Woman’s Club of Redondo Beach hosting fundraiser for Historic Clubhouse
The history of the Woman’s Club harkens the lyrics of Beyonce’s 2011 girl power anthem “Run the World (Girls)”.
“Who run the world? Girls,” Beyonce sings assertively.
Women around the world, and particularly Woman’s Club members across the nation, have ratified Beyonce’s testament: frustrated with veering car traffic, a Woman’s Club member from Indio took a bucket of paint and demarcated the first road lane marking in Indio in the early 20th century. Two Woman’s Club members in San Jose bought acres of redwood forestland to save the monumental trees; their acreages later become cornerstones of national parkland. Dozens of similar stories testify to how Woman’s Club members have built foundations for our nation.
Now, the Woman’s Club of Redondo Beach is fighting to keep the roof up over their heads. Literally.
Nestled underneath a tree canopy on the southeast corner of Pearl Street and South Broadway in Redondo Beach, the roof of the 82-year-old Woman’s Club Historic Clubhouse is falling apart. The entire structure is built from pure redwood, shipped in from Northern California in 1922 when Redondo Beach served was at the height of its commercial activity. Generations of South Bay women have gathered and curated community events in the structure.
But a century of wear and tear has strained the building’s integrity. After construction people removed shoddy temporary roof patches, only an eighth of an inch of original 1922 redwood remains in some parts of the roof. Water leaks have warped the newly renovated bathroom walls, and a plumber couldn’t do his job because a family of three skunks had taken up residence under the building next to a maimed water pipe.
Most of the roof has been fixed and replaced with redwood and pergolas from Alumawood Phoenix, but more repair is still necessary.
Woman’s Club of Redondo Beach president Sheila Kutkus pointed out a minuscule beam of light shining through a nonuniform vertice in the roof.
“We must preserve the legacy and home of the women who came before us for the women who will surely come after us to continue the work of improving our city of Redondo Beach,” Kutkus said.
The club currently has about 60 members and started collecting money to replace the roof in 2002.
“It’s a piece of history that the women back then had the foresight to get together and do good for the community,” first vice president Janice Petrosino said. “‘Strength united is stronger’ is our motto.”
“Our motto reminds us that in unity there is strength, and through the united efforts of the club women of California it is possible to accomplish many things for the benefit of the people of our entire state,” she added.
The roof repair and replacement bill is around $30,000. Kutkus and Petrosino say the club hopes to raise about a quarter of that amount in an upcoming wine and cheese fundraiser on November 8th from 2 to 7 pm at the clubhouse. The “Raise the Roof” tasting event will offer wine tastings donated by Redondo Beach firefighter Greg Allen’s Cuatro Dias winery, truffle chocolates, cheeses, and Grayson Eye dried fruit. Elvis impersonator Brian Herbold will provide live music and entertainment, and games and a silent auction with items donated by local hotels will round out the activities. Tickets are $35, or $60 for two.
“Without the roof over your head. you really can’t go anywhere from there,” Kutkus said. “We want to do it correctly, and the builders say we have a lifetime warranty. Though whose life, they didn’t say!”
“It deserves to be preserved because its what our fore founders left for us,” Petrosino said. “It’s a legacy they left for us to maintain and keep up the good work.”
The Woman’s Club ladies are “all over and everywhere”, says Kutkus. “When somebody needs a volunteer in town we are there.”
The club hosted a recent baby shower where $10,000 worth of newborn clothing was collected for foster children.
Visit www.wcrbinfo.com/event-tickets.html for more information and to purchase tickets.
