Women’s Civic Club of Bethany nears 100 years of service

Leading up to its 100th anniversary, the Women’s Civic Club of Bethany Beach is sharing historical snippets from its archives.

The minutes of the club’s founding Aug. 3, 1925, are beautifully handwritten in a notebook that contains meeting records through July 9, 1930.

The first entry says, in part: ”At a meeting in the Community House, Monday Evening, Aug. 3, 1925, the women of Bethany Beach organized a club for civic purposes and the improvement of the town. Eighteen women were present. Mrs. Will Trimble was appointed chairman. A motion was made ... that the club be known as 'The Women's Civic Club of Bethany Beach.’ The motion was carried. Mrs. Roger Addy took the chair and the following officers were elected: President - Mrs. Will Trimble. The president stated that the proceeds made at a benefit card party on July 30, would be used to construct benches for the boardwalk along the ocean."

Proceeds from that bridge card party were $38.25, with $36.92 of that amount used to construct and distribute benches along the boardwalk. By Aug. 19 of that year, the ladies had also held a benefit concert, raising $57.55. Of that amount, $10.88 was used to paint the boardwalk benches. The group paid Harvey Collins $1 to clean the beach and $11.25 to Vaughan Murray for work on the town flower garden.

Current President Therese Gross said, “Our club continues to carry out the mission established by the original 18 founders in 1925. I wonder, in August 1925, did those founders envision the club would sustain, grow and continue to contribute to the area and continue its patronage of Bethany Beach?” 

Today, the club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with 190 members, comprising residents of Bethany Beach and the surrounding areas. The club continues to achieve its mission of volunteering locally, making annual contributions in support of local organizations, and organizing donation drives for those in need, including the military, and area children and families.

For more information, find Women’s Civic Club of Bethany Beach on Facebook.