heights Woman’s Club members started the first Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Cooley Elementary School.
- By 1909, the membership had grown so that members’ homes were not large enough. In March 1909, Mr. O.M. Carter granted permission for the meetings to be held in a room at the power house of his electrical plant on W. 19th Street.
- The charter for the club was obtained by Hortense Ward in 1911, the same year in which Mr. and Mrs. D. D. (Helen) Cooley (Dr. Denton Cooley’s grandmother) donated the lot on which the clubhouse would be built.
- On March 7, 1911, the Houston Heights Music Study Club was organized and subsequently become part of the HHWC
- The members of the club borrowed $1,200 and had the club house built. It opened September 3, 1912. The HHWC club house is the oldest club house in Houston, and has been used continuously since it opened.
- In 1912, as a result of the enthusiasm to learn china painting, the Arts and Crafts Club was formed and became part of the HHWC.
- As a testimony to the importance of education and learning, the HHWC erected the Memorial Reading Garden at the Houston Heights Public Library in 1936.
- During World War I and World War II, the American Red Cross used the club house to make surgical dressings for the soldiers. HWC members volunteered many hours to assist the ARC. (All social activities at the club house were suspended during this time.)
- In 1922, a make-shift kitchen was added back of the stage and in 1926 the heating system for the club house was changed from coal to gas.
- In 1932 the current kitchen was added to the original structure.
- In 1953 the membership voted to spend $1,032 for capital improvements on the club house including the addition of the oak hardwood floors, painting, and bracing the building.
- In 1957, the membership voted to install five window unit air conditioners in the club house.
- In 1978, because the members could not afford to maintain the house, the HHWC sold the club house to the Heights Homeowner’s Association for $10 The HHA used the building until they secured the Heights fire station for their meetings. The HHWC is grateful to the HHA for maintaining the building and donating the chairs still used today in the club house. The club house was deeded back to HHWC in March, 1997.
- A need was identified to include women who were unable to participate in the events of the HHWC day group, and therefore in November, 2006 the first meeting of the HHWC evening group was held. Women can become a member of either the day group or the evening group.
Both groups have community outreach programs and social activities.
