Womens Club of Saluda History
For more than a century, the Womens Club of Saluda has been a driving force for education, civic improvement, and community wellbeing. This history draws on club records, member scrapbooks spanning decades, articles in The Saluda Magazine and the Saluda Historical Society's collections, and oral histories from members past and present.
c. 1914 to 1923: Civic Beginnings
The Womens Club of Saluda traces its origins to around 1914, when a group of Saluda women, before they held the right to vote, decided it was time to clean up an open sewer running through downtown. Civic action came first. From those early organizing days, the women advocated for public health and sanitation, supported the local schools, and gathered for self-improvement and sociability.
1924 to 1929: A Book Club with Purpose
In 1924, the group formally organized as the Saluda Book Club, with meetings held twice a month in members' homes. The following year, in 1925 to 1926, the club federated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs through its North Carolina chapter. By 1929, the club formally renamed itself the Saluda Woman's Club. Even in these early years, the club's work extended well beyond literature. Members organized clean-up days, served hot lunches to schoolchildren ("3¢ for vegetable soup, 2¢ for a sandwich, and 3¢ for cocoa"), pushed for homemaking education in the county schools, and called in the State Sanitation Officer to address public-health concerns in town.
1930s and 1940s: Depression and Community Support
The Great Depression hit Saluda hard. Hotels and inns closed, the local towel mill folded, and townspeople struggled. The club's members did what they could to keep the community connected and to support families through the worst years. As Saluda began to recover, federal programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) helped the town rebuild. Through this period the Saluda School gymnasium was built (the first in Polk County), and the old wooden school building was replaced with the stone structure that still stands today. Club members were active in the broader community rebuilding effort. During the prosperous late 1930s, Saluda also hosted the state's first Apple Festival, with queens crowned and prize fruit displayed. Club members were deeply involved in community events and civic life through this era.
1950s: A New Identity
By the mid-1950s, the club's mission had expanded far beyond literature. As one early club record puts it: "Objectives were not altogether altered… now we study literature, participate in civic affairs and welfare work, and the promotion of sociability." By this era, the club's identity as a service-oriented organization was well established. Members were also influential in bringing a health clinic to town during these years.
1960s to 1990s: Service, Arts, and Scholarship
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the club became known for its arts involvement, civic leadership, and hands‑on service. Arts & Crafts Excellence: Members regularly won top honors at district arts festivals. One report proudly states,“They [members] deserve a ‘10’.” Awards spanned pottery, embroidery, quilting, painting, and more. Community Contributions: The club raised funds and donated to: -Saluda Volunteer Fire Department -Saluda Medical Center -Polk County Hospice -Saluda School PTO -Emergency medical equipment -Senior Center programs A 1991 president’s report captures the spirit of the era: “All members actively participate in community affairs… volunteering many hours… enabling them to make significant monetary contributions to organizations within the community.”
2000s to Today: A Nonprofit with a Mission
Today our name is Womens Club of Saluda, known by the members as WCOS. Over the years, the name changes and dropping of the apostrophe have not changed our organization. The club continues many of its long-standing practices, including the recitation of Mary Stewart's 1903 Collect at meetings, and a Constitution and Bylaws shaped by the federation years. Members raise scholarship funds through a changing mix of efforts: quilt raffles (using designs donated by member Verlie Murphy) sustained the program for many years, and beginning in 2025 the club introduced ticketed seasonal dinners. Our Womens Club float on Coon Dog Day remains a beloved tradition.
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Sources and Acknowledgments
This history was compiled from Saluda Womans Club records, the 1974 club history, the 1991 president's report by June W. Haynes, articles from The Saluda Magazine (1930s), member scrapbooks, and oral history contributed by club members. Special thanks to club historians past and present whose careful documentation made this page possible.