Our future is bright
Our Mission
The mission of the Abilene Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc. is to bring a diverse group of women together to build personal and professional relationships through community service, educational opportunities, and participation with other organizations for the betterment of the Abilene community. Preservation, maintenance, and operation of our historical building, designated as an official Texas Landmark, is the club’s civic duty for Abilene.
The commitment of the AWCF is to preserve and maintain the Abilene Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc., historically recognized building and property. The Clubhouse is listed as a Texas Historical Commission Landmark by the State of Texas and is listed on the Abilene, Texas Register of Historic Properties.
Our History
The Abilene Woman’s Club was organized on December 10, 1928. The club’s first luncheon meeting was held on March 6, 1929, in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel. On that very day, a telegram came from Austin saying the Club’s charter had been approved.
Efforts to find a suitable building to house the club began immediately but it took about three years to raise about $11,500 and in November of 1932, the W.R. Balfanz home at 650 Meander was purchased for $10,000. That price included a baby grand piano, all the window shades, and a promise to remodel the garage into quarters for a custodian. The Club had a home debt free!
The club moved into the Hickory Street house in December of 1941. At the annual New Year’s Open House, Mrs. Radford was honored, and the new club was dedicated. Later, when Mrs. Radford sold the Meander house and moved to a hotel, she gave the $12,000.00 to AWC!
In April 1943 and for the duration of World War II, the club was closed. The war years were difficult, but the club picked up the pieces and new members joined when they were able to meet again. The building needed renovation and new appliances, so the dues were raised to $7.50 annually. As prices rose, dues were raised again to $10.00 and an entrance fee of $20.00 assessed. The membership grew to over 400 women.
In 1953, Abilene Woman’s Club initiated their greatest challenge: building the 17,000 sq. ft. building that is home for the club today. The land for the building was donated by Mrs. S.M. Jay and Miss MaeBelle McDaniel. Noted architect David S. Castle designed the building and Oscar Rose was the contractor who oversaw the building of the structure. Work on the building was begun July 22, 1954 and was completed on April 15, 1955.
The first meeting in the new home was a triumphant event, though the club still owed $95,000.00 on the mortgage. In June of 1964, culminating nine years of projects and hard work, the entire building indebtedness was marked ”paid” with the burning of the $100,000.00 note that McMurry College had held.
In 2005, The Abilene Woman’s Club building was officially recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark.
On December 21, 2018, the Abilene Woman’s Club became a nonprofit organization, legally known as a 501 (c) (3). The appropriate name for the club is now The Abilene Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc.