Punta Gorda Woman's Club to Celebrate 90th Anniversary During FoundersDay Week

It was November, 1918 and Punta Gorda was celebrating news that came first by way of Fort Myers where the conductor of a north-bound train and his passengers yelled out that the "great" war had come to an end.  As soon as the news was confirmed by a special dispatch to the Punta Herald "bedlam broke loose" and the then President of the Punta Gorda Fortnightly Woman's Club, Mrs. Francis B. Hewitt led the group in song, the National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs.   The Fortnightlies was initially a literary group, but from evidence found in their regular reports in the Punta Gorda Herald  also engaged in social and charitable activities, much like  today's Punta Gorda Woman's Club, which had its origin in 1925 when the Fortlighties (the oldest group founded in 1896) merged with the Married Ladies Social Club and the Women's  Civic Improvement Association. The Civic Group was credited for getting laws passed to  control cattle from roaming freely over lawns and properties.

It was Mrs. N. C. Hewitt (called "Frankie), who became President of the new club in 1925. And it was she with the early leaders of the club, in particular, Mrs. J.H. Hancock, that drove the building of the club's home on Sullivan Street in 1927.

Many of the purposes of the original three clubs have been perpetuated by the Woman's Club over the course of its ninety years.  The Punta Gorda Library owes its existence to its early start by the Woman's Club, which the Club built to 5000 books before it was turned over to the County and moved to a location on Retta Esplanande in 1958 and later to its current location on Shreve St.   The Club also contributed to the development of Ponce de Leon Park.

Long time Punta Gordan Helen Wrobbel who passed away in 2014, guided the club for many years as it continued its mission to serve the Punta Gorda community through support of local Veteran's organizations, scholarships, service to the community's children and many other worthwhile projects.

The Club, in keeping with its roots, will hold a Historic Tea to celebrate its Anniversary on Sunday, December 6 at the Woman's Club Building at 12:30 p.m.  Jacquelyn Pierce, member of the Naples Woman's Club will present "A Conversation between Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Lincoln." The event is part of the Punta Gorda Founders' Day Week Celebration.   For tickets call 941-979-0964.