Being able to share personal experiences such as this one with other women is one of the many reasons this 100-year-old club has continually attracted members.

As part of Ucovich's talk, she holds up one bear and describes the way her friend made the bear out of her husband's old overcoat and sewed the vintage label onto its back. She holds up another bear that has accessories like a small sweater she bought from A Touch of Country on Lincoln Avenue.

One reason the Willow Glen resident is a member of the San Jose Woman's Club is to learn about antiques. But she also loves the companionship and enjoys the "beautiful clubhouse building."

The club's building is a major part of the club's longstanding history.

The building and the club, which was founded in 1894 by nine women, have an extensive history. The founding members wanted to engage in cultural, philanthropic and charitable activities. Within only eight years, membership grew to 81 women.

The first club building was purchased in 1906, but as membership grew a new clubhouse was built in 1929 at 75 S. 11th St. in San Jose. The large, Spanish-style clubhouse—where they still meet today—has a main ballroom that holds 450 people for dancing and 350 for dinners. Although the club only has 60 members now, 16 from Willow Glen, during the 1940s there were 600 members and a waiting list. There used to be large dinner dances, and it was a venue for local high school proms, but now the ballroom is mostly rented out for wedding receptions and birthday and anniversary parties.

Various features of the building—including the stenciled ceiling beams in the ballroom—helped classify the house, designed by prominent San Jose architects Carl J. Wolfe and William E. Higgins, as a historic landmark. In 1986 the clubhouse was named Historical Landmark No. 32 by the city of San Jose.

The building still has some of its original features, like iron chandeliers and historic wood-fired tile on the staircase, which leads up to a caretaker's two-bedroom apartment.

The building also houses a large kitchen with a commercial refrigerator, a garbage disposal and dishwasher and many cabinets to store the china and silverware. There is also a smaller kitchen, a large foyer, a fireplace room and a basement.

Throughout the 1990s the building was refurbished, but the largest project was remodeling the men's and women's bathrooms, which cost $46,000—more than the price of the land and construction of the clubhouse in 1929, which cost a mere $36,000, says former president and Willow Glen resident Alma Taylor, 80.

In addition to the monthly antique meetings, the club has a general meeting the first Tuesday of the month, which consists of music, activities or speakers. There is also a bridge section and a section for younger women, who meet in the evening for book reviews and outings.

The antique meetings are held in the building's tearoom, which can accommodate 60 guests. These events usually have a guest speaker lecture and discussion; the women have lunch and then a business meeting.

Issues discussed also include ways to help fund cultural, educational and charitable pursuits. Each year the club awards three $1,500 scholarships to San José State University students, and donations are made to cultural groups like Opera San Jose.

The club is a nonprofit organization, so money raised comes from membership dues, rental fees and fundraisers like the spring fashion show, which raised $4,700 last year.

But to many women, the club means even more than giving back to the community. Willow Glen resident Vicenta Fissel says there's a special camaraderie.

"I meet more wonderful people here than anywhere else," says Fissel, 80, a member for 36 years. "There are many interesting guest speakers and wonderful programs."

Membership is $50 per year. For more information, call 408.269.2395.