HISTORY OF CARY WOMAN’S CLUB
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA
1935 to 2016
The Club was first organized in 1935 and was active through 1950, with Presidents being Mrs. Addickes, 1935-36; Mrs. J.K. Coggin, 1937-39; Mrs. E.C. Sanderford, 1939-1940; Mrs. R.B. Williams, 1941-42; Mrs. E. C. Sanderford, 1943-44; Mrs. F.R. Yarborough, 1944-45; Mrs. T.C. Womble, 1945-46; Mrs. E.G. Padgett, 1947-48; and Mrs. Beth Stevens, 1949-50.
During the World War II years, there was a War Service Chairman. Activities included a Red Cross Sewing Room at which six club members worked from two to five each day making dozens of red, white and blue lap robes with Cary Woman’s Club embroidered on each; entertaining servicemen from Ft. Bragg in club women’s homes on weekends. Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker spoke at the State Convention in 1944.
There was but one school in Cary and for a two-year period Anna Neese kept the school library open during the summer to provide reading material for the Cary community since there was no other library. The Woman’s Club purchased new books. A Drama club was organized. A Girl Scout troop was sponsored and leadership provided by club women. Ways and Means had a minstrel show, Tom Thumb wedding, and a bridge tournament. A teen club was also established. The club procured and furnished an adult center for education classes.
Pink dogwood was the club flower and pink and green the club colors. To pay for the yearbook, ads were sold. Mrs. J.K. Coggin served as District VIII President 1940-42; and Mrs. F.R. Yarborough served 1946-48.
The original club went out of existence sometime after 1950. Several efforts were made to revive it and finally, in 1963, the present club was organized under the sponsorship of the Cary Junior Woman’s Club.
Below is a synopsis of activities, meetings and events written by club Presidents:
Visit the link below for a synopsis of activities, meetings and events for the club for the prior to September 2012: