On February 20th, 1883, the first Woman’s Club of Florida was formed when twenty-five ladies met and organized The Ladies Village Improvement Association of Green Cove Springs, with Mrs. A. M. Rutledge as president. A festival ball was held to raise money for beautifying the town and most of it was used for boardwalks; also 70 feet of clay pavement was laid at the cost of $12.00. Meetings were held in members’ homes.
During the year 1888 a children’s auxiliary known a the “Star Branch” was formed and was in existence for about fifteen years. A free library was also formed in the year 1888 and was maintained by the V.I.A until Dec. 1961, when the Clay County Public Library was formed. The first permanent home of the club was in a little cottage which stood on the lot where our present home stands. Mrs. Penelope Borden Hamilton (a member of the Borden Milk Company) gave the cottage and lot to the V.I.A. in 1895.
In the same year, 1895, Mrs. Ella Burrows issued a call for the formation of a Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs. Delegated from Tarpon Springs, Crescent City, Orange City, Fairfield Village and Green Cove Springs were present at the first meeting and became the charter members of the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs, electing as their first State Federation President Mrs. Penelope Borden Hamilton. The Florida Federation acquired membership in the General Federation in 1898.
The year 1897 saw Mrs. E.G.G. Munsell installed as president and she served for seventeen years. During her administration the club maintained a kindergarten from 1900 to 1904 in the public school building, assuming most of the expenses and hiring a qualified teacher. Also about this time the erection of the present clubhouse was begun. On February 18th, 1915, the building was formally dedicated by Mrs. W. S. Jennings, State Federation President, as a lasting memorial to Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. E.G.G Munsell, President.
The beautiful Grandfather Clock, which now graces the hall, was presented to the V.I.A. I 1899 by Mrs. H. H. Burrows, it has been a treasured possession in her family for several generations.
A large, round, iron drinking fountain for horses was bought in 1913 and placed in the street near the courthouse. Thirty years later, after it had outlived its usefulness and was going to be discarded, it was brought to the V.I.A. grounds, through the efforts of Mrs. A.H. Bell, where it is now being refurbished and restored to the fountain in front of the clubhouse.
On February 6, 1958, the club celebrated its 75th anniversary under the leadership of its President and member of many years, Miss Bonnie Dean Baker.
The boardwalks and clay pavements have long since been replaced by asphalt and concrete, but the V.I.A. has continued through the years as an important unit of community life and is still devoted to social and educational work, as well as beautification projects.
The Village Improvement Association Federated Woman’s Club of Green Cove Springs, Florida, Inc. is justly proud of its rich heritage but faces the future knowing there is still much to be done. May we carry on in the spirit of the faithful members who have gone before us.
Today, as when we first were formed, we are committed to doing just what our name implies – improving our “village” which is our community and the people within that community. Through our Special Programs (SP) and Community Service Programs (CSPs) which include Domestic and Sexual Violence and Awareness, Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement & Outreach, Education & Libraries, Environment, and Health & Wellness.
On September 14, 2023, the VIA celebrated 140 years as a GFWC club. The VIA Open House celebration hosted many guests from the community, including town officials, police, and the press. The house was festively decorated, a PowerPoint showed some of the VIA history, and each Community Service Program Committee had displays depicting their projects and programs.