Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

The We and Our Neighbors clubhouse, at 15480 Union Ave., is a reminder of the days when orchards dominated the valley and ladies sometimes liked to get together to talk about something besides prunes.

Picture from the Past

John S. Baggerly

We and Our Neighbors clubhouse has survived it all

Termites, five wars and two earthquakes (l906 and l989) strengthened the resolve of East Los Gatos farm women who became an organization in the 1890s. They built their We and Our Neighbors clubhouse at 15480 Union Ave. in 1910.

It was in 1981 that historian Genevieve Jordan completed what she called a "short review of the club's history."

In June 1892, Mrs. Cilker invited the ladies of the community to meet at her home and enjoy a social afternoon. Fifteen guests were present, and Mrs. Schofield addressed the ladies upon the subject of forming a Social Society to keep up with the times, improve themselves culturally and assist one another when needed.

Mrs. Schofield was elected president and held office for 25 years. Meetings were to be in homes on the third Saturday of the month and annual dues were $1.

In 1892, an annual November potluck ham supper was first held at Union School and the practice continued until the 1960s.

In December 1892, the group assisted Miss Louise Van Meter, a teacher at Union School, with a Christmas party for the children and their families and friends. Bags of candy and nuts were served by the society.

In 1891, a policy was established to have meetings for amusement or instruction and to discuss something other than personal matters and the price of prunes.

Then came activities galore. A lending library was formed with magazines as well as books--magazine like Household, Cosmopolitan, McClure's and Munsy.

They helped a poor woman by contributing $10 to make the final payment on her cow.

During the Spanish-American War, the members donated sheets, pillowcases, eggs, fruit and books to the Veterans Hospital in San Francisco.

Two wagon loads of materials and supplies were donated and sent to the relief of victims of the San Francisco fire and earthquake of April 1906.

At the December 1909 meeting the question of a clubhouse was again brought up. This time it happened, with Mrs. Sophia La Montagne donating the land and Mrs. Schofield furnishing the money to build the clubhouse at a cost of $2,650. The clubhouse was accepted formally at a community party on May 27, 1910.

During the First World War, benefits and dances were given for the Red Cross and card parties and raffles were held for Belgian relief.

Bed jackets and socks were made for the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto for Christmas of 1924.

Termites were discovered in 1933. This was repaired and the clubhouse was painted for a sum of $164.20.

In 1936, the stage was remodeled and material purchased for stage curtains, and on Oct. 25, 1940, the club entertained the California Federation of Women's Clubs.

In the 1940s, religious training classes were held, Girl Scouts met and churches borrowed the facility during rebuilding.

For 10 years, from 1950 to 1960, a branch of the Santa Clara library was set up in the clubhouse, and Arone Howe was librarian.

A war orphan was adopted in 1952 and clothing was collected for Korean Relief.

The clubhouse--rentable by calling 377-4925--is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.