The Woman's Club at 221 East College Street here in Murfreesboro continues fund raising efforts to save the 162 year old historic structure. "Tea At The Taylor's" is set for November 17th.

Woman's Club President Jane Blakey said, "The house is in need of extensive and expensive repairs including roof structural repairs and shingle replacement, new boiler along with air conditioning renovations."

Tea At The Taylor's

The next fund raiser for this 501 (c) (3 ) organization is a TEA at the home of Eddy and Ruth Taylor. it is being held on Saturday, November 17, 2018, with a morning tea from 10:00 to 11:30AM and an afternoon event from 2:00 to 3:30PM. Due to space, reservations are limited to 75 persons per session at historic Sitaspel Downe, their antebellum home at 424 Cainsville Pike in Lascassas, Tennessee. All donations will go to preserve the Woman's Club for future generations.

This House Matters

It is one of the few remaining Italianate-style houses in downtown Murfreesboro.

The Woman's Club Library contains over 3,500 volumes from the first public lending library in Rutherford County, dating back to 1887 and continuing until the formation of Linebaugh Public Library in 1948.

Blakey noted, "Our library and its vast collection of rare, out of print, and first edition books and periodicals provides a resource for local historians and others needing access to literary works not available elsewhere."

It was pointed out that the house also provides dozens of literary and educational programs annually for members of the community.

Blakey knows the work involved with keeping an old home in good repair. She lives next door in a home that takes an on-going determination to preserve and keep current.

As with any old structure, roofs need repairing, windows are always in need of caulking, and so on.

History

The Woman's Club of Murfreesboro was incorporated July 22, 1916, and that's when they purchased the old Haynes' home at 221 East College Street for $16,125.

Prior to that, the local women started meeting back in 1887 at various home around town to discuss literature.

According to the Rutherford County Historical Society, "The ladies' first book for discussion was "Ramona" by Helen Hunt Jackson, a popular romantic novel set in southern California. As a result, they called themselves the Helen Jackson Club. To promote reading and literacy, the ladies began purchasing and collecting books which they offered on loan to local residents. Initially, the Library Association collection was kept on an empty counter in the Booker Smith Drug Store. Books were loaned without charge, but families were encouraged to join the association (annual dues were 50 cents). When the book collection outgrew the drug store counter, it was moved to the Mason Court building on East Main Street. The association also contributed to the area's cultural development by bringing prominent authors, lecturers and musicians for public programs."

Original Incorporators (1916)

Mrs. W. B. Earthman
Mrs. R. W. Vickers
Mrs. Mahlon Brown
Mrs. W. C. Covington
Mrs. D. P. Perkins
Miss Lorene Nelson
Mrs. W. A. Ransom, Sr.
Mrs. E. H. Tatum
Mrs. G. B. Giltner