Woman's Club of Colorado Springs Donates House, Endows Scholarship to Colorado College
The Woman's Club of Colorado Springs recently donated a property to Colorado College, continuing the club's 100 years of philanthropy in the community. Colorado College will establish a scholarship in recognition of the gift starting next academic year. Read a news release.There was a media event and reception in honor of the Woman's Club of Colorado Springs at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, at 20 Mesa Road. Read transcripts of remarks by Don Wilson, vice-president for alumni, development & college relations at Colorado College; Pam Bruni, president of the Woman's Club of Colorado Springs; and CC President Richard F. Celeste.
Click on images below for full pictures.
Photos by Tom Kimmell
Left to Right: Edna Owens, past president of the Woman's Club; Dorothy Barber, past president of the Woman's Club; Pam Bruni, current president of the Woman's Club; Colorado College President Richard F. Celeste; Mary Dambman, past president of the Woman's Club; Vicki Nycum, first vice-president of the Woman's Club; Tom Nycum, vice-president for business and finance at Colorado College; Sara Wrenn, past president of the Woman's Club; and Lorainne Crocker, past president of the Woman's Club.
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Woman's Club of Colorado Springs Club History
In February 2002, the Woman's Club of Colorado Springs celebrated its 100th year of contributing educational, social, and cultural programs to its members and the community.In 1902, the Woman's Club was formed. There were 100 members at the first meeting. They met in homes, the YMCA, the Odd Fellows Hall, and other places and referred to themselves as the "wandering Woman's Club." These ambitious ladies divided into groups of ten to earn money to purchase a rental property. They hosted dinners, lunches, plays, and one woman did washings for $1 each. In 1920, they had $900 for a down payment on a two-story house at Platte and Tejon. This was later moved to an adjacent lot to make room for the Acacia Hotel. The house was then converted into six apartments, which these industrious ladies cleaned, maintained, and rented. The cost of the house and improvements was $2,900 and the final payment was made in 1929.
In 1955, the ladies sold the property for $75,000 and purchased 20 Mesa Road from Colonel and Mrs. Muellar for $37,000. During remodeling, partitions for the bedroom and sunroom were removed and the dining room was added. For a total cost of $50,000, the Woman's Club had a home at last.
Now, 47 years after obtaining 20 Mesa Road, the Woman's Club of Colorado Springs recently donated the property to Colorado College. Colorado College will establish a scholarship in recognition of the gift starting next academic year. The scholarship fund, which is for women CC students from Colorado, will reflect the $375,000 appraisal value of the property.
Excerpted from research done by Christeen Edstrom, past Woman's Club president from 1991 to 1993.