54 Holiday 2016 E finalmatters A Hundred Years and Still Counting The centennial celebration of the Maplewood Woman’s Club BY KAREN DUNCAN When the women first founded in 1916 they met around town wherever they could find space, often in a parish hall or school auditorium. A room above the Maplewood Theater became their first official clubroom, and then they started a fund for a building of their own. In 1923 the club purchased property on Woodland Road in Maplewood and hired acclaimed country club architect Clifford Wendehack to design their clubhouse. Completed in 1930, it served them handily for many decades. The building was purchased by Maplewood Township in 2014, renamed The Woodland, and is now used for private parties and public events. TOP LEFT: Founding members of the Maplewood Woman’s Club, 1916. PHOTO COURTESY OF DURAND- HEDDEN HOUSE AND GARDEN. TOP RIGHT: Members of the 2016 Club meet at the DeHart Center in Maplewood. OVAL: Club President Joann Aponte has been a member for 44 years. Established in December 1916, the Woman’s Club of Maplewood was organized as a way for the women of the area to develop common interests and to work together to improve their communities. And for 100 years, the club’s focus has remained a balance of education, fellowship and community service. “Our attention remains supporting educational endeavors, particularly locally,” says Joann Aponte, the current president. “We work with shelters that aid battered women and their children, Make-A-Wish, and schools for handicapped children.” While they gather monthly for lunch and a program, they are busy with committees and projects all month long. There are active knitters making baby hats, lap robes and throws for patients going through chemotherapy. They’ve recently donated more than 1000 hand-knitted items. They visit schools and hospitals, volunteering. “We do a lot of good,” says Aponte, who estimates the club is around 30 members now. As they gear up for their 100th celebration, members recount the many accomplishments of the past few years, which include scholarship donations to local students and hundreds of new books donated to the Maplewood Library. Throughout its long and illustrious history, the club has played a vital role in community affairs, and in 1944 a Grumman fighter plane, in recognition of the club’s ongoing wartime support, was nicknamed “Miss Maplewood.” In keeping with their educational mission, the club is throwing its support behind the library’s exciting expansion project. “We are planning to be a large part of the Maplewood Library Foundation’s campaign,” Aponte says. Monthly meetings of the club are currently at the DeHart Center on Burnett Avenue, with committee groups often meeting at members’ homes in between. On December 2 the group will celebrate its 100th birthday at DeHart, and expects a large turnout of past members and dignitaries. “I am so proud of what’s going on in our membership,” says Aponte. Congratulations, ladies, and good wishes for another 100 years of outstanding community service.