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History
November marked the 85th anniversary of the Federation of the Woman’s Club of
Bogota. Twenty-Five years after the 1894 Incorporation of the Borough of Bogota,
in 1919, Reverend Stoddard Lane, Rector of Bogart Community Church issued an
invitation to the women of Bogota to attend a meeting to discuss forming a
Woman’s Club. About a dozen ladies attended and two weeks later met again to
elect officers. Mrs. Benjamin Buffit was named President. Five months later
there were 115 women on the membership roll. In November 1920 the Club was
Federated and became a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s
Clubs.
The members of the Woman’s Club of Bogota of 1920 lived in a different world
than the members of today’s club. Babysitting had not yet entered the picture so
the members brought their young children to meetings. One member took charge in
an adjacent room. Very few of the women worked outside their homes and
organizations in which women could participate were rare indeed. The popularity
of a club for women was great in our little Bogota Woman’s Club Celebrated 85th
Anniversary In November town. By 1932 membership had grown to 300 ladies.
From the beginning, in addition to the social aspects of women meeting
together, these ladies hoped to build a better community in which to raise
children. Thus they assisted in forming the PTA organizations in the grammar
schools and secured women to sit on the Board of Education. Education was a
prime interest and the Club supported the New Jersey College of Women, now
Douglass College. Back in 1926-27 the Club worked to bring distinguished
speakers to our town. Among the famous names that came to entertain and educate
were Christopher Morley, Heywood Broun and Alexander Woolcott.
A review of the history of the Woman’s Club of Bogota shows that it has been
involved in bad times, war and depression, and good times, prosperity and
success. It is very proud of its record of community service.
The Club celebrated its 85th anniversary with a luncheon here in town where
its roots have always been. It’s smaller membership now that there are so many
organizations attracting women and so many working outside the home was not a
deterrent. The considerable cooking skills of the members enhanced festive
tables set up in the Recreation Center. District 9 Vice President Barbara
Luciana was Guest of Honor and brought the greetings of the State organization
to Bogota President Rosemary Gasiewicz and the members.
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